Sunglasses Testing Standard EN ISO 12312-1&EN ISO12311

2019-04-13

It is well known that all sunglasses for European Union (‘EU”) market should comply with harmonized standard EN1836 of the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC) to access the European Union ("EU") market. There are two new sunglasses international standards: EN ISO 12312-1:2013 and EN ISO 12311:2013 were published.

1. EN ISO 12312-1:2013 – Eye and face protection – Sunglasses and related eyewear, Part 1: Sunglasses for general use.

2. EN ISO 12311:2013 – Personal protective equipment – Specifies test methods for sunglasses and related eyewear.

The key note of the changes compared with EN1836:2005+A1:2007 standard and these two standards as below:

1. Restriction applicable scope be

This part of ISO 12312-1 is not applicable to:

a) eyewear for protection against radiation from artificial light sources, such as those used in solaria

b) eye protectors intended for specific sports (e.g. ski goggles or other types)

c) sunglasses that have been medically prescribed for attenuating solar radiation

d) products intended for direct observation of the sun, such as for viewing a partial or annular solar eclipse.

2. New requirements are specified for transmittance and refractive power.

3. Wide angle scattering shall not exceed 3% at the reference point.

4. New added optional specification:

Resistance to perspiration (refer to ISO 12870)

Increased endurance (refer to ISO 12870)

Resistance to abrasion (refer to ISO 8980-5)

5. There are three level for Impact resistance test , level 2 ,by a 22mm nominal diameter steel ball with 43g mass ,dropped through (1.27-1.30)m, and level 3 ,by a 6mm nominal diameter steel ball with 0.86g mass , at a velocity of 45m/s.

6. Defined protective coverage area that the lenses shall provide for the eyes shall be provided for adult and children sunglasses.

7. Temporal protective requirement for very dark, special purpose (filter category 4) sunglasses.

8. Description of the filter category in the form of a symbol and/or verbal description .The minimum height of the symbols shall be 5 mm.

9. The design of the warning “Not suitable for driving and road use” symbol has been changed , refer to ISO 7000, the International graphical symbols standard. This symbol is required for filters that do not meet the necessary requirements for driving or category 4 filters. Minimum height of the symbol remains at 5 mm.