Appendix: British Standard Personal eye-protection – Specifications

The European Standard EN 166:2001 has the status of a British Standard

ICS 13.340.20

National foreword

This British Standard is the official English language version of EN 166:2001. It supersedes BS EN166:1996 which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical Committee PH/2, Eye-protection, to Subcommittee PH/2/2, Industrial eye-protectors, which has the responsibility to:

— aid enquirers to understand the text;

— present to the responsible European committee any enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the UK interests informed;

— monitor related international and European developments and promulgate them in the UK.

A list of organizations represented on this subcommittee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Cross-references

The British Standards which implement international or European publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Standards Catalogue under the section entitled “International Standards Correspondence Index”, or by using the “Find” facility of the BSI Standards Electronic Catalogue.

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

Summary of pages

This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN title page, pages 2 to 35 and a back cover.

The BSI copyright date displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No. Date Comments

ISBN 0 580 38916 2

EN 166:2001 (E)

Foreword

This document has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 85, "Eye-protective equipment", the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2002, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by May 2002.

This European Standard replaces EN 166:1995.

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).

For relationship with EU Directive(s), see informative annex ZA, which is an integral part of this document.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

EN 166:2001 (E)

1 Scope

This European Standard specifies functional requirements for various types of personal eye-protectors and incorporates general considerations such as:

- designation;

- classification;

- basic requirements applicable to all eye-protectors;

- various particular and optional requirements;

- allocation of requirements, testing and application;

- marking;

- information for users.

The transmittance requirements for various types of filter oculars are given in separate standards (see clause 2).

This European Standard applies to all types of personal eye-protectors used against various hazards, as encountered in industry, laboratories, educational establishments, DIY activities, etc. which are likely to damage the eye or impair vision, with the exception of nuclear radiation, X-rays, laser beams and low temperature infrared (IR) radiation emitted by low temperature sources.

The requirements of this standard do not apply to eye-protectors for which separate and complete standards exist, such as laser eye-protectors, sunglasses for general use, etc. unless such standards make specific reference to this standard.

The requirements of this standard apply to oculars for welding and allied processes but do not apply to equipment for eye and face protection for welding and allied processes, requirements for which are contained in EN 175.

Eye-protectors fitted with prescription lenses are not excluded from the field of application. The refractive power tolerances and other special characteristics dependent upon the prescription requirement are specified in EN ISO 8980-1 and EN ISO 8980-2.