We would like to inform you about the current status of the ISO standards and their applicability for the testing, evaluation and certification of eye and face protection.
The following ISO standards were published in March 2021.
ISO 16321-1:2021 Eye and face protection for occupational use — Part 1: General requirements
ISO 16321-2:2021 Eye and face protection for occupational use — Part 2: Additional requirements for protectors used during welding and related techniques
ISO 16321-3:2021 Eye and face protection for occupational use — Part 3: Additional requirements for mesh protectors
ISO 18526-1:2020 Eye and face protection — Test methods — Part 1: Geometrical optical properties
ISO 18526-2:2020 Eye and face protection — Test methods — Part 2: Physical optical properties
ISO 18526-3:2020 Eye and face protection — Test methods — Part 3: Physical and mechanical properties
ISO 18526-4:2020 Eye and face protection — Test methods — Part 4: Headforms
ISO 18527-1:2021 Eye and face protection for sports use — Part 1: Requirements for downhill skiing and snowboarding goggles
ISO 18527-2:2021 Eye and face protection for sports use — Part 2: Requirements for eye protectors for squash and eye protectors for racquetball and squash
ISO 18527-3:2020 Eye and face protection for sports use — Part 3: Requirements and test methods for eyewear intended to be used for surface swimming
ISO 19734:2021 Eye and face protection — Guidance on selection, use and maintenance
We expect these ISO standards to be published as EN standards in summer 2021 and to be harmonized by the European Commission in the near future.
The question of the applicability of the above ISO standards was discussed in PPE VG3 (for information: VG3 is the working group of the bodies notified in Europe which assess and certify eye and face protection). VG3 made the following decision.
- Up to today, EN 166 : 2001 is the harmonised standard and gives the presumption of conformity for EHSR in PPER. ISO 16321 can be used as a technical specification until it is harmonized.
- The manufacturer decides in the application, either EN 166 ff series or ISO 16321-series shall be used for conformity assessment.
- If EN 166 : 2001 has been applied, the marking (written on the EU type examination certificate) shall be according to EN 166 : 2001 clause 9. If ISO 16321-1 : 2021 or ISO 16321-2 : 2021 have been applied the marking shall be according to ISO 16321-1 clause xx or 16321-2 clause xx.
- Concerning the EU market, if the manufacturer wants to mark the products according to both EN 166 and ISO 16321, the product has to satisfy the requirements of EN 166 and of ISO 16321. Two conformity assessments have to be performed. The manufacturer shall ensure that there is no confusion between the two sets of marking.
