Do you know how to read eye protection markings?

Looking closely at a safety spectacle, goggle or faceshield, you will see a series of letters and numbers printed or embossed on the product, often in several places. While these might look like barcodes or serial numbers, each character relates to a performance feature or field of use for the product.

Use this guide to decode eye and face protection markings.

It is important to understand the meaning of product markings in order to check performance levels and determine the appropriate applications. The markings may seem difficult to decipher but, with this guide, safety spectacles, goggles and faceshields will be easy reading.

Optical class

Optical class refers to the optical quality and clarity of the lens.

1 Suitable for continuous use (highest)
2 Suitable for intermittent use
3 Not intended for long-term use (lowest)

- This marking is shown on the lens only.
- Most personal eye protection, including all JSP eye and face protection, is optical class 1.

Lens shade

The lens shade relates to the type of filtering provided by the lens.

2- UV protection
2C- UV protection with good colour recognition
5- UV and solar protection

- This marking is shown on the lens, and transparent housing where applicable (for example, a clear goggle body).
- An alternative marking for UV with good colour recognition is ‘3-‘ but it is rarely used.

Light transmission

This refers to the amount of light that can pass through the lens.

1.2 74.4% - 100% (clear)
1.7 43.2% - 58.1% (indoor / outdoor)
2.5 17.8% - 29.1% (light smoke)
3.5 8.0% - 17.8% (dark smoke)

- Light transmission markings are shown on the lens, and transparent housing / frame where applicable (for example, a clear goggle body).
- The lens shade and light transmission markings are shown together, for example 2C-1.2.

Impact resistance

A Withstands high-speed particles, high energy impact (faceshields only)
B Withstands high-speed particles, medium energy impact (goggles and faceshields only)
F Withstands high-speed particles, low energy impact
S Increased robustness (applicable to mesh eye protectors)
T Impact resistance at extremes of temperature (-5°C to +55°C)

- The letter ‘T’ is shown immediately after the impact marking, for example AT.
- Impact markings are shown on both the lens and frame / housing.
- Products are suitable for use to the lowest marking – for example, if a browguard is marked F but the visor fitted is marked S, the combination provides S-rated increased robustness only.

Field of use markings

Numbers denoting fields of use for the eye protector follow the impact marking.

3 Liquid droplets / splash – Resistant to liquid droplets (goggle) or liquid splash (faceshield). Not applicable to spectacles.
4 Large dust particles (> 5 microns) – Resistant to large dust particles. Only applicable to goggles (indirect-vented or non-vented).
5 Fine dust particles (< 5 microns) and gases – Resistant to fine dust particles and gas hazards. Only applicable to goggles (non-vented).
8 Short circuit electric arc – Resistant to short circuit electric arc (see additional markings section below).
9 Molten metals and hot solids – Resistant to penetration by molten metals and hot solids. Not applicable to spectacles.

- ‘8’ and ‘9’ markings are shown on the lens and frame / housing of applicable eye protectors.
- Products are suitable for use to the lowest marking – for example, if a browguard is marked ‘9’ but the visor is not, the combination is not suitable for use against molten metals.

Additional markingsLens options:

K - Resistance to surface damage by fine particles (anti-scratch)
Commonly referred to as anti-scratch, a ‘K’ marking indicates the product passed optional testing for resistance to surface damage by fine particles, offering resistance to scuffs and scratches in use.

N - Resistance to fogging (anti-mist)

The ‘N’ marking shows the product passed optional testing for resistance to fogging, often called anti-mist, helping to prevent misting up in cold weather and at high work rates.

K & N markings follow impact and field of use markings.

K & N markings are shown on the lens only.

Electric arc:

8-1-0** Fault arc class (GS-ET-29) – The short circuit electric arc ‘8’ marking followed by two numbers separated by dashes is an additional marking under the GS-ET-29 arc flash faceshield standard.

**Example marking (fault arc class 1, light transmission class 0)

Conformity and manufacturer identification:

European conformity marking – Conformity marking showing product meets European PPE legislation. UK conformity marking – Conformity marking showing product meets UK PPE legislation.

EN 166

Standard marking – Conformity marking showing product meets the EN 166 personal eye protection standard. Manufacturer’s trademark – Products are marked with a trademark symbol unique to each manufacturer.

*Example marking for JSP products

Examples of performance markings and their meanings

EN 166 2C-1.2 1 FT KN

This marking is for a lens with:

- UV protection with good colour recognition (2C-),
- High light transmission – clear (1.2),
- Optical class 1 (1),
- Low energy impact resistance at extremes of temperature (FT),
- Certified anti-scratch and anti-mist performance (KN).
- Certification to European and UK PPE legislation, ), along with EN 166. The manufacturer is JSP ()

EN 166 5-2.5 1 F K

This marking is for an eye protector lens with:

- Solar and UV protection – light smoke (5-2.5),
- Class 1 optics (1),
- Low energy impact resistance (F),
- Certified anti-scratch properties (K).
- Approval to protective eyewear and PPE requirements in the UK and European (EN 166,,)

2C-1.2 1 BT 9 N

This marking on the lens of a safety goggle shows the product provides:

- UV protection with good colour recognition (2C-),
- High light transmission with clear lens (1.2),
- Optical class (1).
- Medium energy impact resistance at extremes of temperature (BT),
- Molten metal and hot solids resistance (9),
- Anti-mist performance (N).

2C-1.2 BT 3 4 9

This marking refers to the body of a goggle with the lens described above.

- Optical class and anti-mist markings are not shown on the goggle body.
- The body marking indicates resistance to liquid droplets (3) and large dust particles (4).

BT

This marking could be found on a browguard that offers medium energy impact resistance at extremes of temperature when fitted with a compatible visor rated BT or higher.

How to select the correct eye & face protection? Learn about different types of eye protection. Find out more about our range of Eye Protection and Face Protection. Have more questions on eye protection? Check out our Eye Protection FAQ. Take a look at our new Eye and Face Protection Guide.