How can you identify APEL-certified eyewear? The impact protection levels for ballistic-rated eyewear far exceed the industrial ANSI Z87.1 standards. Eyewear passing these tests and additional criteria may qualify to be listed on the APEL (Authorized Protective Eyewear List), which indicates the product is approved for individuals serving in the US Military. Two primary Military Ballistic Standards are used for testing, MIL-PRF-31013 (spectacles) and MIL-DTL-43511D (goggles). However, the requirements are much more stringent. The Military’s rigorous MIL-PRF 32432 Ballistic Fragmentation standard uses tests similar to the ANSI Z87.1 standard.

If you’re using Rx inserts with military eyewear, they must be impact rated and marked with Z87-2+. The Z87-2+ marking is used for impact-rated prescription lenses. Note that the Z87+ marking is used for all Plano readers and magnifier safety glasses. Safety eyewear meeting these criteria is used in various industrial and personal applications. The Z87+ markings on safety glasses and goggles indicate eyewear is compliant with ANSI Z87.1 high impact and ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 industrial safety standards for eye protection. The difference between the two standards is essential. Although currently without a marking, the Military Ballistic Standard 662 means a product meets military-grade standards. The civilian standard for safety eyewear is indicated by a Z87+ marking that denotes meeting ANSI Z87.1 standards. What’s The Difference Between Civilian and Military Safety Eyewear Standards? Ballistic-rated eyewear is designed and tested to survive the military’s high-speed impact and fragmentation standards. This standard differs quite a lot from that of safety eyewear for civilians. In the world of safety eyewear, ballistics means military-grade impact protection. “Ballistics is the science that studies the movement of objects (such as bullets or rockets) shot or forced to move forward through the air.”

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