Impact Ratings: ANSI z87+ vs MILSPEC Ballistic
November 12, 2021
By Amy Dillon for GATORZ Eyewear
With our new GATORZ MILSPEC Ballistic Delta launch, we want to ensure you understand why this particular style meets the requirement of MIL-PRF-324432A, Clause 4.8.4 Ballistic, but isn't considered ANSI Z87+ rated. Let's take a look at the differences between MILSPEC Ballistic and ANSI Z87.1 certified.
Typically used in combat, military-grade glasses are designed and tested to withstand high impact and fragmentation standards. Because of this, ballistic-rated eye protection glasses exceed criteria that civilian safety glasses do not. Although the military’s MIL-PRF 32432 Ballistic Fragmentation standard uses tests similar to those in the ANSI Z87.1 standard, the requirements are much more stringent.
The MILSPEC certification also requires that ballistic eyewear is functional, reasonably comfortable, contains no bright colors or distracting designs, and is able to be disinfected. They also have specific requirements for optical clarity, protection from UV rays, general fit, chemical resistance and environmental stability.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) oversees the design, performance specifications, and marking of safety eye and face products. Civilian safety glasses must be compliant with high-impact and industrial safety standards, but the test omits fragmentation standards of a ballistic test. Part of the criteria for ANSI certification is the coverage area, which results in eyewear protection frames typically being more of a wrap style. 
While the GATORZ MILSPEC Ballistic Deltas will far exceed the ANSI Z87+ standard for impact, because of the design element of our GATORZ Delta frames being “open” on the sides of the temple, this frame would not be able to pass the ANSI criteria 100%. 
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