How to choose protective glasses: rating of the best models for eye protection
Compliance with safety measures in production and in personal workshops is an urgent problem today, since in parallel with technological progress and robotization, the market is rapidly replenishing with various types of raw materials and materials, the processing of which can be hazardous to health.
Eye protection from harmful liquids, vapors and small particles is one of the necessary conditions for almost all technological processes involving a person, but masters often refuse to use special glasses, due to their inconvenience, paying with inflammation of the mucous membrane and imminent vision problems.
In order to choose suitable safety glasses, one should not only understand their typology, but also know what modern developments can ensure the convenience of their use.
Types of glasses depending on the purpose
Safety glasses for working with liquids - varnishes, paints, primers and other mixtures, exclude both direct contact and exposure to vapors. The lenses and sealed frames of these models are made from materials that can withstand harsh chemicals.
Safety glasses for locksmith work must be used when working with a grinder, iron brush, punchers and other tools and machines, in order to avoid injury to the eyes by metal shavings, sawdust, dust. These models are equipped with shockproof lenses.
function of protective goggles for welding - protection of sight from bright glow. In addition to a special light filter, such models are resistant to high temperatures and mechanical stress.
Varieties of configurations
As you can see in the selection of photos, all types of goggles consist of a flexible attachment covering the head and a protective case, which can be closed or open.
Goggles are used to protect against dust, smoke and harmful vapors. A snug fit to the face is ensured through the use of flexible rubber or silicone.
Open-type goggles have one-piece or combined frames with protective shields on the sides, top and bottom to avoid eye injury from impact on an inclined plane.
Ventilation of goggles
Lens fogging is one of the main problems that interferes with working with glasses, the presence of ventilation holes, which are located on the sides or along the perimeter of the frame, is solved.
But it must be borne in mind that the presence of such holes excludes the tightness necessary when working with toxic materials and to protect against fine dust.
When using tightly closed products, you need to accept interruptions in work, to depressurize and clean the lenses. Some models have a special anti-condensation layer. Antifog glasses can also be used to slow down fogging.
Protection standards and lens quality
Safety issues do not tolerate amateurishness, therefore, when choosing protective glasses, you need to focus on certified products from reputable manufacturers. The higher the level of danger during work, the more thoroughly you need to familiarize yourself with the quality characteristics of the product.
Oftentimes, the quality of the glasses cannot be determined by inspection and fitting, since the problems of low-grade products only appear during use. Such one-off options not only lose transparency when first used, but also pose health risks.
Ensuring perfect visibility while providing anti-shock and filtering properties - this is a challenge that leading protection experts continue to work on.
Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the ergonomic modern models.
Examples of professional models
Compact welder goggles with fold-down chameleon protective filters and spark protection allow you to check the work without unnecessary movement.
Lightweight comfort glasses with adjustable temples and flexible nose pads are available with a set of lenses for various purposes.
Closed models with increased transparency, rubber rim and anti-fog coating can be used during construction and painting work. Similar models with side ventilation and double shockproof lenses provide eye protection while working on the lathe.
Specialized manufacturers such as Uvex, Amparo and the Russian plant POSOMZ produce safety glasses not only for all types of industrial activities, but also their special modifications for climatic conditions. Equally important is the possibility of a professional set of glasses with masks, respirators and protective clothing of the corresponding profile.
One of the most popular PPE manufacturers (g)
One of the world leaders in the production of protective optics is the German company Uvex. Its products provide maximum eye protection and comfortable wearing. It takes into account everything - the distance between the centers of the pupils, the shape of the head, face. A wide range allows you to choose a coating that is suitable for various working conditions.
The price of PPE (g) is not small, but it is better to buy German quality for 1 thousand rubles and use glasses for a long time than to throw away Chinese consumer goods (and with it money) in 1-2 months. By the way, the company also produces sun-protection, ski and sports optics. True, there are no computer glasses in the assortment yet.
Uvex safety glasses have such advantages as:
- Quick change of lenses.
- Light weight.
- High optical quality (class 1 according to EN 166 - European standard).
- Impact resistance.
They use lenses of different colors: clear, brown, yellow, orange, gray, blue and green. All of them have common properties - protection of eyes from flying particles and ultraviolet radiation, as well as individual ones. So, brown and amber color and infrared radiation, improve contrast, therefore they are suitable for use in poor visibility conditions.
Oranges provide a relaxing effect, grays protect from too bright light without color distortion. Blue lenses have a calming effect and are recommended for work requiring increased concentration and attention. Green and gray (for gas welders) perfectly absorb radiation from welding.
Uvex safety glasses have different coatings (the price of the product depends on this):
- Supravision NCH. Resistant to scratches, chemicals and fogging, easy cleaning.
- Optidur NCH. Resistant to scratches, chemicals and oily substances.
- Variomatic ("chameleon"). In the light they darken in 10 seconds, in the dark they brighten in 30 seconds. Suitable for those who often enter the premises from the street and vice versa.
- Infradur PLUS. Protection against ultraviolet and infrared radiation, bright light. Resistant to mechanical stress and splashes of molten metals.
- Supravision extreme. Increased resistance to fogging. Good for high humidity and condensation environments.
- Supravision performance. Ideal for high humidity environments and frequent lens cleaning.
- Supravision HC-AF. Resistant to scratches and fogging. 100% UV protection.
- Optidur 4C PLUS. Resistant to scratches and fogging. 100% UV protection. Plus anti-static.
- Maximum scratch resistance and UV protection.
- Hi-res. Crystal clarity for clear vision.
Additional functions (the price also depends on them): adjustable temples, pads at their ends, the design allows you to comfortably wear corrective glasses, ease of maintenance.
We offer you to watch the review of Uvex safety glasses (video):
If you want to protect your eyes, pay attention only to high-quality optics, be it protective, for a computer or corrective. Don't be confused by the low price - saving may not always turn out to be a joy
Be prudent, do not forget that there is GOST!
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Secrets of choice
The main criterion for choosing eye protection is the correct selection of one type or another, depending on the nature of the work and the degree of pollution of the room.
In addition, when buying, you should check:
- authenticity of products, since low-quality products will not provide reliable protection and can be harmful to health;
- the quality of the glasses - no scratches, chips and other damage.
- degree of comfort - you should choose a model that is suitable in size.
- in working conditions in poorly lit rooms, it is recommended to give preference to models equipped with a flashlight.
For more information on ZM goggles, see the video below.