Detailed Introduction to EN 175 Standard – Eye and Face Protection for Welding and Related Techniques
1. Overview of EN 175 Standard
- Full Name: EN 175 – Personal Eye and Face Protection: Equipment for Eye and Face Protection During Welding and Related Processes.
- Purpose: Defines the requirements for protective equipment used for welding, cutting, grinding, and related processes that pose risks from optical radiation, heat, and mechanical hazards.
- Scope: Covers welding helmets, face shields, and goggles designed to protect against:
- Harmful optical radiation (UV, IR, and intense visible light)
- Thermal hazards (heat, sparks, and molten metal splashes)
- Mechanical impact (flying debris and fragments)
EN 175 ensures that welding protective equipment provides adequate coverage, durability, and compatibility with welding filters (EN 169) and automatic darkening filters (EN 379).
2. Importance of Eye and Face Protection in Welding
Welding produces intense optical radiation, heat, and flying debris, which can cause:
🔴 Arc eye (welder’s flash) from UV exposure
🔴 Retinal burns and long-term vision damage from IR radiation
🔴 Thermal burns from molten metal splashes
🔴 Eye injuries from high-speed particles
🔴 Severe glare causing visual discomfort
EN 175 ensures that welders and metalworkers are equipped with reliable face and eye protection against these hazards.
3. Key Requirements of EN 175
The standard defines strict performance criteria for welding protection equipment, ensuring:
✅ Resistance to UV, IR, and intense visible light
✅ Impact resistance against high-speed particles
✅ Protection against hot sparks and molten metal
✅ Compatibility with welding filters (fixed or automatic)
✅ Sturdy construction with high durability
✅ Adequate ventilation to prevent fogging
Types of Welding Protection Covered by EN 175
| Protection Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Welding Helmets | Full-face coverage with fixed or auto-darkening filters |
| Face Shields | Covers the face but requires separate eye protection |
| Goggles | Eye protection for gas welding, but does not cover the full face |
4. Testing Methods in EN 175
EN 175 defines five main test categories to ensure welding face and eye protection meets safety requirements. These include:
- Optical Radiation Protection Test
- Impact Resistance Test
- Heat and Flame Resistance Test
- Molten Metal and Hot Particles Resistance Test
- Durability and Mechanical Strength Test
Each test ensures that the equipment performs under extreme welding conditions.
A. Optical Radiation Protection Test
Purpose
- Verifies that the face and eye protection device effectively blocks harmful UV, IR, and visible light radiation.
Test Procedure
- A welding filter (EN 169 or EN 379) is inserted into the equipment.
- A high-intensity light source (welding arc simulator) is directed through the filter.
- A spectrophotometer measures the transmission of UV (200-380 nm), IR (780-2000 nm), and visible light (380-780 nm).
- The lens must filter the radiation to match the shade number requirements for the welding process.
Pass/Fail Criteria
- The optical filter must block at least 99.9% of UV and IR radiation.
- Visible light transmission must correspond to the EN 169 or EN 379 welding shade numbers (e.g., 9-13 for arc welding, 5-9 for gas welding, etc.).
B. Impact Resistance Test
Purpose
- Ensures that the face and eye protection can withstand high-speed impacts from flying debris.
Test Procedure
- A 6mm steel ball is fired at the visor at different speeds:
- Low-energy impact (45 m/s)
- High-energy impact (120 m/s) (for reinforced models)
- The visor is inspected for cracks, fractures, or deformation.
Pass/Fail Criteria
- The lens must not shatter or develop holes after impact.
C. Heat and Flame Resistance Test
Purpose
- Ensures that the equipment does not ignite, melt, or deform under welding heat exposure.
Test Procedure
- The protection device is exposed to a flame at 650°C for 10 seconds.
- The material is checked for ignition, melting, or structural failure.
Pass/Fail Criteria
- The equipment must not catch fire or show significant deformation.
D. Molten Metal and Hot Particles Resistance Test
Purpose
- Verifies that the protection device can withstand molten metal splashes and hot particles.
Test Procedure
- Molten metal droplets (aluminum or steel) are applied to the visor.
- The visor is checked for penetration or material degradation.
Pass/Fail Criteria
- The visor must withstand molten metal splashes without penetration or damage.
E. Durability and Mechanical Strength Test
Purpose
- Tests the overall structural durability and long-term wear resistance of the welding protection device.
Test Procedure
- The equipment is subjected to mechanical stress tests, including:
- Repeated bending and flexing
- Dropping from a height of 1.5 meters
- Abrasion resistance testing
- The equipment is checked for cracks, wear, and damage.
Pass/Fail Criteria
- The material must remain functional and intact after mechanical testing.
5. Marking & Certification of EN 175 Welding Protection
Once a welding helmet, face shield, or goggles pass EN 175 tests, they are certified and marked accordingly.
EN 175 Marking System
- Welding Filter Code (e.g., EN 169 or EN 379)
- Impact Resistance Rating (“S”, “F”, “B”, or “A”)
- Optical Class (1, 2, or 3, indicating distortion levels)
- Manufacturer’s Mark (e.g., “3M,” “Uvex”)
- CE Marking (Compliance with EU Safety Standards)
For example, “175 S CE” means:
- EN 175 standard compliance
- Impact resistance “S” (low energy impact)
- CE certification for European safety regulations
6. Comparison with Related Standards
| Standard | Focus | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| EN 166 | General Eye Protection | Covers optical & mechanical safety |
| EN 167 | Optical Test Methods | Tests clarity, refraction, and lens quality |
| EN 168 | Non-Optical Test Methods | Evaluates heat, impact, and chemical resistance |
| EN 169 | Welding Filters | Defines fixed shade filters for welding |
| EN 170 | UV Protection | Specifies UV filtering requirements |
| EN 171 | IR Protection | Defines IR filtering requirements |
| EN 172 | Sun Glare Protection | Specifies industrial sunglare filter requirements |
| EN 379 | Auto-Darkening Filters | Defines auto-darkening welding filters |
| EN 175 | Welding Eye & Face Protection | Defines requirements for welding helmets & face shields |
7. Conclusion
The EN 175 standard ensures that welders and metalworkers receive reliable, impact-resistant, and radiation-proof face and eye protection. Its strict testing methods guarantee durability, optical clarity, and resistance to extreme welding conditions.
