ANSI Z87.1 is not a complete specification for eyewear for use in our sport.
A brief synopsis:
http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/ansiz8712003.html
ANSI Z87.1 includes a minimum specification for ballistic front angle protection which is quite high (1/4" steel ball at 250fps for goggles or 150fps for glasses) but offers no rigid specification on non frontal angle coverage.
Conversely ASTM F1776-10 is a very complete specification for eye protection for stopping paintballs. ASTM F1776-10 does not require the same high level of front angle ballistic protection as ANSI Z87.1, but ASTM F1776-10 does describe a very robust complement of angular protection.
For instance, ASTM F1776-10 contains a specification for a fitment test of test goggles to a few standardized mannequin heads. The heads are fired upon from numerous specified angles at the edges of the goggles to test how well the goggles prevent entry of large shell fragments into the ocular area. The test requires shots to strike from behind at the temple and upwards near the nose area. Goggles are required to not allow particles beyond a certain size to enter the ocular area to show that they can seal against shots from odd angles. Most goggles without the face mask cannot meet this specification due to the difficulty of sealing around the nose area. There is significant variation between players noses which confounds reliable sealing around the nose. The requirement for off angle strike protection is met by the addition of a facemask which reliably prevents shot fragments from traveling along the side of the nose.
A similar test requires shots the be fired from behind striking the left or right edge of the goggle to see if goggles could be jarred from the face with repeated strikes from behind. This test evaluates the efficacy of the strap for holding the goggles in place from several (something like 10) high energy hits from the side and rear.
The importance of non frontal angle protection cannot be understated. Forward angle strikes are relatively easy to stop. Polycarbonate which has not been embrittled by long UV exposure (old lenses become less crack resistant) can easily stop paintballs or airsoft projectiles. Much of the text in ASTM F1776-10 specification describes protection from odd angles as well as goggle retention which has unfortunately shown to be the most common cause of failure in eye protection in a long history of paintball.
A few interesting paintball accidents in history:
A player wearing a motorcycle helmet which easily met ballistic requirements (designed for rock strikes on the highway) was blinded when a shot entered the helmet from below impacting in the ocular area. The player was laying prone and took fire from behind which went straight up the open bottom of the helmet.
Players wearing goggles with no face mask and worn foam taking fire from a low angle (also laying prone) are exposed to risk of pellet or fragment entry beside the nose into the ocular area.
Players wearing glasses can have their glasses stripped off or jostled when backing into heavy shrubbery. Glasses with side shielding offer very little low or high angle coverage. Players eyes can be exposed to fire when laying prone or engaging opponents firing into or from elevated positions (2nd floor balconies or windows etc).
ASTM F1776-10 is a specification for shooting sport eye protection that is far more appropriate for airsoft than ANSI Z87.1. Heavy ballistic specifications are not necessary with our typical muzzle energies. Trading off a small degree of forward protection for a significant degree of off angle protection and retention provides a more complete specification for eye protection in our application.
ASTM F1776-10 is a recognized specification for paintball fields which means that insurance agencies will require adherence to it. Even if you think that your ANSI spec eyewear provides better forward angle protection, pball fields will lose their insurance coverage if they allow players to wear ANSI eyewear.
mil-dtl-43511d is an interesting specification:
http://www.everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/M...-43511D_15101/
It has a lot of focus on optical quality that I think isn't in ASTM F1776-10. The forward angle ballistic requirement is quite high, but I see little reference to retention requirements, or non forward angle protection. The anti scratch tests are interesting. I suspect they're not in ASTM F1776-10 because they might not make enough difference with players rubbing their sandy hands across the front. I also see no fog resistance specifications in MIL-DTL. IRC ASTM F1776-10 makes some attempt to specify a minimum fog resistance test.
It should be noted that ASTM F1776-10 is a PAINTBALL goggle specification. While passing it's ballistic tests will probably result in a lens strong enough for airsoft, ASTM F1776-10 does not address all of the issues of our projectiles. Some years ago, I attended an ASTM conference when it came to Toronto. An airsoft division was just starting up to address the needs for new regulation. Last I heard they were going to set out new regulations for airsoft eyewear. That was years ago though. I'm out of the loop.
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthr...highlight=astm