If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you might remember when I briefly mentioned ANSI Z87.1 while talking about welding eye protection. But if you’re planning to make your skills professional, that “basic” conversation needs to go deeper, because welding helmets are in a league of their own.
When I first got into welding two decades ago, I thought a hood was all about lens darkness. I quickly learned that was the kind of mistake that could cost far more than a bad day; it could cost my eyesight.
That’s when ANSI Z87.1 stopped being just another acronym and became my BENCHMARK for telling apart helmets that only look protective from those that are truly proven safe. Even today, that standard hasn’t changed; the only difference is the upgrade from Z87.1 to Z87.1+.
So, if you’re serious about going pro, let’s break down ANSI Z87.1+ and why it should be the first safety standard you fully understand.
What Is ANSI Z87.1+ Relating To Welding Eye Protection?
ANSI Z87.1+ is the earlier version of the ANSI Z87.1 standard for occupational and educational eye and face protection. Developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it defines the requirements for personal protection equipment, such as SAFETY GLASSES, GOGGLES, FACE SHIELDS, and yes, WELDING HELMETS. The Z87.1 standard covers all requirements that our hoods and related eye protection must fulfill to safeguard us from on-the-job hazards.
As welding hazards evolved, so did the standard, and that is where ANSI Z87.1+ comes into the picture. It builds on everything in Z87.1, but includes major UPGRADES, tougher testing PROTOCOLS, and new CRITERIA to keep up with real-world hazards and advancements in eyewear protection for professionals.
For welders, the “+” isn’t just a symbol; it’s reassurance that our helmet meets both yesterday’s safety standards and today’s. So, if your welding hood carries the Z87.1+ mark, you can trust it is built to handle the job and protect your face and eyesight where it matters most. The improvements include:
Stricter testing protocols for impact resistance.
Enhanced requirements for optical quality.
Fit criteria.
Provisions for additional lens and frame resilience.
Essentially, the main difference between ANSI Z87.1 and Z87.1+ is that the latter incorporates additional safety requirements and significant upgrades to the earlier version, ANSI Z87.1.
Once I got into rigorous welding work, grinding edges, cutting metal, and dodging the occasional piece of flying slag, I realized what that “+” really means! It’s not just about the welding arc; it’s also about the random, high-speed hits that happen when you least expect them.
Trust me, I noticed a huge difference when I was working out at construction sites and industrial zones, both places where a welder’s eye safety is pushed to the limit.
What Does Z87.1+ (and Z87.1) Actually Cover For Welding Helmets?
Contrary to what I once believed (back when I thought helmet safety began and ended with how dark the lens was), ANSI Z87.1 covers much more than tint. It lays out critical requirements that certify the effectiveness and overall safety of welding hoods. Here’s what it covers:
1. Resistance To Impacts
The shell of your welding helmet and its lens are designed to withstand hits from metal fragments or flying slag without cracking. To guarantee DURABILITY, they undergo strict quality assurance tests such as the Drop Ball Impact Test, where a steel ball is dropped onto the lens from a set height.
The Z87.1+ rating raises the bar with tougher tests that simulate real-world hazards, like high-speed debris. I’ve seen this in action, sparks and metal shards shooting out of a grinder at speeds over 100 mph. Without this standard, you’re essentially betting your eyesight against flying steel. That’s definitely NOT a risk worth taking.
2. Optical Clarity
Clear vision is non-negotiable in welding. ANSI Z87.1 sets strict standards for lens quality to ensure your view of the puddle is sharp and undistorted, reducing eye strain. I’ve experienced the difference: trying to inspect a weld for fine details or place a bead accurately with a poor lens is frustrating, unsafe, and affects weld quality.
A helmet bearing the Z87.1+ stamp guarantees that your focus stays sharp, with NO blurring or warping, giving you a crystal-clear view of your work. Read this article to learn more about clarity ratings.
3. Coverage Area
Protection isn’t just about the lens. Z87.1+ ensures your hood shields your entire face, providing wraparound protection against sparks and slag from awkward angles.
This matters because welding rarely happens in a perfect stance. We’re often crouched, overhead, or squeezed into tight spaces (think pipeline welding). That’s when a helmet with certified coverage proves invaluable.
4. Fit And Comfort
I learned early on that a poorly fitted welding helmet is a liability. Even the smallest gaps around the sides or bottom are perfect entry points for sparks, dust, and hot fragments. Hoods certified to Z87.1+ are designed to fit snugly, keeping your eyes safe from even the finest debris.
5. Protection Against Radiation
Sparks aren’t the only danger; invisible UV and IR radiation from the welding arc can do serious damage, often without you noticing until it’s too late. ANSI Z87.1 testing ensures helmet lenses block harmful UV and IR rays, helping prevent injuries like flash burn or “arc eye.”
6. Resistance To Chemical Splashes
Beginners often focus on sparks and slag, but chemicals like cleaning agents, coolants, and cutting fluids are just as hazardous. Z87.1 certification includes testing for chemical resistance, so your helmet won’t fail under unexpected splashes.
That matters to me personally. A hood that won’t budge or let anything through is one less thing to worry about, letting me focus fully on my weld.
ANSI Z87.1 Shade Table For Different Welding Applications
Let me share with you a quick reference table with my recommended ANSI Z87.1 shades mapped to different welding processes, to help you get started.
| Welding Process | Amperage Range | Recommended Shade Number |
| SMAW / Stick Welding | < 60 A | #7 |
| 60 – 160 A | #8 – #10 | |
| 160 – 250 A | #10 – #12 | |
| 250 – 550 A | #12 – #14 | |
| GMAW / MIG Welding | < 60 A | #7 |
| 60 – 200 A | #10 | |
| 200 – 400 A | #11 | |
| 400 – 500 A | #12 | |
| FCAW Welding | 60 – 200 A 200 – 400 A | #10 #11 – #12 |
| GTAW / TIG Welding | < 50 A | #8 |
| 50 – 150 A | #10 | |
| 150 – 500 A | #12 | |
| Plasma Arc Welding / Cutting | < 20 A | #6 – #8 |
| 20 – 100 A | #8 – #10 | |
| 100 – 400 A | #10 – #12 | |
| 400 – 800 A | #14 | |
| Oxy-Fuel Cutting | < 1 in. thickness | #5 – #6 |
| 1 – 6 in. thickness | #6 – #8 |
I have already written a detailed article with a calculator, covering shade ranges specified in ANSI and OSHA standards; check it here. Now, here is a quick tip I learned the hard way – if you are unsure, always start with a darker shade and go lighter if needed, and never the other way round. Your eyes will thank you later!
How To Verify If Your Welding Helmet Meets ANSI Z87.1 (and Z87.1+)?
Naturally, the first question that comes to mind when discussing ANSI Z87.1-approved welding helmets is: how do we actually know a hood is certified and not just looking the part? There has to be a clear way to verify it; something more reliable than taking it at face value.
Well, the easiest way is to check the marking on the hood or the ADF, i.e., the lens. ANSI-authorized models will be stamped with “Z87” or “Z87+”, usually on the lens, frame, or inside the hood.
And, you might have already understood by now, only “Z87” means it meets the basic ANSI safety standard, while “Z87+” indicates it has passed the high-velocity impact tests that are essential if you’re working around grinding, cutting, or high-risk environments.
I would suggest inspecting every time you purchase a helmet for that marking, before trusting it in the shop. It’s a small step, but when it involves something as precious as your eyesight, it’s non-negotiable.
Markings On Your Welding Helmet: Full Checklist
If you look closely, you will realize that the Z87 or Z87+ marking isn’t the only code written on your welding helmet. When I first started using my Lincoln Viking hood, I didn’t even know my hood had hidden codes inside it, like “Z87W3/5-8.5/9-13“.
The thing is, most ANSI-certified hoods carry extra markings on the lens or frame. And once you learn what these additional markings or codes MEAN, it becomes a lot easier to choose the right helmet for the specific welding task you will be carrying out, instead of just guessing.
To help you understand easily and quickly, I have prepared a checklist of those markings and what they indicate.
| Code | Meaning | Example |
| W | Welding filter shade number (how dark the lens is) | W10 or W11 means lens shade #10 and #11, respectively |
| U | UV protection level offered by the lens or filter | A lens marked U4 blocks out more UV rays than a U2 lens. |
| R | IR protection level offered by the lens or filter | An R6 lens blocks out more IR rays than an R2. |
| V | Variable auto-darkening lens shade | W9-13V means the helmet covers variable welding shade from #9 to #13. |
| O | Optical quality level | O2 means relaxed optical level suitable for shorter duration work. |
| L | Visible light filter level | L3 is a darker shade suited for high-glare working conditions. |
| S | Special-purpose tinted lens approved by ANSI | A special tint other than the usual welding shades. |
| X | Anti-fog performance | Z87 + X means the helmet offers impact protection, along with certified fog resistance. |
| D3 | Splash and droplet protection | The hood is certified against liquid splashes. |
| D4 | Dust protection | Certified to protect against airborne dust particles. |
| D5 | Fine dust and gas protection | Highest level, offering protection against fine dust and gases, suitable for high-fume work environments. |
Now that we know what the markings mean, let us decode our example code “Z87W3/5-8.5/9-13”. This code means the hood is compliant with ANSI Z87; it’s also got an auto-dark range from shade 3/5 to 8.5/9 and 13 for welding and cutting.
How does ANSI Differ From CSA, EN, And OSHA Standards?
When it comes to welding helmet safety, ANSI, CSA, EN, and OSHA each play different roles. ANSI in the USA, and CSA in Canada (often dual-listed with ANSI), define voluntary agreement standards that outline how protective equipment should be built and tested, offering manufacturers a clear benchmark for performance. EN standards, used across Europe, do the same but with region-specific requirements for different PPE categories, including welding.
OSHA, however, is different because it doesn’t write hood standards itself but enforces workplace safety by referencing ANSI standards. In other words, ANSI, CSA, and EN tell us “what a helmet should do“, while OSHA is the law in the USA that says “we must wear PPE that meets ANSI (or equivalent) standards”.
Recent Updates To ANSI Z87 Standards
The latest revision of the ANSI Z87.1 standard, released in 2020, introduces significant updates that harmonize eye and face protection with global standards and tune it for more real-world welding conditions. These updates include the introduction of:
“O2″, i.e., relaxed optical requirement, offering greater flexibility for when our work doesn’t need maximum precision but still requires safe vision.
Anti-fog lens testing, identified by the “X” marking, ensures lenses remain clear even in high-heat or high-moisture environments.
More welding filter shades covering a broader range of processes – from plasma cutting to high-amperage stick welding.
A wider range of lens shade options to better suit varying welding and work conditions.
Clarifications on how auto-darkening filters and coverage areas are tested, so that when my hood says it protects, I know it’s been checked the same way every time.
In short, the 2020 updates have transformed ANSI Z87.1 from a simple compliance checkbox into a tougher, performance-driven benchmark for selecting a top-class welding helmet.
The Takeaway: Trust Built on Standards
It’s easy to get distracted in a market full of flashy designs, auto-darkening claims, and fancy add-ons. But when it comes to the hazards we welders face every day, none of that matters if your helmet can’t stand up to real-world scenarios. That’s where Z87.1+ comes in -cutting through the marketing noise and showing you which hoods are truly battle-tested for IMPACT, RADIATION, COVERAGE, and CLARITY.
After two decades under the hood, I can confidently say this: understanding ANSI Z87.1+ turned welding hoods from “gear I wear” into “gear I trust.” And trust is something you simply cannot compromise when it comes to your eyes.
At the end of the day, your helmet isn’t just another tool hanging on the rack; it’s the only barrier between your vision and a lifetime of risk.
