Spokane Airsoft

Purpose: To provide a uniform and standard policy for the proper use, wearing, donning , grade, specification and requirements for protective eye wear for airsoft engagement to the eyes, and not protection to other parts of the head.

Intent: To establish definitive protective eye measures to be undertaken by participants in airsoft engagements.

Discussion: Many sports have an established protective eyewear standard as a result of empirical studies of injuries and a governing body implementing safety measures. In 2002, 35,633 sport eye injuries were reported by emergency rooms in the United States.* Airsoft does not have specific studies regarding eye injuries as in hockey, racquet, alpine skiing and youth baseball. Nor is there a universal governing body for airsoft. Complicating this matter is the myriad of substandard eye pro being passed off as bona fide eye protection. Some being issued by manufacturers. It therefore has become necessary for Spokane Airsoft to establish eye pro standard for the safety and welfare of the airsoft community. This standard is not unique and is common within the airsoft community within the United States.

Definitions:
- Primary Protector: An approved eyepro device which may be worn alone or in conjunction with a secondary protector which meets the stds of this policy.
- Secondary Protector: An approved eyepro device which shall be worn only in conjunction with a primary protector which meets the stds of this policy.
- Faceshield - A protective device commonly intended to shield the wearer’s face, or portions thereof, in addition to the eyes, from certain
hazards. Faceshields are secondary protectors and shall be used only with primary protectors.
- Goggle: A protective device intended to fit the face immediately surrounding the eyes to shield the eyes from a variety of hazards.
- Eyepro: A protective device designed to specific impact standards no less than ANSI ZZ87.1 2003 to protect the eyes.
- Sealed: A uniform, comprehensive and conformed fit to the wearers face providing a secure, unbroken connection between the eyepro device and the wearer's face so that a bb or fragment is unable to pass without striking a barrier seal.
- Mesh: A stamp steel plate with dispersion from no greater than .031to .034 between cylindrical holes and diameter of same being no greater than .069 to .071.
- Wrapped Eyepro: approved device under this policy who's protective lens/frame extends in sufficient angular protection to the wearer in both lens contact to the check, brow and temple - and in curvature to avoid dead space between the device and the wearers face.

Policy:

1. Eye Protection Standard:
Grade:
- current ANSI Z87.1 2003 standards for all solid lens airsoft primary protector
- current ASTM F17666-01 Std & Euro EC Directive ECC Std solid lens paintball primary protector.
- current stamp steel mesh plate

1a. Condition: All eye pro, whether primary or secondary protector, shall be in clear, undamaged and undistressed form and order. SA Officials have the authority to disallow any eye pro at anytime for fitness- particularly upon eye pro sustaining direct close contact hits.

2. Reference: American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye Protective Devices. American Society for Testing and Materials. Paintball Sports Trade Association.

3. Developing Source: The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), as secretariat for ANSI's Z87 committee, developed the new standard of 2003.

4. Impact resistance
- basic and high (6.35 mm (0.25 in.) diameter steel ball traveling at a velocity of 45.7m/s (150 ft/s) for ANSI Z 87.1

5. Marking To Identify Eye Pro
- all removable lenses, both plano and non-plano, must bear a permanent manufacturer's logo or mark.
- high-impact lenses will be marked with a plus sign (+).
- One-piece plano spectacles require only one mark: either "Z87" or "Z87+", whichever is applicable. This mark can appear on the frame, temple or lens.
- Basic- and high-impact non-plano lenses must meet many of the same performance requirements as plano lenses. Basic-impact non-plano lenses need to bear only the manufacturer's mark or logo. High-impact non-plano lenses will be identified with a "+". 2003 and newer non-plano frames that meet Z87.1 performance requirements will bear the mark "Z87-2".
- All lenses must bear the manufacturer's mark or logo. A plus sign (+) is also required for high-impact lenses.
- All frames must bear the manufacturer's mark or logo. Frames complying with the 2003 standard must be marked "Z87". All dual-lens non-plano frames must be marked "Z87-2".
- Typical paintball lens will be marked CE and will be concealed under the lip of the goggle. The manufacturers mark is commonly placed on the mounting tab.
- Stamped Steel Mesh lens may be not be marked. However, the dispersion tolerances are easily confirmed with a micrometer caliper.

* Plano lenses are best described as flat eyewear or that eyewear which does not contain ophthalmic prescription (non corrective vision eyewear - although Z87.1 may indeed contain lens with prescription. Confusing. It’s an adjective not an adverb).

Understanding Z 87.1 is important! It is the only standard accepted for Plano eye pro (both prescription and non prescription).

Without proper markings indicating it is Z 87.1 your eye pro will not be approved - you will not be able to use it. Even more - you should not be using it at all !!!!!!!

6. Proof of Grade
- The wearer is responsible to provide and demonstrate manufacturer certificate of compliance to ANSI Z 87.1 upon demand of SA Official. This is particularly important for goggles, face shields and protection that bears concealed mark.
- ASTM & CE proof of grade paintball lens will be located on the edge of the lens. The goggle flap which retains the lens conceals this mark. It may be necessary to roll the edge to reveal the mark.

7. Prescription Wear As Primary Eye Protection
- Eye wear which provides corrective lens is approved provided that such eye protection is wrapped and or sealed; and respectively marked as indicated above.
- Wearer shall be prepared to provide documentation to support eye pro is Z 87.1 from manufacturer in event same is disputed.
Prescription Eye wear may be worn under Primary Eye Pro.

8. Type
- Plano - solid lens sealed around eyes to prevent projectiles entering eyes - airsoft and paintball type.
- Plano - solid lens, unsealed around eyes, with lens wrapped from eye to forward of the ear. The lens edge must be in contact with the cheek and temple and sufficiently conform to the wearer’s face to offer minimum gap between flesh and lens - airsoft type.
- Mesh stamp steel from plate, with dispersion from no greater than .031to .034 between cylindrical holes and diameter of same being no greater than .069 to .071. The mesh may either be in a goggle frame or spectacle (sunglass) type. Steel plate must me homogenous metal no less than .035 +- .01 .

9. Restrictions
- Must be 18 years of age and older to wear unsealed eye pro.
- Unsealed eye pro requires waiver. See waiver attached.
- Mesh eye pro requires waiver. See waiver attached.

10. Inspection
- Eye pro shall be inspected at check-in/registration of each event.
- Acceptance of eye pro rests with the SA Official.
- Eye pro shall be examined for signs of wear and tear and compliance to Z 87.1 or mesh standard. Optical clarity, fit and suitability are grounds for acceptance or denial.
- Wearer shall point out to the SA Official the Z 87.1, ASTM or CE compliant markings on respective eye pro. It is not the responsibility of the SA Official to demonstrate or otherwise prove the eye pro is compliant - the wearer is obligated to present, the correct term is to parade, the eye pro compliance.
- Failure to have approved eye pro will result in denial of engagement in airsoft event.
- Eye pro which is inspected at check-in/registration shall be one-in-the same used on the field of engagement. Switching out eye pro without inspection and approved by an SA Official is cause for summary sanction.
- Eye pro is subject to inspection and subsequent approval at anytime during the airsoft event.
- Any eye wear worn in an engagement area or area which requires eye pro which fails to comply with Z 87.1, paintball or mesh standards is cause for summary sanction.
- SA Officials have the authority to disallow any eye pro at anytime for fitness - particularly upon eye pro sustaining direct close contact hits.

11. Donning of Eye Pro
- Eye Pro shall be donned or otherwise effectively installed on wearer prior to reaching chrono station, Line of Departure, Line of Engagement, any area subject to weapons discharge or other such area determined by Officials. Failure to don eye pro is grounds for summary sanction.

12. Keeping Eye Pro On
- Eye Pro will remain donned in the engagement area, on the field or any area subject to weapons discharge. Should Eye Pro fail - call out for assistance and “cease fire”. This does not include fogging or other minor visual obstruction which does not impair impact capacity. Eye Pro will remain donned at all times in the engagement area, on the field and any area subject to weapons discharge. Failure to keep Eye Pro donned will result in summary disciplinary action.
- If Eye Pro becomes fogged, disengage by calling yourself “out”. Call out “blind man”. Do not remove Eye Pro. Remain in place until another player or Official guides you from the field.

13. Protection Standards
- Wrapped Z 87.1 Eye Pro shall provide sufficient angular protection to the wearer in both lens contact to the check, brow and temple - and in curvature to avoid dead space. Such side shield protection shall reduce if not prevent oblique trajectory.
- Sealed Z 87.1 Eye Pro shall provide a uniform and comprehensive fit to the shape and contour of the wearer's face by providing absolute contact between the skin and material of the eyepro (seal membrane), thus securing the wearer and eyepro as one. Any venting gaps or slots within the eyepro membrane must be less than 6mm in width.
- UV protection, anti fog and other such applications are acceptable provided these are completed by the manufacturer.

14. Eye Pro Requirement
- Any person who participates in the airsoft activity in any manner, who is to be on the field, engagement area or area where discharge may be likely - shall have Eye Pro inspected and donned.
- There is not a differing grade or requirement of Eye Pro for spectator, photographer, Official or player.

Summary:

• Eye Pro may be Z 87.1, paintball or stamp steel mesh.
• The wearer must point out the Eye Pro compliance mark to SA Officials.
• Prescription Eye Pro is okay but still must meet standards.
• You must be at least 18 years of age to wear unsealed wrapped Eye Pro - requires waiver.
• All Eye Pro is inspected at registration and spot checked.
• The Eye Pro inspected at registration is the same Eye Pro to be used on the field - no switching out.
• You must put on Eye Pro before you arrive at the point on the field they are required - not after or during.
• SA Officials have sole authority to approve Eye Pro - be certain of your Eye Pro compliance.
• Violations of this Eye Pro policy will be dealt with immediately and substantially.