Overview
ISO 12311:2023 - "Personal protective equipment - Test methods for sunglasses and related eyewear" - specifies reference test methods for determining the mechanical and environmental properties of sunglasses and related eyewear referenced in ISO 12312 (all parts). It applies to all sunglasses and related eyewear and allows use of other test methods when equivalence can be demonstrated. The second edition updates the scope of retained methods and aligns with related head‑form test methods (ISO 18526 series).
Key topics and technical requirements
Practical applications and who uses it
- Eyewear manufacturers: product development, design validation and quality control.
- Testing laboratories and certification bodies: compliance testing against ISO 12312 performance requirements.
- Procurement and regulatory agencies: verify conformity of sunglasses and protective eyewear for occupational or consumer use.
- R&D and quality assurance teams: compare materials, hinge designs and filter retention under standardized conditions.
Related standards
- ISO 12312 (all parts) - performance/specifications for sunglasses and filters
- ISO 18526 series - head form test methods (referenced removal of duplicated content)
- ISO 4007, ISO 8624 - vocabulary and measuring systems for eye/face protection and spectacle frames
- ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 (GUM) - uncertainty of measurement guidance
Keywords: ISO 12311:2023, sunglasses test methods, eyewear standards, frame deformation test, filter retention, endurance cycling, perspiration resistance, PPE eye protection.