SIST EN 175:1998

SIST EN 175:1998 is the Slovenian standard for eye and face protection used during welding and allied processes. It sets safety requirements and test methods for equipment that protects the operator from harmful optical radiation and from other hazards encountered in usual welding, cutting or similar operations. It is aimed at the people who specify, make, test, buy, or use welding face and eye protection.

What does SIST EN 175:1998 specify?

SIST EN 175:1998 specifies personal protective equipment for protecting the eyes and face in welding and allied processes. It covers protection against optical radiation and against radiative, flammable, mechanical and electrical hazards, and it also takes ergonomic aspects into account.

The standard is written for equipment that incorporates protective filters, with or without cover/backing oculars, as recommended by the welding protector manufacturer. It places this equipment in the context of EN 166:1995 and requires compliance with EN 169:1992 or EN 379:1994.

SIST EN 175:1998 also defines the terms used and sets requirements for materials, design and manufacture. In practice, this means a product is not judged only by its filter performance, but also by how it is built and whether it is suitable for normal use in welding conditions.

The scope excludes hoods, inspector face screens, laser protective equipment and welding protection for special applications.

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 175:1998?

SIST EN 175:1998 focuses on the complete eye and face protection solution, not just the lens or filter. A product must be suitable for the operator’s eyes and face during welding, cutting and similar work.

Protection performance

The equipment must protect against harmful optical radiation and other hazards that arise in welding and related operations. For a user, this means the protector has to address both light-related injury risk and the practical hazards present at the work station.

Hazards covered

SIST EN 175:1998 includes protection against radiative, flammable, mechanical and electrical risks. In practice, this pushes manufacturers and buyers to consider sparks, heat, impact and electrical exposure together, rather than treating eye protection as a single-issue product.

Filters and oculars

The equipment is designed to use protective filters, with or without cover/backing oculars, as recommended by the manufacturer. This matters because the correct filter arrangement is part of the protective system and should match the intended welding task.

Compatibility with other standards

SIST EN 175:1998 requires the equipment to be in accordance with EN 166:1995 and to comply with EN 169:1992 or EN 379:1994. This means the welding protector is not a standalone item; it sits within a broader eye-protection framework and should be selected as part of a compatible system.

Materials, design and manufacture

The standard sets requirements for materials, design and manufacture. For practice, that means the product must be built so it can be used safely and consistently, not just tested once as a sample.

Test methods

SIST EN 175:1998 includes test methods. Those tests are what manufacturers and laboratories use to check that the product meets the stated safety requirements.

What terms does SIST EN 175:1998 define?

SIST EN 175:1998 defines the terms used for the protection equipment and its parts.

• Protective filters - The optical elements that reduce harmful radiation reaching the eyes.
• Cover/backing oculars - Additional ocular components used with the protective filter when the manufacturer recommends them.
• Welding protector - The eye and face protection device used for welding and allied processes.
• Harmful optical radiation - Radiation that can injure the eyes or face during welding work.
• Allied processes - Related operations that use similar protection needs to welding.
• Special applications - Specialized welding protection uses that fall outside the standard’s scope.

Who uses SIST EN 175:1998?

SIST EN 175:1998 is used by manufacturers of welding eye and face protection, test laboratories, safety specialists, quality managers and buyers who need to specify suitable PPE for welding and cutting work. It is also relevant to operators who rely on face and eye protection in routine welding, cutting and similar operations.

What changed in SIST EN 175:1998 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 175:1998 is identical to EN 175:1997.

Which standards are used with SIST EN 175:1998?

SIST EN 175:1998 is linked to EN 166:1995, EN 169:1992 and EN 379:1994. EN 166:1995 provides the general eye-protection framework, while EN 169:1992 and EN 379:1994 cover the protective filters used with welding protectors.

What does the SIST EN 175:1998 document contain?

SIST EN 175:1998 contains the technical requirements and test methods for welding eye and face protection, together with the terms used in the document. It also sets the material, design and manufacture requirements that manufacturers must address when building the equipment.

The document is intended for product specification, conformity checking and laboratory testing. In practice, it gives manufacturers and buyers a common basis for selecting or assessing protective filters, ocular arrangements and complete welding face protection systems.