Everything you need to know about NFPA wildland goggles [FAQ]

2023-10-31

Wildland fires are a force of nature, one that can be nearly impossible to prevent and as difficult to control as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. And over the last few decades, there have been longer fire seasons, bigger fires, and more extreme fire behavior, which have prompted increased wildfire suppression operations all over the world.

That’s why it’s more important than ever to ensure firefighters are prepared not only with proper equipment and training but best-in-class protective wear to fight wildfires.

In addition to fire-resistant pants and shirts, a helmet, gloves, leather boots, and fire shelter – eye protection is a must. And not just any eye protection – but NFPA-approved wildland safety goggles.

Here’s everything you need to know about NFPA wildland safety goggles.

What are the hazards associated with wildland fires?

Since fighting fires is a risky business, it makes sense to know the types of hazards you will be facing. We have identified four main wildland hazards to be aware of that affect the performance of your safety eyewear:

1. Radiant heat

Fire radiates an enormous amount of heat, which means the space inside of the goggle must help decrease the amount of radiant heat that reaches the eye.

To simulate “normal” circumstances that the firefighters work in, goggles are tested to withstand 350O F for a minimum of five minutes without dripping, melting, or igniting.

2. Airborne debris

Due to the nature of the job, there is a large amount of debris around wildland workers. From dust particles to whirlwinds, this debris is oftentimes hot, ignited, and flying through the air at volatile speeds, which cause mechanical and thermal eye injuries in a split second.

Not to mention additional factors that cause airborne debris like working around helicopters, chainsaws, or hoses.

3. Severe fogging

Vision plays one of the biggest roles in fighting wildland fires, as fireline conditions and the surrounding environment need to be continually monitored for danger. This causes a significant amount of manual labor, and when combined with wildfire heat, goggle fogging issues contribute to a huge potential for injury.

4. Thick smoke

Smoke from the fire can cause irritation to the eyes and heavy tearing, causing obscured vision – which contributes to the potential for additional injury.

For goggle recommendations, keep reading.

What does NFPA 1977 mean?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) includes a variety of standards, and the code 1977 establishes requirements for protective gear (helmets, gloves, footwear, face/neck shrouds, and goggles) and other equipment to protect firefighters during a wildland firefighting operation.

NFPA 1977 particularly addresses the minimum design, performance, testing, and certification requirements of this PPE. End users are then able to reference this information when reviewing the documentation received from their supplier(s) to help verify the fire-fighting PPE meet NFPA 1977 and their needs.

Testing requirements are very strict, but for good reason – to ensure peoples’ safety.

What tests do wildland safety goggles undergo in NFPA 1977?

And what do these tests entail? There are three main tests, each one detailed below.

1. Must pass ANSI Z87.1+

For a full explanation of this testing and lens markings, read this blog.

2. Heat and thermal shrinkage resistance test

Goggles must pass a test temperature of 177°C (350°F) for 5 minutes. This test was designed to eliminate the use of goggle materials that would soften or melt when exposed to levels of radiant heat seen in normal operations while being stowed on the helmet.

In other words, the goggle still needs to be usable after exposure without causing harm to a firefighter.

Straight from the NFPA 1977: The goggle shall show no evidence of dripping, melting, or ignition; the lens shall not separate from the frame; the goggle shall remain above the brim of the helmet; the retention strap shall not dislodge from the goggles; the retention strap shall be capable of securing the goggles to the head form in the area surrounding the eyes; and the test subject shall be able to read 20/100 on the standard eye chart with each eye.

3. Thread-breaking strength test

The goggle’s headband cannot melt or decompose below 260°C (500°F) or else it fails.

What sets HexArmor’s FireArmor® wildland safety goggles apart?

Many goggles used for wildland purposes are expensive, provide subpar protection, and are uncomfortable – or all three.

When an emergency strikes, you need to make sure your wildland goggles can keep up. And we have the goggle that'll do just that. It not only passes the NFPA 1977 wildland certification and the ANSI Z87.1+ standard, which covers four high-impact tests, but includes features you've come to know and love from HexArmor® safety eyewear.

Here’s how HexArmor’s durable, full-coverage FireArmor® Wildland LT300 safety goggle helps set the standard for wildland firefighting:

NFPA 1977

Passes the NFPA 1977 Standard for Wildland Fire Fighting and is heat resistant and flame retardant.

TruShield®S coating

Includes HexArmor’s proprietary TruShield® S coating, perfect for extreme outdoor environments. The inside of the lens includes our dual-action anti-fog coating that mitigates fogging issues by absorbing moisture, while the outside of the lens includes our hard coat anti-scratch coating that prevents scratches from debris and sparks while working around wildfires.

Ventilation

Wildland fire environments can get smokey fast. Indirect ventilation of the goggles is critical to help keep out smoke while also allowing air circulation.

Wearability®

Fire-fighting crews will oftentimes be working long days, several days in a row making their gear’s wearability features like the below list a huge deal.

Universal fit
Over-the-glasses option
Smaller profile than competitive goggles
Flexible soft components that adapt to the wearer's face

Field of vision

Large fires can obscure the sun to the point of it being quite dark on the ground, and with a “look up, look down, look around” mindset to follow, a wide panoramic field of vision is essential for increased safety and perception of hazards.

Everything you need to know about NFPA wildland goggles [FAQ]