The Standards Council of Canada lists CSA Z94.3:26, published June 30, 2026, as the current edition of Canada’s eye and face protector standard, replacing CSA Z94.3:20. If your safety glasses are marked Z94.3, that is the standard they are tested against, and the US ANSI Z87.1 mark is a different system.

What does CSA Z94.3 actually cover?

According to the Standards Council record, the standard covers eye and face protectors used in general occupational and educational settings, for hazards such as flying particles, splashing liquids, molten metal, and ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation. It leaves out X-rays, gamma rays, lasers, and bioaerosols and biohazards, which fall under CSA Z94.4. It also sets minimum test performance only: comfort, service life and appearance are not addressed.

HexArmor, a safety eyewear maker, explains that the standard sorts products by type: Class 1A and 1B for spectacles, Class 2A through 2E for goggles, then welding helmets, hand shields, hoods and face shields (Class 6A for impact and splash).

How is it tested compared with ANSI Z87.1?

HexArmor says a Z94.3 lens must survive a 6 mm steel ball weighing 0.88 g at 50.5 m/s without breaking, chipping, shattering or cracking, and the whole protector must pass an ignition test with a heated 300 mm steel rod. WC Safety, a Canadian retailer, describes the ANSI side as a basic drop ball test for Z87 and a high velocity test with a 1/4 inch steel ball at 150 ft/sec for Z87+.

Both sources say CSA uses device classes while ANSI uses add on codes such as D3 for splash and D4 and D5 for dust. HexArmor adds that neither standard is necessarily better.

Can I wear ANSI Z87.1 glasses on a Canadian site?

It depends on the province and the employer. WC Safety says there are 14 occupational jurisdictions in Canada with different wording, and that Quebec’s CNESST does not accept ANSI only eyewear, though it notes this comes from secondary compliance material and not the regulation text. It also reports that WorkSafeBC found ANSI Z87.1-2010 to give equivalent or better protection when the regulation’s other requirements are met. The same page says a CSA standard is voluntary until a regulation references it.

Do the sources agree on which edition is current?

No. The WC Safety reference page names CSA Z94.3:20, reaffirmed in 2025, as current, while the Standards Council record shows Z94.3:26 published June 30, 2026 and superseding the 2020 edition. Treat the Standards Council listing as the more recent record, and check which edition your employer or regulator names.

Who it suits

  • Crew buyers and safety coordinators: look for the CSA mark or Z94.3 on the lens or temple, and keep the certificate or test data on file, since HexArmor says “meets” means independent testing and “certified” means CSA Group or a lab it qualifies.
  • Tradespeople who work in Quebec: choose eyewear marked to CSA Z94.3, not ANSI only.
  • Homeowners and first time buyers: a pair marked to either standard beats an unmarked pair, but confirm the mark is printed on the product.

This is general information, not legal advice. Before you order, read the eyewear clause in your provincial health and safety regulation or your employer’s PPE policy, and check the edition year it references.