Regulation

Nickel regulations on frames

Since July 18 2000, the European Directive 94/27/EEC relative to dangerous substances and known as "Directive Nickel" is in force in the whole of European Union countries. Nowadays, REACH reglement, annex XVII (entry #27), defines the use of nickel.

One wear method simulating a two-tear carrying described in the EN 12472 : 2005 must be used before checking the quantity of nickel released. The nickel release is measured in compliance with the EN 16128 : 2011 standard for spectacle frames and with the EN 1811:2011 standard for others concerned products.

Some countries of the European Union (including France and Italy) have explicitly banished frames for ophthalmological eyeglasses and for sunglasses which belong to the sphere of implementation of the regulations relative to coated products containing nickel and meant to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin (except for coated parts which effectively come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin, such as a metallic nose-saddle). Consequently, according to the country the tested products are bound for, the compliance with this test is not required when the checking concerns the compliance with EC standards in accordance with the European Directives 89/686/EEC and 94/27/EEC.

 

EC labelling mechanism

You are a manufacturer, an importer, a distributor, a private or public buyer, a representative or else, and you take on the responsibility for your products on the European market concerning their compliance with the basic health and security requirements which are defined by the directive(s) specific to them.

 

 

EC labelling

The manufacturers themselves take on the responsibility for the appending of the EC labelling for class 1 products such as leisure sunglasses and frames for ophthalmological eyeglasses. For these products, the EC labelling testifies to their compliance with essential health and security requirements which are checked thanks to specific tests in accordance with the standards in force.

 

For sun-protections

The informative note, the general construction, the labelling and the toxicity are information that the manufacturer must justify himself.
This is what must be written down for each pair of sunglasses in the form of a labelling on the frame or on the package or in the form of a label (in the language(s) of the country it is bound for).

• the manufacturer’s or the supplier’s details
• the number of the filter’s category
• the number and the date of the standard
• the category 4 filters must be marked "not suitable for driving and road use" or bear a pictogram.

 

For spectacle frames

The physiological compatibility and the threading tolerance of the screws are information that the manufacturer must justify himself :

• the manufacturer’s or the supplier’s name
• the name of the model
• the colour identification
• the horizontal dimension of the glass to fit into it with the "boxing" symbol
• the distance between glasses
• the total length of the sides

 Within the framework of 93/42/ce European Directive, any manufacturer who, under his own name places devices on the market in accordance with the procedures referred to in Article 11 (5) and (6) and any other naturel or legal person engaged in the activities referred to in Article 12 shall inform the competent authorities of the Member State in which he has his registred place of business of address of the registred place of business and the description of the devices concerned.

 

Sunglasses assembling quality

It is important to choose the ocular in accordance with the frame

Material : the sole restriction that can exist concerns the compatibility between materials (Ex: polycarbonate and acetate).

Base : the base of the ocular must be adapted in accordance with the curve of the frame (use base 6 for a classical shape, base 8 or 9 preferably decentred for a sportive shape and base 10 or 12 decentred for a very enveloping shape).

 

Assembling check 

 Glass tension : a glass assembled too tight will be subjected to internal tensions which can lead to more or less grave consequences (alteration of optical proprieties, fissuring, peeling or breaking). Conversely, a glass assembled too loose will easily get dislodged from the frame. 

 Optical axis aligning : for the user’s comfort, the optical axis of each of the two assembled glasses must be parallel and situated at the level of the user’s eye. 

 Optical power of assembled oculars : it must be ensured that the oculars which are used are well adapted to the frame and that they have been correctly assembled to avoid a difference of prismatic power which can provoke visual tiredness or headaches for the user.

 

Assembling of oculars with degrading tones or polarising 

  Oculars with degrading tones : it must be ensured that the axis of gradation is parallel to the horizon, that the two oculars have the same orientation and that they are at the same level.

Polarising oculars : it must be ensured that the axes of polarisation are parallel to the horizon (tolerance : +/- 5°) and that the two oculars have the same orientation (tolerance : +/- 6°).