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ANSI-Approved Eyewash Stations

The American National Standards Institute's (ANSI's) Z358.1 standard sets the guideline for eyewash stations for industrial emergencies. The standard is for plumbed and self-contained eyewash stations. Though considered voluntary, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors use the code and have shut down plants for not complying with it. ANSI Z358.1 has five sections that describe emergency showers, wash equipment and supplemental equipment.

  1. Construction and Materials

    • Section 4 of this standard requires plumbed and self-contained emergency showers to be made with non-corrosive material and the flushing fluid to be delivered in a way that the user is protected from airborne contaminants. The shower head must be 82 inches to 96 inches from the where the user stands. The spray head must have a 20-inch diameter spray pattern at 60 inches above the surface and 16 inches from obstruction. Section 4 also sets standards for valve activation and the speed of the flushing fluid being released.

    Eyewash Equipment

    • Section 5 of ANSI Z358.1 sets the standard for the eyewash equipment, which must also be made from noncorrosive materials, have a flow that is non-injurious and protect the user from airborne contaminants. This section also includes all the critical dimensions required. It covers flow patterns, distances, obstruction and temperatures as well as ease of use. As in Section 4, Section 5 makes requirements of valves, which should be easy to use and not turn off until the user turns it off -- no automatic shut-off.

    Eye and Face Wash Equipment

    • Section 6 reiterates many of the kinds of standards in Sections 4 and 5 (dimensions and other details are different for different components), but it goes on to discuss the gauges on the eye and face wash equipment. The nozzle for the facial equipment must be 6 inches from the wall or any other type of obstruction. The mechanics of the valve -- that it's easy to open and remains open until the user shuts it off -- are the same. The section also covers performance and maintenance.

    Combination Units

    • Combination units -- showers, eyewashes, eye and face washes, and drench hoses -- are covered in Section 7. An inspection is required to see that all drenching systems are capable of being activated at the same time and continue uninterrupted for 15 minutes. The units should be activated every week to make sure the flushing fluid is provided. This section also has critical dimensions and performance and maintenance criteria.

    Supplemental Equipment

    • Section 8 outlines requirements for supplemental equipment, which is equipment that is available for immediate use. Supplemental equipment includes personal wash units and drench hoses. These things are to be used while the emergency victim is on his way to the worker's area where treatment is available.

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