GB/T 14214-2019 Spectacle frames General requirements and test methods

This standard specifies the technical requirements for spectacle frames, the selection of test samples, sample pretreatment and requirements, testing, inspection and judgment, test methods and markings.

This standard applies to various types and styles of spectacle frames made of metal, plastic and natural organic materials, including frameless frames, semi-frame frames and folding frames.

This standard does not apply to spectacle frames designed to provide special protection for the human eye and custom-made frames.

Related terms

The terms and definitions defined in GB/T 26397 and listed below apply to this document. For ease of use, some of the terms and definitions in GB/T 26397 are repeated below.

Term	Description	Note
镜架型号 spectacle frames model	Frames of the same design, made of the same material (not necessarily the same color), and with the same surface treatment	For the purposes of this standard, a frame model is considered to have changed if the frame design, material or surface treatment is changed.
天然有机材料 natural organic material	Materials that are not synthesized with other raw materials and can basically maintain their original properties after processing. Examples: Natural keratin, bamboo and wood.	The term “machining” is defined as cutting, forming, bending, polishing and heating.
客户定制镜架 custom-made spectacle frame	Eyeglass frames are custom-made to meet the specific needs of the customer.	Eyeglass frames that are made specifically for a wearer with unusual facial features are considered custom frames.
金属架 metal frame	The main part of the front frame of the eyeglass frame is made of metal material.
塑料架 plastic frame	The main part of the front frame of the eyeglass frame is made of plastic material.
方框法测量系统 boxed measurement system	A measurement system and definition based on the rectangle formed by horizontal and vertical tangent lines to the outer edge of the lens.
方框法中心 boxed center	In box measurement, the point where the horizontal and vertical center lines intersect.
方框法中心距 distance between center	The distance between the centers of the two boxes.
镜片水平尺寸 horizontal boxed lens size	In the box measurement method, the distance between the two vertical sides of the rectangular frame circumscribing the lens.
片间距离 distance between lenses	In the box measurement method, the distance between the two vertical sides of the rectangular frame circumscribed by the two lenses on the nose side.
镜腿长度 overall length of side	The distance from the intersection of the thread axis and the mid-plane of the hinge to the end of the temple parallel to the centerline.	For non-hinged temples, the temple length refers to the straight-line distance from the end of the temple to 10mm from the front frame when the temple and the front frame or the temple part attached to the front frame are opened to 90-05°.

Technical requirements for frames

Performance requirements for different types of frames

Eyeglasses Type	Item
Eyeglasses Type	Nickel precipitation	Appearance Quality	Size Tolerance	High temperature dimensional stability	Coating performance	Mechanical stability	Flame retardant	Light irradiation resistance
Rimless and semi-rim	O	g	O	g	g	g	g	O
Other	O	g	g	g	g	g	g	O
g Indicates the terms that should be complied with O Indicates optional compliance clause Note: “Other” include full-frame plastic eyeglasses frames, metal eyeglasses frames and folding frames, etc.
The dimensional deviation in rimless and semi-rim is an optional compliance clause and does not include the temple length (i.e. the spectacle's temple length should meet the standard requirements).

General physiological compatibility

Spectacle frames should be designed and manufactured to meet the health and safety requirements of the wearer during normal use. Manufacturers should minimize the release of harmful substances from parts that come into contact with the skin for a long time, especially those that are allergenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic.

Any material may have rare or specific reactions, which may also be caused by excessive pressure, such as poor facial fit, chemical irritation or allergy, etc. Instructions can be provided to indicate specific personal choices.

Nickel release

The nickel release from the metal parts of metal frames and hybrid spectacle frames that are in direct and long-term contact with the wearer's skin should not exceed 0.5μg/(cm²·week) according to the GB/T 38009 test.

The tested parts should include:

Front frame (hoop, nose bridge, if used, including stipules and metal-surfaced nose pads), excluding stipule bars and studs
Temples: including the metal clip, but excluding the hinge, the area around the hinge and the area protected by the plastic sleeve
Metal decorative parts installed on the inside of plastic temples and plastic sleeves

Appearance quality

The surface of the frame should be smooth, without blemishes and bumps, without obvious scratches, and the edges should be rounded.

Dimensional Tolerance

The nominal dimensions of the frame should be marked according to the GB/T 38004 box measurement system.

The dimensional deviation of the unassembled test piece frame should meet the following requirements:

Horizontal size of lens:±0.5mm
Distance between lenses:±0.5mm
Temple length:±2.0mm

Threads used in frames

The thread tolerances used in frames should comply with GB/T 197.

Dimensional stability at high temperatures

For frames with test pieces installed, the distance between the ends of the two temples should not change by more than +6mm or -12mm. For small frames with a dimension of less than 100mm from the back of the front frame to the end of the temples, the dimension change should not exceed +5mm or -10mm.

Coating performance

Anti-sweat corrosion

In the anti-sweat corrosion test, visually inspect the specified parts at 8h and 24h of the test. The samples should:

After 8 hours of testing, no spots or discoloration (excluding surface gloss loss) appear on any part of the frame (excluding hinges and screws)
After a 24-hour test, the parts that are likely to come into contact with the skin for a long time during wear, namely the inner side of the temples, the bottom and lower part of the frame, and the covering layer on the inner side of the nose bridge, showed no corrosion, surface degradation or shedding.

If the spectacle frames are made of natural organic materials and the manufacturer recommends the use of grease or wax for maintenance in the instructions for use, the frames should be pre-treated according to the manufacturer's instructions before the test. If the surface discoloration or surface degradation of the frames does not meet the requirements after the test, the frames that have undergone surface pretreatment should be placed for 1 day and then checked again for surface discoloration or surface degradation. If the frames are restored to their original state, the frames are judged to have passed the test. If discoloration or degradation still remains, the frames are judged to have failed the test.

Coating bonding strength

After the corrosion resistance test, the coating should not fall off.

Note: The coating refers to the covering layer added to the surface of the frame during the production process due to design reasons, such as electroplating, painting, plasticizing layer, etc.

Mechanical stability

Nose bridge deformation

The frame with the test piece installed shall meet the following requirements when tested as specified:

No breaks or cracks in any part
Permanent deformation ≤0.02c

Description

1 ——Ring clamp

2 ——Pressure rod

3 —— Original position

4 —— Position after test

x —— Permanent deformation

c —— Frame geometric center distance

Lens clamping force

During the test, the two test pieces should not fall out of the ring groove or the hanging wire in whole or in part.

Fatigue resistance

After the test, the following situations should not occur in the frame with the test piece installed:

Any breakage or cracking
After 500 tests, the permanent deformation exceeds 5mm
Requires more than slight finger force to open and close temples (except for frames with spring hinges)
For non-spring hinge frames, any side of the temple will close down at any point in the opening/closing process due to its own weight; for spring hinge frames, the two temples cannot support their weight in the open position and cannot maintain the original function of the spring hinge.

Flame retardancy

According to the prescribed test, the tested part should not continue to burn.

Light irradiation resistance

According to the prescribed test, the sample should meet the following requirements when compared with the untested part of the frame:

The color difference is not more than the gray scale grade 3 of GB/T 250-2008
Bright surface without losing gloss

Test samples

To meet the test requirements, for each model of frames, at least two pairs of samples are randomly selected and marked as sample 1 and sample 2. Before the test, they are pre-treated as required.

Nickel precipitation test

If the nickel precipitation test is to be carried out on metal and mixed material frames, additional samples 3 and 4 should be taken and pre-treated and tested according to GB/T 38009.

Change of frame model

If a series of frame models are made of the same material and the same manufacturing process (including surface treatment), one of the frame models can be used for sweat corrosion resistance and flame retardancy tests, and light radiation resistance and/or nickel precipitation tests can be carried out if necessary.

Sample preparation and test conditions

Before starting the test, the sample should be placed in an environment at room temperature of 23℃±5℃ for at least 4h. The sample should be kept in the condition when the manufacturer or supplier delivered it, without pre-shaping, adjustment or lubrication, and the test should be carried out under the same environmental conditions as mentioned above.

Pilot projects	Order	Sample 1	Sample 2	Sample 3&4
Appearance	1	*
Size Tolerance	2	*
High temperature dimensional stability	3	*
Anti-sweat corrosion	4	*
Deformed bridge	5		*
Lens holding force	6		*
Fatigue resistance	7		*
Coating bonding strength	8		*
Flame retardant	9	*
Light irradiation resistance	10		*^a
Nickel precipitation	11			*^a
*Indicates the test to be carried out ^aOptional Tests