Overview
ISO 16900-11:2025 specifies a laboratory test method to determine the field of vision for respiratory protective devices (RPDs). The standard quantifies a device’s functional visual field by projecting light from illuminated “eyes” in standardized RPD headforms onto an apertometer dome and mapping the resulting peripheral isopter to produce a visual field score (VFS). This measurement supplements RPD performance standards and informs design, certification and compliance activities.
Key topics and requirements
- Test principle: Use of RPD headforms with illuminated eyes to project a light area onto an apertometer; the shadow outline defines the peripheral isopter.
- Equipment: RPD headforms (per ISO 16900-5 with illuminated eyes), an apertometer dome and a VFS plotting chart.
- Procedure essentials:
- Prepare RPD in as-worn state, including applicable accessories or filter simulators.
- Mount RPD symmetrically on the selected headform; adjust harness as per manufacturer guidance.
- Align illuminated eye points with apertometer meridians and map the light/shadow transition along 36 meridians.
- Produce three fittings and plotting charts for repeatability.
- Scoring:
- The VFS plotting chart contains 118 grid dots (50 inside the central 10°; 68 beyond).
- Count grid dots on or within the peripheral isopter; record the number of critical dots (four groups on meridians 25°, 155°, 195° and 345°).
- Reporting: Test report must identify the sample, reference ISO 16900-11:2025, list accessories and headform sizes, and tabulate VFS per meridian for each fitting and the averaged total.
Applications and users
- RPD manufacturers - design validation to understand how masks, visors and interfaces affect wearer vision.
- Certification and test laboratories - standardized measurement to support product approvals and conformity assessment.
- Occupational safety professionals and procurement teams - evaluating RPD suitability for tasks requiring extended peripheral vision (e.g., maintenance, industrial operations, emergency response).
- Regulators and standards developers - harmonizing performance criteria across RPD performance standards.
Related standards
- ISO 16900 series (RPD methods of test and test equipment)
- ISO 16900-5 (RPD headforms, breathing machine and verification tools)
- ISO 16972 (RPD vocabulary and graphical symbols)
- ISO 17420-3 (thread connections for RPD components)
Keywords: ISO 16900-11:2025, respiratory protective devices, field of vision, visual field score (VFS), apertometer, RPD headforms, peripheral isopter, PPE testing, RPD test method.
