ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 adds optional testing criteria for additional head protection performance features
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) today announced the release of ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, the updated American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
As jobsite risks evolve, more employers are reevaluating head protection and adopting solutions that go beyond minimum requirements to help reduce serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.
“This isn’t a routine update — it’s the roadmap for an industry transformation,” said Cam Mackey, President & CEO of ISEA. “With head injuries accounting for nearly 700 worker fatalities in the last year, and major employers now mandating enhanced protection, this standard provides the technical framework the industry has been waiting for.”
ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is referenced in OSHA regulations and remains the primary benchmark for industrial head protection.
What’s New in ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026
The 2026 revision does not replace existing requirements or make current compliant head protection obsolete. ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 maintains the familiar Type and Class classifications used throughout the industry. Type I and II designations address impact and penetration protection, while Class designations address electrical protection performance.
The 2026 revision establishes optional testing criteria for features that are increasingly being considered by safety professionals and employers across a wide range of industries.
“This update is important because it helps everyone speak the same language — manufacturers, safety teams, and workers in the field,” said Tim Gallant, Chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and Vice President of Product at Ergodyne. “ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 keeps the trusted foundation in place, but it also adds new optional testing criteria that reflect what safety professionals are asking for and what workers are relying on every day.”
Key updates include:
- New Designation: “+” — indicates enhanced performance Identifies head protection tested beyond the base standard for retention, chin strap performance, and (for Type I+) expanded impact protection.
- Type I+ — chin strap, enhanced retention, and multi-directional impact protection
- Type II+ — chin strap and enhanced retention (with Type II impact protection)
- Enhanced tests tied to the “+” marking:
- Chin strap retention — keeps head protection secured during impact/falls
- Helmet retention — stays properly positioned during slips/trips
- Multi-point impact — front/rear/side protection (Type I+)
- Guidance for reverse wearing —adds new checks for “+” head protection to ensure it stays securely on the head when worn in reverse
- Environmental/visibility markings — Maintains HT (high temp) and LT (low temp) markings, and updates “High Visibility (HV)” to “Enhanced Visibility (EV)” to reflect that head protection falls outside the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard for high visibility apparel. No change to visibility performance.
These updates standardize features already widely available in head protection today, making it easier for safety professionals to evaluate options and match protection to specific jobsite hazards.
“Safety teams are seeing more head protection options than ever before, and workers deserve confidence in what those markings mean,” said Stacey Simmons, Vice Chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and Strategic Account Executive at Bullard. “This revision helps make head protection selection more straightforward by defining consistent test methods for features many employers are already looking for.”
A Focus on Hazard-Based Selection
ISEA emphasizes that head protection should always be selected based on actual jobsite hazards. While enhanced options such as Type I+ and Type II+ provide additional protection, not every job requires the same approach.
“ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 helps safety professionals make more informed decisions by adding clarity and consistency to features they’re already evaluating,” said Mackey.
Resources Available
For a copy of ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, please visit bit.ly/z891standard.
ISEA will host a free webinar explaining the changes to the standard on Wednesday, September 30 at 1:00 pm ET. To register, please visit bit.ly/headprotectionwebinar.
To learn more about industrial head protection, please visit safetyequipment.org/head-protection.
