Technical Vault: KleenGuard™ Nemesis™ VL Safety Glasses 20471

The KleenGuard™ Nemesis™ VL Safety Glasses 20471 are reusable, non-prescription industrial safety glasses built for bright work areas where fogging is also a problem. This configuration pairs a blue-mirror polycarbonate lens with KleenVision™ anti-fog treatment and a scratch-resistant hardcoat, on a frameless no-brow chassis with gunmetal temples, a soft ventilated nosepiece, Comfort Touch temple tips, and an included neck cord.

This entry covers the product identity, protective ratings, lens technologies, fit characteristics, application guidance, cleaning requirements, PPE compatibility, controlled-environment notes, inspection criteria, storage practices, and use limitations. Two things drive final selection: the employer's documented hazard assessment, and confirmation that this tint leaves enough visibility for the work area.

• Manufacturer: Ansell
• Brand: KleenGuard™
• Product family: Nemesis™ VL Safety Glasses
• Manufacturer code: 20471
• SOSCleanroom SKU: 20471
• UPC: 036000204711
• GTIN: 10036000204718
• Product type: Reusable, non-prescription industrial safety glasses
• Lens color: Blue mirror
• Lens material: Polycarbonate
• Lens treatment: Blue mirror finish, KleenVision™ anti-fog coating, scratch-resistant hardcoat
• Polarized: No
• Frame style: Extra-lightweight frameless / no-brow design
• Frame and temple color: Gunmetal
• Lens geometry: High-base-curve wraparound design
• Base curve: 8.25
• Nosepiece: Soft flexible nose pad with ventilation notch
• Temple design: Flexible arms with Comfort Touch soft-grip tips
• Included accessory: Neck cord
• Foam lined: No
• Metal detectable: No
• X-ray detectable: No
• Size: Universal / one size
• Country of origin: Taiwan
• RightCycle™ eligibility: Yes, subject to current program availability and acceptance criteria
• SOSCleanroom selling quantity: 12 safety glasses per case

Current Ansell documentation lists the Nemesis VL family as manufactured to comply with ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 and as Z87+ high-velocity impact rated. Z87+ marks high-impact performance under the spectacle requirements of the standard.

Older SKU-specific paperwork may still cite ANSI Z87.1+ 2010. Product-page content should lead with ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 and keep the legacy reference for reviewing historical certificates, purchasing files, distributor records, or lot documentation.

The blue-mirror lens carries a reflective exterior treatment that cuts the amount of intense visible light reaching the eyes. That keeps brightness and glare manageable in outdoor, high-light, and reflective industrial settings.

Typical glare sources include pavement, concrete, vehicle bodies, roofing materials, glass, polished equipment, sheet metal, water, loading areas, and sunlit exterior structures. The mirror finish improves visual comfort in bright conditions, but this lens is not polarized and should never be described as offering directional glare filtration equivalent to polarized eyewear.

• Cuts brightness in outdoor and high-light work areas
• Limits glare bouncing off reflective industrial surfaces
• Darker viewing condition than clear safety eyewear
• Reflective blue exterior appearance
• Pairs glare reduction with anti-fog and scratch-resistant performance
• Works for outdoor and transitional tasks as long as available lighting stays adequate

Mirror coatings and polarized filters solve glare in different ways. A mirror coating bounces back part of the incoming visible light, lowering overall brightness. A polarized filter targets the strongly oriented reflected glare coming off water, pavement, glass, and metal.

Fogging happens when warm, moist air hits a cooler lens and condenses into microscopic droplets. Those droplets scatter light, flatten contrast, and hide fine detail, which is what pushes workers to pull their glasses off or fidget with them all shift.

The Nemesis VL 20471 uses KleenVision™ premium anti-fog technology to hold back that vision-obscuring moisture. Ansell states KleenVision™ is engineered for anti-fog performance 100 times greater than the ANSI Z87.1-2020 “X” mark requirement, and that it exceeds the EN 166 “N” fog-resistance test.

• Keeps vision clearer in humid environments
• Holds up through temperature transitions
• Manages the fogging that comes with masks, respirators, hoods, and face coverings
• Cuts down on removing, wiping, and readjusting the eyewear
• Better compliance, since the glasses stay on and stay usable
• Fewer task interruptions from condensation

Anti-fog treatment reduces how often and how long fogging occurs. It does not promise fog-free performance in every condition. Temperature differential, humidity, exertion, airflow, respirator exhaust, contamination, cleaning technique, coating wear, and chemical exposure all affect the result.

• Anti-fog treatment does not remove the need for proper fit and airflow management
• When fogging keeps recurring, check mask position, respirator valves, hood fit, and airflow direction
• Never apply household anti-fog chemicals unless they are validated for the coated lens
• Do not polish or scrub the anti-fog surface aggressively
• Replace the glasses once the coating is damaged, hazy, uneven, or no longer working
• Stick to approved cleaning materials and procedures

The 20471 lens stacks several functions into one polycarbonate structure. Each treatment answers a different workplace requirement, and each depends on proper cleaning, handling, and storage to survive.

Polycarbonate dominates industrial safety eyewear because it delivers impact performance, optical transparency, and ultraviolet filtration at low weight. The low mass is what makes all-day wear tolerable compared with heavier lens materials.

It is not indestructible. Deep abrasion, incompatible solvents, excessive heat, impact, and careless storage all damage polycarbonate. The scratch-resistant hardcoat buys durability, not immunity.

The Nemesis VL uses an extra-lightweight frameless design with no upper brow frame. The low-profile result means less visual obstruction, less weight on the face, and less conflict with hard-hat suspension and other headborne PPE.

• No upper frame blocking the line of sight
• Better upward peripheral vision
• Less interference with hard-hat suspension components
• Lower-profile fit beneath hoods and head coverings
• Lighter overall for extended wear
• Broad viewing area without a heavy conventional frame

The 8.25 base-curve lens follows the contours of the face and reaches around the sides of the eyes, giving broader peripheral coverage than a flatter conventional spectacle lens.

Real coverage varies with facial dimensions, lens position, temple fit, nosepiece contact, head movement, other PPE, and the direction and energy of the hazard. A wraparound spectacle is still not a sealed goggle.

A soft, flexible nosepiece improves contact comfort, holds the eyewear in position, and spreads out pressure on the nose. The ventilation notch routes perspiration away from the eyes and keeps some airflow moving across the nose bridge.

• Soft contact surface spreads out pressure points
• Flexible design fits a range of facial profiles
• Ventilation notch handles perspiration
• Anti-slide contact keeps the glasses from creeping down
• Low-profile construction suits extended use
• Include the nosepiece in every pre-use inspection

Flexible temple arms with Comfort Touch soft-grip tips hold the glasses in place without pinching. The flex accommodates a range of head dimensions and takes the rigid pressure out of long shifts.

• Flexible temples adapt to different head shapes
• Soft-grip tips hold position
• Lower contact pressure for prolonged wear
• Low-profile temples improve compatibility with hard hats and hoods
• Evaluate temple position whenever earmuffs or respirators are worn
• The neck cord keeps the glasses close when they come off

Because blue-mirror lenses cut incoming visible light, they need a lighting assessment before approval. A lens that works well in bright exterior work can leave a worker under-lit in shaded spaces, warehouses, vehicle interiors, stairwells, tunnels, process areas, or at night.

• Confirm adequate task illumination before approving the lens
• Walk every indoor and outdoor transition point
• Verify colors, labels, signals, alarms, and inspection details stay visible
• Do not use for nighttime work unless the site hazard assessment specifically approves it
• Stock a clear-lens alternative for workers entering dim areas
• Treat glare conditions as a separate question from basic impact protection

• Outdoor manufacturing and production operations
• Construction and exterior site inspection
• Facility and exterior building maintenance
• Oil, gas, petrochemical, and energy operations
• Warehousing, loading docks, shipping yards, and material handling
• Transportation, fleet, railway, and roadway work
• Utility installation, inspection, and maintenance
• Equipment operation and servicing
• Work around pavement, vehicles, glass, roofing, polished metal, and reflective equipment
• Humid or temperature-variable work environments
• Tasks requiring masks, respirators, hoods, or protective headgear
• General industrial eye protection where the mirror tint suits the available lighting

Evaluate safety glasses as part of the whole PPE system. Hard hats, respirators, face shields, hearing protection, masks, hoods, and garments can shift eyewear position, redirect warm air, cut into protective coverage, or create pressure points.

• Confirm hard-hat suspension does not displace the glasses
• Make sure the temple arms clear tight-fitting respirator seals
• Check for leakage or pressure under earmuff cushions
• Verify masks and respirators are not blowing warm air across the lens
• Confirm compatibility with face-shield brackets and visors
• Check the fit holds during bending, climbing, walking, and equipment operation
• Verify upward and peripheral vision through the full range of movement
• Never force the glasses over prescription eyewear unless that combination has been evaluated

The employer should identify the source, direction, frequency, duration, and severity of each eye hazard before selecting eyewear. Spectacle-style protection handles general impact and particle hazards, but it does not enclose the eye area enough for chemical splash, fine dust, aerosols, or multidirectional exposure.

Safety certification and cleanroom suitability are two separate determinations. ANSI impact compliance says nothing about sterility, cleanroom classification, particle release, outgassing, disinfectant compatibility, or aseptic processing.

The Nemesis VL 20471 is reusable industrial safety eyewear. It is not supplied sterile and is not represented as cleanroom-certified. The blue-mirror lens brings a second problem in controlled areas: it may be unsuitable anywhere high visible-light transmission, color discrimination, inspection accuracy, or low-reflectance eyewear is required.

• Evaluate the eyewear against the facility's contamination-control strategy first
• Confirm the mirror tint does not interfere with inspection or color-recognition tasks
• Assign eyewear by employee or controlled area where practical
• Handle the glasses by the temples, not the lens
• Finish fit adjustments before entering the critical work zone
• Never set eyewear directly on benches, carts, gowning seats, or critical surfaces
• Do not move eyewear between uncontrolled and controlled areas without approved cleaning
• Use facility-approved cleaners and compatible low-lint wipes only
• Check for haze, residue, mirror damage, coating damage, scratches, and retained contamination
• Replace the glasses once they fall short of the facility's cleanliness or visibility criteria

1. Wash and dry hands, or don clean gloves, as the work area requires.
2. Check the lens for dust, grit, metal particles, dried residue, or abrasive contamination.
3. Blow off loose particles with clean air, or rinse gently with water where permitted.
4. Apply an approved optical cleaner, mild soap and water, or another validated solution.
5. Wipe gently with a soft, non-abrasive optical tissue, microfiber cloth, or approved cleanroom wiper.
6. Keep off the pressure. No repeated polishing or circular scrubbing on the mirror and anti-fog coatings.
7. Rinse if needed to clear cleaner residue.
8. Dry with a clean, soft, non-abrasive material.
9. Inspect the lens, mirror surface, anti-fog coating, temples, mounting points, nosepiece, cord, and safety markings before reuse.

Inspect the eyewear before each use, and again after any impact, chemical exposure, abnormal heat, or cleaning process that could affect protection or optics. Pull the glasses from service for anything that could compromise fit, clarity, impact performance, mirror integrity, or anti-fog function.

• Cracked, chipped, warped, or deformed lens
• Deep scratches or abrasion that interferes with vision
• Persistent haze, clouding, distortion, or discoloration
• Peeling, flaking, uneven, or visibly damaged mirror treatment
• Damaged, ineffective, or irregular anti-fog coating
• Looseness or damage at the temple attachment points
• Loose, cracked, bent, or deformed temples
• Damaged, missing, or permanently deformed nosepiece
• Loss of secure fit during normal movement
• Illegible required safety markings
• Exposure to a significant impact event
• Chemical contact that may have degraded the lens or frame components
• Residue the approved cleaning process cannot remove

Store the glasses in a cool, clean, dry location away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, abrasive materials, heavy objects, and chemical vapors. Keep the mirror and anti-fog surfaces from taking unnecessary contact in storage and transit.

• Use an individual case, sleeve, or designated storage compartment
• Do not store with sharp tools, loose fasteners, metal parts, or abrasives
• Do not set heavy objects on the lens or temples
• Avoid long storage in hot vehicles or near process heat
• Keep away from solvent, adhesive, fuel, and cleaning-chemical vapors
• Keep cleaned eyewear separate from contaminated PPE
• Never let the coated lens rest against a rough surface
• Treat the neck cord as a retention aid, not long-term storage

Ansell lists the Nemesis VL family as eligible for the RightCycle™ Program. Confirm the actual eligibility, contamination restrictions, collection methods, geographic availability, minimum quantities, and accepted product conditions with the active program before any glasses go into a recycling stream.

The SOSCleanroom purchase quantity for SKU 20471 is 12 safety glasses per case. Manufacturer or distributor logistics records sometimes reference larger master cartons holding multiple inner cases. Do not present the master-carton quantity as the customer selling unit unless the active SOSCleanroom inventory and purchasing record confirms it.

• Not a sealed chemical-splash goggle
• Not dust-tight or gas-tight eyewear
• Not polarized eyewear
• Not welding, cutting, brazing, or infrared-radiation protection
• Not laser-protective eyewear
• Not electrical arc-flash or electrically insulating protection
• Not intended for molten-metal splash
• Not intended for nighttime work or poorly illuminated areas
• Not supplied sterile
• Not represented as autoclavable
• Not represented as cleanroom-certified or low-shedding eyewear
• Not a substitute for a face shield where full-face protection is required
• Not designed as over-the-glasses eyewear for prescription spectacles
• Not guaranteed compatible with every respirator, hard hat, hood, mask, or hearing protector
• Anti-fog performance does not guarantee completely fog-free vision in all conditions
• Mirror coating does not match the directional glare reduction of a polarized filter

Legacy SKU-specific documentation may show ANSI Z87.1+ 2010, gunmetal frame components, universal sizing, Taiwan origin, SKU-specific packaging, and extra logistics detail. Current Ansell Nemesis VL documentation shows ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 compliance, Z87+ high-velocity impact performance, 8.25 base-curve construction, KleenVision™ premium anti-fog performance, 99.9% UVA/UVB/UVC filtration, neck-cord inclusion, and RightCycle™ eligibility. Where certification traceability matters, verify the documentation for the supplied production lot.

KleenGuard™ protective eyewear was previously marketed through Kimberly-Clark Professional, so it may appear under Kimberly-Clark Professional, KleenGuard™, Jackson Safety, or Ansell in historical and current documentation. Product-page content should use the active Ansell portfolio identity while keeping the established KleenGuard™ Nemesis™ VL name and manufacturer code 20471.

This Technical Vault entry supports product evaluation, procurement, training, controlled-environment planning, and workplace PPE review. It does not replace the manufacturer's instructions, current product markings, a workplace hazard assessment, exposure-control plan, cleanroom qualification, facility SOP, or regulatory guidance. Verify current certificates, declarations, chemical-compatibility information, and lot-specific documentation where the organization's quality or safety system requires it.

Technical insight: The Nemesis VL 20471 earns its place on bright outdoor jobs where fogging is the other half of the problem, and where the glasses have to sit under a hard hat, mask, or hood without a fight. The frameless build keeps upward vision open and the weight down. The catch is the mirror tint: it is not polarized, and it is too dark for dim interiors or night work, so plan on a clear-lens option for anyone crossing between the two.

Technical Vault updated: Jul. 2026 (SOS Technical Staff)

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