High VisibilIty

Providing the right protective clothing for your workers is more important than it's ever been. Whenever you have a need for Protective Clothing, or help with sourcing a solution for special requirements, our staff can give helpful advice on choosing suitable products.

Introduction

EN20471 SPECIFICATION FOR HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING:

What you need to know

There are 3 classes of garment type based on the levels of conspicuity they provide. On all garments the
retro-reflective tape must be no less than 50mm wide.

Class 1: Lowest Level
0.14m ² Minimum of high visibility fabric and 0.10m² Minimum retro-reflective material.
Use: minimal risk such as off road activities.
A combination of approved garments may be worn to achieve class 3

Class 2: Medium Level
0.5m ² Minimum of high visibility fabric and 0.13m² Minimum retro-reflective material
Suitable for use on roads 40mph or below.

Class 3: Highest Level
0.8m ² Minimum of high visibility fabric and 0.2m² Minimum retro-reflective material
Suitable for all highway use.

Railway group standard sets out the minimum specification for high visibility clothing in the rail arena. It dictates minimum requirements for high visibility clothing to ensure people are conspicuous when on or near the rail line. Garments conforming to GO/RT 3279 will also meet the requirements of EN20471.

New EN20471 Explained

1. Retro-reflective tape - Class 1 retro-reflective tape is no longer an option, ISO 20471 requirements for single performance retro reflective tape is identical to the EN 471 Class 2 tape. However the for performance after washing the test method differs as 20471 requires each cycle to be a wash and dry cycle whereas 471 only required washing after the last cycle. (Product markings no longer will state the performance class of the retro reflective tape). Combined performance tape may still be used on class 1 garments. (again, the test method has changed).
2. Placement of retro-reflective tape - the mandatory patterns for retro-reflective tape remain unchanged, except now it I clarified that additional bands of tape may be used to achieve the required areas.
3. Class 3 garments must now be garments which cover the torso and have either full length sleeves and or full length legs.
4. Garments with short sleeves if the sleeve obscures a torso band of retro reflective tape must now have a band of retro-reflective tape about the sleeves also.
5. If the maximum number of washes (or Dryclean cycles) is stated by the manufacturer then fluorescent background material must meet the chromaticity and luminance requirements after the specified number of washes. If no maximum number of washes is stated then it must meet after 5 washes and this must be reflected in the user information.
6. Tensile strength requirement on fabrics has been reduced
7. Burst strength requirement on fabrics has been reduced
8. Tear strength requirement on coated fabrics/laminates has been reduced
9. Colourfastness to perspiration has had the staining requirement increased to 4
10. Colourfastness to washing/dry cleaning has had the staining requirement reduced to 4 for non-fluorescent fabrics.
11. Water vapour permeability requirements for fabrics (Excluding Coated/laminate fabrics for protection against rain(not required for vests/waistcoats) requirement has been amended to <5 m2Pa/W or water vapour permeability index <=0.15