A high-visibility vest is not compliant simply because it has reflective strips. From the background color and reflective materials to the amount and placement of reflective elements, each aspect is subject to specific requirements. Join Thien Bang to explore High-Visibility Vest standards and learn how to identify compliant products before making a purchase.
High-visibility vest standards
ANSI / ISEA 107
- Region of application: North America.
- Classification: Includes Type R (Roadway), Type O (Off-Road), and Type P (Public Safety), combined with Classes 1, 2, and 3 based on the amount of high-visibility material.
- Design features: Suitable for sleeveless Class 2 vests; sets strict minimum surface-area requirements, measured in square inches, for each garment size to ensure adequate visibility.
EN ISO 20471
- Region of application: Europe, the United Kingdom (UKCA), and the Middle East.
- Classification: Divided into three main levels: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3, with Class 3 providing the highest level of visibility and protection.
- Design features: Requires continuous 360-degree visibility around the wearer’s body and limbs. Class 3 garments require full-body coverage, typically incorporating long sleeves or long trousers.
AS/NZS 4602.1 / 1906.4
- Region of application: Australia and New Zealand.
- Classification: Includes Class D (Day use), Class N (Night use), and Class D/N (Day/Night use).
- Design features: Sets strict requirements for reflective-strip layouts, typically using an “H” or cross-shaped configuration on the torso, while also controlling the ultraviolet (UV) transmission thresholds of the materials.
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How to identify compliant high-visibility vests
Check the product label
- Standard markings: Internationally compliant vests typically display the applicable standard on the label, such as EN ISO 20471 or ANSI/ISEA 107, along with the relevant protection class (Class 2, Class 3, or Type R, O, P).
- Pictogram: Garments complying with European standards feature a stylized human figure inside a square or rectangular frame, accompanied by a number indicating the performance class.
- Manufacturer information: The label should include the brand name, country of origin, size, and, importantly, care and washing instructions, such as the maximum number of washes for which the reflective material is expected to maintain its retroreflective performance.
Assess the quality of the reflective material
- Brightness and retroreflective effect: High-quality reflective materials, often using microprismatic technology or glass-bead materials, produce a strong reflective effect when directly illuminated by headlights or other light sources in low-light conditions.
- Material durability: The reflective strips should have a smooth surface without cracks, peeling, or visible air bubbles. They should also be securely stitched, with neat and consistent double stitching.
Practical applications of high-visibility vest standards by industry
- Transportation and road construction: Designed for road workers, traffic police, and highway patrol personnel. High-visibility garments such as Class 3 or ANSI Type R are typically used, featuring a large area of fluorescent material and reflective strips around the torso and sleeves to help drivers identify workers from a distance at night.
- Construction, mining, and heavy industry: Used by engineers, mine workers, and construction workers. Class 2 or Type O garments are commonly used, with bright orange or yellow colors to improve visibility in dusty environments or complex daytime lighting conditions.
- Warehousing, logistics, and seaports: Suitable for loading staff, forklift operators, and warehouse personnel. High-visibility vests and mesh vests help improve visibility between pedestrians and moving vehicles in confined work areas.
- Public events, rescue, and urban traffic control: Designed for volunteers, event security staff, and rescue teams. Flexible options such as reflective strap vests or Class 1/Day-use garments are suitable for low-risk or daytime situations.
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Order compliant high-visibility vest from Thien Bang
With more than 16 years of experience in occupational safety equipment and a network of branches spanning from North to South Vietnam, Thien Bang supplies high-visibility garments for a wide range of individual and business needs.
- Wide range of products: Mesh high-visibility vests; high-visibility safety vests; high-visibility protective jackets; high-visibility workwear; high-visibility engineer uniforms.
- Accepts custom orders based on design, sizing, and company logos.
- Supports orders ranging from small quantities to large-scale orders for businesses and construction projects.
Contact Thien Bang for consultation and special offers.
- Hanoi office: 0981.056.066 – 0961.203.270
- Ho Chi Minh City office: 0966.831.477 – 0986.720.134