Classes of High-Visibility Clothing: Essential Safety Gear Explained

High-visibility clothing is essential for ensuring the safety of workers in various environments. These garments use reflective and fluorescent materials to make individuals more visible, especially in low-light conditions. High-visibility clothing is classified into different classes based on the level of protection and visibility they provide.

There are three main classes of high-visibility clothing: Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Each class provides different levels of visibility and protection for workers based on their environment and the nature of their work.

Different types of high-visibility clothing are available, including vests, hi-vis jackets and trousers. When choosing high-visibility clothing, it’s vital to ensure it meets relevant safety standards like EN ISO 20471. This guarantees that the clothing will effectively make workers more visible and safer in their work environments.

How Many Classes of High-Visibility Clothing Are There?

There are three primary classes of high-visibility clothing, which include the following: 

Colour and Luminance

Colour and luminance are critical in high-visibility clothing. The most common colours are fluorescent yellow, orange and red, which provide high contrast against most backgrounds. These bright colours help ensure that workers stand out during daylight hours.

In addition to colour, retro reflective materials play a significant role in visibility. These materials, like retro reflective tape, bounce light back to its source, making the wearer visible in low light conditions or at night. Fluorescent materials enhance visibility during daylight by converting UV light to visible light, ensuring that workers remain noticeable.

Materials and Performance

High-visibility clothing is made from materials designed to maintain brightness and durability even after repeated use and washing. Reflective strips and bands are critical components, enhancing visibility by reflecting light.

Materials must meet the EN ISO 20471 standard, which ensures that the performance class of the garment is appropriate for its use as personal protective equipment (PPE). This standard also specifies the minimum area of high-visibility material and the durability requirements for maintaining effectiveness over time.

Does High-Visibility Clothing Guarantee Security?

High-visibility clothing boosts visibility on the job, but it does not guarantee complete security. Here, two major considerations are covered: selecting the appropriate clothing based on risk assessment and ensuring proper wearer training.

Risk Assessment and Selection

Wearer Information and Training

Simply wearing high-visibility clothing isn’t enough. Employees must be properly trained in its use and maintenance. This includes understanding the importance of keeping the clothing clean and in good condition.

Employers should provide clear instructions on how to wear the clothing correctly. For instance, hi-vis vests should be fastened securely and must not be covered by non-hi-vis jackets or other clothing. This ensures the high-visibility materials remain visible at all times, so a non hi-vis jacket or vest should never be worn over hi-vis clothing.

Additionally, it’s important to note that a pair of hi-vis trousers worn without a hi-vis top or vest would only comply with Class 1. In comparison, if multiple items with hi-vis fabric are worn, such as a hi-vis jacket and hi-vis trousers, it will constitute a higher class.

Training sessions should also highlight the limitations of high-visibility clothing. Workers should know that while these garments increase visibility, they do not provide protection against other workplace hazards.

What Standards Should High-Visibility Clothing Meet?

High-visibility clothing must adhere to specific standards for safety. These standards ensure the garments are effective in making the wearer visible in low-light conditions and hazardous environments.

Compliance and Certification

High-visibility clothing must comply with certain standards to be certified. In the UK, the main standard is EN ISO 20471, which replaced the former BS EN 471. This standard sets the requirements for the design, performance and marking of the garments.

Each piece of clothing must be tested and certified to meet these hi-vis standards. Certified garments display a symbol like a hi-vis vest along with a class number. 

The class number indicates the level of visibility provided. For example, Class 3 offers the highest level of visibility, suitable for high-risk environments, while Class 1 provides the minimum required visibility.

Test Methods and Durability

To ensure durability, high-visibility clothing undergoes various test methods. These tests assess the clothing’s resistance to environmental stresses and the performance of its reflective and fluorescent materials.

Retro reflective tape, fluorescent material and combined-performance materials are tested for their visibility after exposure to conditions like washing, abrasion and light exposure. The clothing must maintain its reflectiveness and colour fastness through a specified number of washes to pass these tests.

High-visibility clothing also undergoes testing for thermal resistance and dimensional stability to ensure it can withstand varying temperatures and wear without degrading its performance. This ensures individuals like emergency responders and workers exposed to high-risk situations remain visible and safe over time.

Is the Outfit Convenient for Employees?

When selecting high-visibility clothing, thinking about visibility and comfort is key. Workers need to be both safe and able to move freely without feeling restricted.

Enhanced Features for Visibility

In some jobs, full-body clothing like jackets and trousers is necessary. These items cover more of the body, increasing visibility. 

Reflective strips on the sleeves, legs and torso help workers stand out in low light. Adding extra elements such as reflective bands on safety vests can also boost visibility. 

Fit and Comfort

Comfort isn’t less important than visibility. Choose clothing that fits well and allows for movement. Hi-vis garments should not be too tight or too loose. At Essential Workwear, we stock items like vests, overalls and hi-vis polo shirts in various sizes to ensure the right fit for everyone.

Materials should be breathable to keep workers cool, especially during heavy tasks. Jackets with good ventilation can help maintain comfort in warmer conditions.

Also, consider the job’s specific needs. For example, emergency responders might need gear that is both waterproof and windproof. Delivery drivers may prefer lightweight options.

What Types of Jobs Need High-Visibility Clothing?

Certain jobs require high-visibility clothing to keep workers safe and ensure they are easily seen in various conditions. This type of clothing is especially important in environments with heavy machinery, moving vehicles and low-light conditions.

Roadway and Construction Sites

On roadways and construction sites, high-visibility clothing is crucial for safety. Workers are frequently close to moving vehicles and heavy equipment. High-visibility clothing, like hi-vis vests, trousers and jackets, helps make individual workers visible, especially in areas with traffic.

Class 1: Ideal for tasks where traffic moves at less than 25 mph, like parking lot attendants and delivery drivers.

Class 2: Suitable for roadway construction and emergency responders who work near faster-moving traffic.

Class 3: Essential for workers in the highest risk situations, such as highway construction crews and heavy machinery operators.

Many of these garments feature reflective tape and fluorescent materials, enhancing visibility during both daytime and nighttime operations.

Adverse Weather and Lighting Conditions

In poor weather and low-light conditions, high-visibility clothing becomes even more essential. Workers exposed to fog, snow and other adverse weather conditions need attire that ensures they remain visible. Proper hi-vis garments use fluorescent yellow or orange to stand out against the surroundings.

Low-Light Conditions: Nighttime workers and those operating in dim environments should wear clothing with retro reflective tape to reflect vehicle headlights and other light sources.

Adverse Weather: High-vis clothing must be suitable for various weather conditions, such as thermal resistance for winter work, ensuring safety and comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hi-vis workwear plays a critical role in ensuring worker safety. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions we get.

What is EN ISO 20471?

EN ISO 20471 is the international standard for hi-vis clothing. It sets the requirements for clothing made to improve the visibility of wearers in high-risk situations. These are commonly worn by workers such as delivery drivers, emergency responders and toll booth operators.

This standard specifies the minimum areas of retro reflective material and fluorescent background materials needed on a garment. It also covers colour fastness and dimensional stability, ensuring the clothing maintains its visibility properties over time. To comply, a hi-vis garment must have sufficient reflective tape and fluorescent background material to be effective in low-light conditions.

What Hi-Visibility Clothing does Essential Workwear Stock?

At Essential Workwear, we stock a wide range of hi-vis garments, from Class 1 to Class 3 clothing. This includes hi-vis t-shirts, hi-vis sweatshirts, hi-vis fleeces, hi-vis softshells and even hi-vis coveralls. 

We also stock a variety of PPE items, which often work hand in hand for those using hi-vis clothing.  

What Precautions must be Taken when Customising Hi-Vis Clothing?

Hi-vis clothing can be customised, but it’s important to take a few precautions when doing this. This includes:

• Size: The bigger your logo is on your hi-vis garment decreases the amount of protection it will have. It’s important to discuss this with your supplier, like us, to ensure you’re not giving staff non-compliant clothing.
• Placement: You should put your spot in a place where it promotes your company without reducing the garment’s safety features. Consider the front chest pocket, upper back and lower back.
• Colour: Consider the colour of your logo. A reflective logo could work well if your employees operate in low-light conditions, whereas black contrasts well against the fluorescent features of hi-vis clothing. 

We offer custom workwear at Essential Workwear that comply with EN ISO 20471 and RIS 3279 TOM.