Those who work near roads, on construction sites, or at airports clearly have high-risk jobs, given the heavy traffic of cars and other vehicles surrounding these areas. For this very reason, professional clothing cannot be left to chance; it must ensure high visibility and adequate protection against adverse weather conditions. The rules are set by the EN ISO 20471:2013 standard , which replaced the 2007 standard. The EN ISO 20471:2013 standard—which governs the rules for high-visibility clothing—establishes three classes to be followed based on the risk faced by the person . The higher the risk, the larger the surface area of retroreflective, fluorescent, and/or combined material that must be placed on the clothing. Fluorescent material ensures visibility during the day, while retroreflective material is used at night. Now, let's look a little more specifically at what this involves.
CLASS 3: Maximum level
Minimum requirements: Required for people who work near or near highways, suburban and urban roads, and airports. Garments must cover the chest and have reflective strips on the sleeves and/or trouser legs (trousers can therefore only be certified Class 3 if paired with a jacket). As a single item, they can be rated up to Class 2.
- minimum fluorescent background material: 0.80 m2
- minimum retroreflective material: 0.20 m2
- 4 meters of 5cm wide reflective tape
Certifiable garments: long jackets, sleeved jackets, work overalls, jacket/trouser suits.
CLASS 2: Intermediate level
- minimum fluorescent background material: 0.50 m2
- minimum retroreflective material: 0.13 m2
- 2.60 meters of 5cm wide reflective tape
Certifiable items: vests, tunics open at the hips, bibs, trousers.
CLASS 1: Minimum level
- minimum fluorescent background material: 0.14m2
- minimum retroreflective material: 0.10m2
- 2 meters of 5cm wide reflective tape
Certifiable garments: high-visibility trousers and vests.
HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING CERTIFIED WITH PREVIOUS REGULATIONS
The latest revision of the standard is EN ISO 20471:2013. This is the reference standard to be complied with, but this does not mean that you can no longer purchase or wear products certified to the old standards. EN471 standards are updated every five years, and the first version of the EN471 standard dates back to 1994.
