EN ISO 20471: What are Hi-Vis Standards?
You know the importance of wearing Hi-Vis workwear, but do you know what EN ISO 20471 means?
We've created a brief guide to help you make sense of the standard and provide you a selection of workwear available to help you meet the EN ISO 20471.
If you're responsible for purchasing the Hi-Vis workwear for your business, you need to ensure what you're buying meets your staff's needs. From their perspective, your colleagues will want not only comfort and warmth, but style too. You don't want to compromise on protection which means you should be seeking workwear that's certified and tested to the relevant standards.
What is EN ISO 20471?
The standard assesses the suitability and durability of retro-reflective materials. It doesn't support conventional workwear that may feature a small amount of Hi-Vis material used for decorative purposes. The requirements for the EN20471 maintains a 1-3 class system - class 3 provides the highest level that makes the wearer more visible.
Hi-Vis Vests
The majority of the vest range meet EN20471 Class 2, the intermediate level. If you require a Class 3 vest, look for a vest that has sleeves that features reflective material.
Hi-Vis Trousers
The vast range of Hi-Vis trousers available today are Class 1, the minimum level of a fluorescent and retro reflective material. However, if you wear Class 1 trousers and combine them with a Class 2 jacket, you can bump up your protection to achieve Class 3.
Hi-Vis Fleeces
Under the standards, if a sleeve on a sweatshirt or hoodie, blocks the view of the reflective bands on the torso then the sleeves must feature two reflective bands, positioned 50mm from each other.
Hi-Vis Polos & T-Shirts
To conform to the standards, the T-shirts and Hi-Vis polo shirts have been adapted - the sleeves have been shortened not to block a clear view of the horizontal torso bands. Where this has not been possible, a reflective band has been added.
Need further help sourcing your compliant Hi-Vis clothing?
If you want greater peace-of-mind before buying your high vis workwear, get in touch with the team to make sure you choose the clothing that's fit for your purposes and will really make your business stand out.
