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ANSI/ISEA HI-VISIBILITY SAFETY APPAREL
WHAT IS ANSI/ISEA 107 STANDARD ?
In 1999, ANSI ( American National Standard Institute ) and ISEA ( International Safety Equipment Association) jointly developed a standard for design and performance of high-visibility safety apparel. This standard provides consistent, authoritative guidelines for the selection and use of high-visibility apparel in the United States. In 2004, the standard was updated.
Three classes of garments have been defined by the standard.
CLASS 1 :
- Wearer has full and undivided attention to approaching traffic.
- There should be ample separation of the wearer from traffic.
- Background environment is not complex.
- Typically traffic speed is less than 25 mph.
Guidelines and scenarios: parking lot attendants, people retrieving shopping carts from parking lots, workers exposed to warehouse equipment traffic, sidewalk maintenance workers.
CLASS 2 :
- Wearer performs tasks that divert their attention from approaching traffic.
- Inclement weather conditions that require greater visibility.
- A complex background is present.
- Typically traffic speed is greater than 25 mph.
Guidelines and scenarios: trash collection, roadway construction, utility and railway workers, survey crews, school crossing guards, airport ground crew, emergency response and law enforcement personnel.
CLASS 3 :
- Wearer has high task loads that require attention away from their work.
- Must be easily identifiable as a person throughout a full range of body motions.
- Garments for these workers should provide enhanced visibility to more of the body such as the arms and legs.
- Provide the highest level of visibility where traffic exceeds 50 mph.
Guidelines and scenarios: Roadway construction personnel, utility workers, survey crews, emergency response personnel.
WHAT IS ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 STANDARD ?
In December 2006, ANSI/ISEA published this new American National Standard for High Visibility Vests intended for law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency responders and others engaged in Public Safety Operations. The primary distinction of ANSI 207 is that the required fluorescent background materials falls between Class 1 and Class 2 in ANSI 107 standard, to allow for design accommodation of equipment belts.
MINIMUM MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS:
| Requirement | Class 1 | Public Safety Vest | Class 2 | Class 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background | 217 in. ² (0.14m ²) | 450 in. ² (0.29m ²) | 775 in. ² (0.50m ²) | 1240 in. ² (0.80mm ²) |
| Retroreflective or combined performance material used in conjunction with background material |
155 in. ² (0.10m ²) | 201 in. ² (0.13m ²) | 201 in. ² (0.13m ²) | 310 in. ² (0.20mm ²) |
| Minimum width of reflective material | 1 in. (25mm) or 2 in. (50mm) combined performance material (without background material) |
2 in. (50mm) | 1.375 in. (35mm) | 2 in. (50mm) |
| Minimum number of yards per retroreflective material width |
4.3 yrds of 1 in.(25mm) 2.15 yrds of 2 in.(50mm) |
2.8 yrds of 2 in. (50mm) | 4 yrds of 1.375 in.(35mm) 2.8 yrds of 2 in.(50mm) |
4.3 yrds. of 2 in. (50mm) |