As one of the China’s leading reflective vest manufacturers since 2009, we are dedicated to producing the right reflective vest for each clients from all kinds of industries. Reflective vests shall consist of lightweight breathable bright fabrics (neon yellow, green, orange) and reflective strips. The reflective vests aim to enhance visibility in dim environments with the fluorescent background fabric for daytime and reflective tapes for night time.
Types of Reflective Vest
We can find 3 different class levels of PPE vest under ANSI/ISEA 107 and EN ISO 20471. Here’s a table to show the differences between Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 safety vests:
| Feature | Class 1 Safety Vest | Class 2 Safety Vest | Class 3 Safety Vest |
| Risk Level | Low-risk environments | Moderate-risk environments | High-risk environments |
| Application Examples | Parking attendants, warehouse staff | Road crews, construction workers, surveyors | Highway workers, emergency responders, night work |
| Traffic Speed | Under 25 mph | 25 to 50 mph | Over 50 mph |
| Reflective Material Area | Minimum of 155 square inches | Minimum of 201 square inches | Minimum of 310 square inches |
| Fluorescent Background Area | Minimum of 217 square inches | Minimum of 775 square inches | Minimum of 1,240 square inches |
| Reflective Tape Width | 1 inch (25 mm) | 1.375 inches (35 mm) | 2 inches (50 mm) |
| Garment Design | No sleeves, fewer reflective strips | Typically no sleeves, more reflective areas | Full-body coverage, includes sleeves for more reflective areas |
| Visibility Distance | Visible at a shorter distance | Visible from moderate distance | Visible from the farthest distance in all conditions |
| Work Conditions | Minimal contact with moving vehicles | Workers near moving vehicles | Workers in direct contact with high-speed traffic or in hazardous weather |
The ANSI safety vest could also be grouped into 3 types based on different working environments. They can be Type R (Roadway), Type P (Public Safety), and Type O (Off-road) vests. Here’s a table for the differences between the 3 kinds of safety vests under ANSI/ISEA 107:
| Feature | Type R Safety Vest | Type P Safety Vest | Type O Safety Vest |
| Work Environment | Roadways with moving traffic | Public safety operations (e.g., law enforcement, firefighters) | Off-road, industrial settings away from public roadways |
| Traffic Risk Level | High risk of contact with moving vehicles | Moderate risk of vehicle traffic with focus on public safety | Minimal or no traffic exposure, equipment operation areas |
| Application Examples | Construction workers, flaggers, road maintenance personnel | Police, firefighters, EMS, emergency responders | Warehouse workers, airport ground crews, mining, logging |
| Reflective Material Area | Same as Class 2 and Class 3 vests for high visibility (Class 2: 201 sq. in., Class 3: 310 sq. in.) | Smaller reflective area than Type R; sufficient for public safety roles (Class 2: 201 sq. in., Class 3: 310 sq. in.) | Lower reflective material requirements than Type R and P |
| Fluorescent Background Area | Class 2: 775 sq. in., Class 3: 1,240 sq. in. | Reduced background material for mobility and task performance (Class 2: 775 sq. in., Class 3: 1,240 sq. in.) | Minimal high-visibility requirements |
| Special Features | Standard high-visibility colors, suitable for nighttime and low-light environments | Designed for public safety tasks, often includes added features like pockets, badge holders | Suitable for off-road tasks, includes durable materials for industrial settings |
| Primary Focus | High visibility to protect from vehicular hazards | Enhancing visibility while allowing mobility for emergency personnel | Protecting workers in areas where traffic exposure is minimal |
High-Visibility Flame-Resistant (FR) Reflective Vests
Not only the background fabric, but also the reflective tapes shall strictly follow the standard EN ISO 14116. Here’s a table to compare Index 1, Index 2, and Index 3 FR safety vests under the EN ISO 14116:
| Feature | Index 1 | Index 2 | Index 3 |
| Flame Spread Resistance | Lowest level of flame resistance. Fabrics may ignite but must self-extinguish quickly. No molten debris or afterglow allowed. | Moderate flame resistance. Fabrics offer better protection against ignition and flame spread than Index 1. | Highest level of flame resistance. Fabrics provide the most protection, resisting ignition and preventing flame spread. |
| Risk Level | Suitable for low-risk environments with minimal flame exposure. Not recommended for direct contact with flames. | Suitable for moderate-risk environments where exposure to flames is possible but not prolonged. | Suitable for high-risk environments where higher protection from flame spread is necessary. |
| Application Examples | General industrial work where the risk of brief flame contact is low, such as maintenance tasks. | Environments with occasional exposure to sparks or flames, such as light welding or metal cutting. | High-risk environments, such as petrochemical, oil and gas industries, where flame exposure is frequent and high. |
| Fabric Behavior | May ignite, but the flame must not spread beyond the ignition point. No burning droplets or debris allowed. | Better containment of flames compared to Index 1, with more controlled flame spread. | Minimal to no flame spread. Offers the best containment and protection in hazardous flame environments. |
| Garment Layers | Must be worn over non-flammable undergarments to reduce injury risk. | Offers more protection but still benefits from layering with fire-resistant undergarments. | Can be worn independently or layered for maximum protection in high-risk environments. |
| Typical Use | Situations with minimal fire or heat hazards, such as light industrial work, automotive services. | Workers in environments where incidental or occasional flame exposure occurs, such as construction or maintenance near hot surfaces. | High-risk workers such as oil refinery workers, firefighters, and welders exposed to frequent flame or heat hazards. |
| Comfort and Mobility | Lightweight and breathable, but with the least flame protection. | Moderate balance between protection and mobility. | Typically heavier but provides the highest protection. May affect mobility more than Index 1 or 2. |
| Self-extinguishing Properties | Must extinguish quickly after flame exposure ceases. | Self-extinguishing with better control over flame spread than Index 1. | Highly self-extinguishing with minimal to no flame propagation. |
Custom Reflective Vests
We can custom the logos, specific color patterns, added pockets, and tool attachments for safety vests based on different working environments. There are public safety vests, traffic safety vests, construction safety vests, industrial safety vests, emergency responder vests, law enforcement safety vests, surveyor safety vests, roadside worker safety vests, utility safety vests and etc.
Differences between ANSI/ISEA 107 and EN ISO 20471 Reflective Vest
ANSI focus more on the level of risk and working environment, while EN pays more attention to the surface area of fluorescent and reflective materials; ANSI high-viz vests are more flexible in design and background materials based on specific uses, but EN safety vest are stricter with precise placement of of reflective and fluorescent materials; EN reflective work-wears require for reflection even after wear and tear, but ANSI safety vests don’t.
Conclusion
Follow the safety vest regulations. And choose the right safety vest for your job. We would be very glad that if the information related to the safety vest classification above could be helpful to you. Welcome to us for further discussion and production of the safety vest!
