What the class means in square metres
EN ISO 20471 recognises three classes. The classification is not an assessment of appearance, but a calculation of the surface area of two types of material on the garment: the fluorescent background material, which is visible during the day and at dusk, and the reflective material, which is visible at night in the beam of headlights.
| Class | Fluorescent background material | Reflective material |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 0.14 m² | 0.10 m² |
| Class 2 | 0.50 m² | 0.13 m² |
| Class 3 | 0.80 m² | 0.20 m² |
Two things are often overlooked when purchasing:
- The required surface areas apply to the smallest size in the model's range. If a model achieves class 2 in size S, it also achieves it in XXL; the reverse is not true. The wording “class 2 from size L upwards” is therefore a warning, not a fact.
- The standard separately addresses material with combined properties, which is fluorescent and reflective at the same time. It has its own required surface area and is not simply the sum of the two columns in the table. If a supplier justifies a higher class based on such material, request the test report or the EU declaration of conformity.
The standard allows three fluorescent colours of background material: yellow, orange-red and red. The colour does not determine the class; the surface area and shape of the garment do.
When to choose class 1, when 2 and when class 3
The standard itself does not state where each class is mandatory. The requirement is set by the employer's risk assessment, along with the client, the road authority or the tender documentation. The informative annex of the standard provides guidance: higher vehicle speed, poorer visibility, a more complex background and a more demanding task all mean a higher class.
- Class 3 is usually the starting point for work on and beside roads, for night work, for work in fog, rain and snow, and for work near moving vehicles and machinery. The reason is not only the surface area: under the standard's requirements, Class 3 must cover the torso and limbs, so a driver recognises a human shape sooner rather than just bright patches.
- Class 2 is often used in yards, warehouses, logistics terminals and construction sites with limited speed, where work is mostly carried out during the day.
- Class 1 is the lowest level, typical of light trousers and some vests. On its own it often does not meet the client's requirement, but it appears as the lower part of a set.
In public procurement, the class is generally specified in the technical specification. Check whether it is required for an individual item or for the set, as the entire calculation depends on this. More on this under public procurement.
How a trouser and jacket set raises the class
You do not add up classes yourself. The standard provides for the manufacturer to assess the set as a whole, and the class of the set must be evident from the marking or the accompanying instructions. A common combination from catalogues: a class 2 jacket and class 2 trousers together may achieve class 3, while each item on its own remains class 2.
What this means when ordering:
- Class 3, achieved as a set, applies only as long as the worker wears both items. Removing the jacket means an immediate drop to the class of the trousers; in summer this is a common mistake in the field.
- An item that is class 3 on its own must cover the torso and have either sleeves with reflective bands or long trouser legs with reflective bands. A vest does not meet this design requirement, regardless of the amount of tape used.
- Order the jacket and trousers from the same range from the same manufacturer. A combination of two suppliers is not assessed as a set, even if the colours match.
- Horizontal reflective bands must be at least 50 mm wide, and the lower band must be at least 50 mm from the bottom edge of the garment. Check both of these on the sample with a measuring tape.
When putting together sets by season, see workwear. For winter combinations, check the outer layer in particular: what is visible is what counts, so the required class must be achieved by the outer jacket, not the layer underneath it.
Marking: what must be stated on the product
On receipt of goods, check the label on the product, not the photo in the catalogue. A high-visibility garment should have:
- a high-visibility pictogram with one number, 1, 2 or 3
- a reference to EN ISO 20471 with the year of issue
- a CE mark, as this is personal protective equipment of category II, meaning an EU type-examination by a notified body
- care symbols and the maximum number of care cycles, if limited by the manufacturer
- size, manufacturer's name and instructions for use
If the pictogram shows two numbers, you are looking at the old label under EN 471, where the second number indicated the reflectivity class. EN ISO 20471 recognises only one level of reflectivity, so only one number remains. An old label does not in itself mean the garment is unusable, but it does mean it is not labelled to the current standard, and the client may reject it. The meaning of individual markings is collected in the standards glossary.
What happens to visibility after washing
Both materials age, each in its own way. Fluorescent dye fades due to UV light, washing and dirt, the luminance factor drops and the colour can shift outside the prescribed colour range. Reflective tape loses reflectivity due to wear, cracking, adhesive detachment and residues of softener that build up on the surface of the tape.
New reflective material must, according to the standard, achieve at least 330 cd/(lx·m²) at an observation angle of 12 minutes and an entrance angle of 5 degrees. The manufacturer states the maximum number of maintenance cycles after which the product still meets the requirements; the standard provides for testing after at least five cycles, unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise. This number is the result of a laboratory test, not a promise of service life in the field.
Visibility is often affected more by dirt than by washing alone. A layer of cement dust, oil or resin covers the fluorescent surface and reflective tape, so the garment loses visibility even before it needs to be replaced due to the number of washes.
- wash according to the label instructions, without softener and without bleach
- wash separately from heavily soiled dark garments
- do not iron over the reflective tape and do not dry at a higher temperature than the label allows
- for industrial laundering, agree with the provider on a programme that matches the label, and on counting cycles per batch
When to withdraw a garment from use
High-visibility clothing is not worn out only once it tears. Replace it when any of the following occurs:
- the fluorescent colour visibly fades or turns grey; this is easiest to spot by comparing it with a new item from the same batch
- the reflective tape cracks, peels, detaches from the fabric, or is soiled to the point where washing can no longer clean it
- the garment has been repaired or altered in a way that reduces the material's surface area, for example by shortening trouser legs above the tape
- the maximum number of maintenance cycles stated on the label has been exceeded
Pay particular attention to printing and embroidery. A logo on the chest or lettering across the back reduces the surface area of fluorescent material, and with larger lettering, the garment may fall below the threshold of its class. Before ordering personalisation, check with the supplier up to what print size the class remains valid and whether an approved layout for lettering exists. The same applies to patches, clips and hangers placed over reflective tape, as these also cover part of the surface counted towards the class. If you are ordering equipment for several teams at once, keep a record of delivery dates so that you do not have to search the warehouse for expired items.
The class under EN ISO 20471 is determined by the measured area of fluorescent and reflective material and the shape of the garment, not by colour or appearance. When purchasing, check whether the class applies to a single item or to a set, and whether the marking on the product matches the requirement in the specification. Visibility remains valid data only as long as the garment is clean, intact and within the number of maintenance cycles stated on the label.