EN ISO 20471:2013

High visibility clothing - Test methods and requirements

This International Standard specifies requirements for high visibility clothing which is capable of visually signaling the user’s presence. The high visibility clothing is intended to provide conspicuity of the wearer in any light condition when viewed by operators of vehicles or other mechanized equipment during daylight conditions and under illumination of headlights in the dark.
This International Standard is not applicable to medium-risk and low-risk situations.

Performance requirements are included for color and retro reflection as well as for the minimum areas and for the placement of the materials in protective clothing.

When the manufacturer’s instructions give a maximum number of cleaning cycles, the requirements for background materials and for retroreflective materials shall be met after the maximum number of cleaning cycles indicated by the manufacturer. If the number of cleaning cycles is not specified, the tests shall be carried out after five cleaning cycles. This shall be reflected in the information supplied by the manufacturer. The cleaning process shall be in line with the manufacturer’s instructions, on the basis of standardized processes.

Garments covering only the torso
The background material shall encircle the torso and shall maintain a minimum width (height) of 50mm. Interruptions of background material by retroreflective stripes are not counted. Bands of retroreflective material shall be at least 50mm wide.
Garments only covering the torso shall have one or more bands of retroreflective material encircling the torso with a maximum inclination of ± 20° to the horizontal and bands of retroreflective material joining the torso band from the front to the back over each shoulder. The bottom of the lowest torso band shall be at least 50mm above the bottom edge. If more than one horizontal band is applied, the horizontal bands shall be at least 50mm apart.

Alternatively, garments covering only the torso shall have two bands of retroreflective material at least 50 mm apart and encircling the torso with a maximum inclination of ± 20° to the horizontal. The bottom of the lowest torso band shall be at least 50 mm above the bottom edge.
Tabards shall be constructed so that a person of the size for which they are designed can wear the tabard so that any gaps at the sides shall not be greater than 50mm horizontally.

Any gap (for fastening systems and seams) in the lengthwise continuity of each band of retroreflective or combined performance material shall not be greater than 50mm, measured parallel to the direction of the band, and the total of such gaps shall not be greater than 100mm in any one band around the torso.

Garments covering torso and arms
The background material shall encircle the torso and the sleeves and shall maintain a minimum width (height) of 50mm. Interruptions by retroreflective stripes are not counted. Bands of retroreflective material shall be at least 50mm wide.

Garments covering the torso and arms shall have one or more bands of retroreflective material encircling the torso with a maximum inclination of ± 20° to the horizontal and bands of retroreflective material joining the torso band from the front to the back over each shoulder. The bottom of the lowest torso band shall be at least 50mm above the bottom edge. If more than one horizontal band is applied, the horizontal bands shall be at least 50mm apart.

Alternatively, garments covering torso and arms shall have two or more bands of retroreflective material at least 50mm apart and encircling the torso with a maximum inclination of ± 20° to the horizontal. The bottom of the lowest torso band shall be at least 50mm above the bottom edge.

If a sleeve blocks a clear view of a horizontal torso band, then the sleeve shall be encircled by a retroreflective band. If it is a long sleeve (1/1 arm) garment, the sleeve shall be encircled by two bands of retroreflective material at least 50mm apart.
If a sleeve blocks a clear view of two horizontal torso bands, then the sleeve shall be encircled with two retroreflective bands at least 50mm apart with the lower band at least 50mm above the sleeve edge. Testing regarding the clear view shall be done by visual inspection while moving the arm in all positions.

Any gap (for fastening systems and seams) in the lengthwise continuity of each band of retroreflective or combined performance material shall not be greater than 50mm, measured parallel to the direction of the band, and the total of such gaps shall not be greater than 100mm in any one band around the torso and 50mm around the sleeves.

Garments covering legs
The background material shall encircle the trouser legs and shall maintain a minimum width (height) of 50mm. Interruptions by retroreflective stripes are not counted. Bands of retroreflective material shall be at least 50mm wide.

Garments covering legs shall have two or more bands of retroreflective material at least 50mm apart and encircling each leg with a maximum inclination of ± 20° to the horizontal. The bottom of the lower band shall be at least 50mm above the bottom of the trouser leg.
Any gap (for fastening systems and seams) in the lengthwise continuity of each band of retroreflective or combined performance material shall not be greater than 50mm, measured parallel to the direction of the band.

Garments covering torso and legs
The background material shall encircle the torso and trouser legs and shall maintain a minimum width (height) of 50mm. Interruptions by retroreflective stripes are not counted. Bands of retroreflective material shall be at least 50mm wide.

Garments covering torso, arms and legs
The background material shall encircle the torso, the sleeves and trouser legs and shall maintain a minimum width of 50mm (in height). Interruptions by retroreflective stripes are not counted. Bands of retroreflective material shall be at least 50mm wide.