Certification and Registration
ANSI/ISEA 107 National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel in the United States
Category:
Protective Clothing
ANSI/ISEA 107 Standard Description
ANSI/ISEA 107 American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel
ANSI/ISEA 107 Standard Introduction
Construction workers, utility workers, emergency responders, airport ground personnel, and many other outdoor workers face increased injury risks due to reduced visibility during work.ANSI/ISEA 107 provides guidance for the selection and use of high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA), including shirts, rainwear, outerwear, and safety vests, designed to improve worker visibility during daylight, low-light conditions, and nighttime environments.ANSI/ISEA 107 classifies high-visibility apparel into three types based on the intended application:
(1) Type O (Off-Road Use):Provides basic visibility protection and includes only Performance Class 1.
(2) Type R (Roadway Use):Designed for high-risk environments such as roadway construction and temporary traffic control areas. Performance levels include Class 2 and Class 3.
(3) Type P (Public Safety Activities):Specifically designed for emergency responders, such as firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel. Performance levels include Class 2, Class 3, and Class E.
ANSI/ISEA 107 Related Definitions
Background Material:A fluorescent-colored material designed to provide high visibility during daylight, dawn, and dusk conditions, but without retroreflective properties.
Retroreflective Material:A material that reflects most incident light back toward the original light source along the same direction.
Combined-Performance Material:A material that provides both fluorescent and retroreflective properties.
High-Visibility Safety Apparel (HVSA):Personal protective equipment designed to enhance the wearer’s visibility during daylight, nighttime, and other low-light conditions.
Torso Area:The main body area of the human torso, specifically referring to the area from the armpit to the buttocks.
ANSI/ISEA 107 Design Highlights
ANSI/ISEA 107 specifies requirements for high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA), including photometric performance, minimum material areas, color requirements, and configuration requirements, with the purpose of ensuring that garments effectively improve worker visibility.These requirements are mainly based on the following three ergonomic considerations:
(1) Adaptability and Stability Design：Garments shall be designed to fit properly and remain securely positioned during use. The working environment and the full range of user movements shall be considered to ensure that the garment maintains its intended protective position throughout its service life.
(2) Material Safety and Comfort：Selected materials and components shall not adversely affect the wearer. Areas in direct contact with the skin shall be free from design defects, such as rough edges or sharp protrusions, that may cause irritation or injury.
(3) Dynamic Usage Reliability：Through structural design, garments shall maintain functional integrity during work movements, such as bending and stretching.Material selection shall also consider environmental factors, such as wind, rain, and temperature changes, to ensure garment stability during use.
Based on application scenarios and performance requirements, the key design requirements are summarized as follows:
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Table 1. Minimum Areas of Visible Materials |
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Garment Type |
Performance Class |
Background Material |
Retroreflective or Combined-Performance Materials |
Minimum Width Retroreflective Material |
|
Type O Off-road and Non-Roadway Use |
Class 1 |
0.14m²(217in²) |
0.10m²(155in²) |
25mm(1in.) |
|
Type R Roadway and Temporary Traffic Control Zones |
Class 2* |
0.50m²(775in²) |
0.13m²(201in²) |
25mm(1in.) 35mm (1.38 in.) |
|
Class 3** |
0.80m²(1240in²) |
0.20m²(310in²) |
25mm(1in.) 50mm(2in.) |
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*For the smallest size offered in Type R, Performance Class 2, a minimum of 0.35 m ² (540 in ² ) of background material may be used to accommodate small-sized workers. All subsequent larger sizes must use 0.50 m ² (775 in ² ). **For the smallest size offered in Type R, Performance Class 3, a minimum of 0.65 m ² (1000 in ² ) of background material may be used to accommodate small-sized workers. All subsequent larger sizes must use 0.80 m ² (1240 in ² ). |
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Type P Emergency and Incident Responders and Law Enforcement Personnel |
Class 2 |
0.29m²(450in²) |
0.13m²(201in²) |
25mm(1in.) 50mm(2in.) |
|
Class 3 |
0.50m²(775in²) |
0.20m²(310in²) |
25mm(1in.) 50mm(2in.) |
|
|
Supplemental Items Pants, Overalls, Shorts, Rain Pants and Gaiters |
Class E |
0.30m²(465in²) |
0.07m²(109in²) |
25mm(1in.) 50mm(2in.) |
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# When a Supplemental Class E item is worn with Performance Class 2 or 3, the overall classification for the ensemble shall be Performance Class 3. ## For use with split-trim designs (See Section 6.3.1.2) NOTE: Combined-performance materials can be counted toward the minimum area requirements for background material specified in Table 1. |
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ANSI/ISEA 107 Component color Component Colors
ANSI/ISEA 107 specifies that background materials and combined-performance materials may be selected from three fluorescent colors: fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, and fluorescent red. In practical applications, the characteristics of the working environment shall be considered, including factors such as urban or rural areas, vegetation coverage, desert environments, and surrounding equipment colors (such as yellow or orange warning devices). The selected color shall provide maximum visual contrast to improve daytime visibility and worker recognition.
Key Guidelines for the Placement of Reflective Materials under ANSI/ISEA 107
All types and performance classes of apparel shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Reflective Tape Width and Quantity:The width and quantity of reflective tape shall comply with the safety level requirements corresponding to the garment classification.
(2) 360° Visibility:Garments shall provide comprehensive 360° visibility.The gap between horizontal reflective strips shall not exceed 2 inches (5 cm).
(3) Reflective Tape Position:Horizontal reflective tape shall be positioned at least 2 inches (5 cm) above the garment hem.Reflective strips shall have equal widths or sufficient spacing to prevent labels or markings from being placed too close together, which may affect readability.
(4) Shoulder Reflectivity Requirements:If sleeves do not contain a continuous reflective band, reflective material shall be applied to the shoulder area.The reflective material shall be located within 5.9 inches below the shoulder point, and the total reflective area of the front and back shoulder sections shall be no less than 23.25 square inches.
(5) Reflective Tape Spacing:Appropriate spacing shall be maintained between horizontal and vertical reflective strips. The spacing is generally recommended to be equal to the width of the reflective strip itself.
(6) Front and Back Reflective Area Distribution:During garment design, it is recommended that the reflective areas on the front and back each account for at least 40% of the total reflective area to maintain visual balance.
(7) Special Requirements for Class 3 Apparel:Each sleeve shall include a complete reflective band.For long-sleeve garments, the reflective band shall be at least 2 inches (5 cm) wide.For short-sleeve garments, reflective tape may be positioned at the sleeve edge to ensure clear shoulder visibility.
ANSI/ISEA 107 Testing and Application of Background Fabrics and Combined-Performance Fabrics
All fabrics, including background fabrics and combined-performance fabrics with reflective properties, shall undergo chromaticity (color purity) and luminance testing.The luminance factor shall be measured before any pretreatment and again after standard cleaning procedures and ultraviolet exposure (xenon lamp irradiation) to verify whether color fastness and light resistance meet the required standards.In addition, background fabrics shall also meet the following requirements:
(1) Colorfastness to dry rubbing, perspiration, and normal washing;
(2) Dimensional stability after washing and dry cleaning (including shrinkage evaluation);
(3) Physical properties such as tear resistance and bursting strength.
If the fabric is intended for use in rainy environments, such as outdoor workwear and protective clothing, additional testing shall be conducted for waterproof performance, water repellency, or moisture vapor permeability waterproof performance.
SATISFY provides one-stop protective clothing testing services, including preliminary assessment, preparation and submission of technical documentation, complete test monitoring, report interpretation, data analysis, and corrective action recommendations.For more information, please contact SATISFY customer service.
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