ANSI Standards Buying Guide | NationalSafetyGear

It’s no surprise that safety should be a priority no matter what industry you work in. However, when it comes to certain professions, safety measures must go beyond just being cautious. There are standards in place, set by the American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Accessories ANSI/ISEA, that must be followed.

ANSI/ISEA 107 is an industry regulation that recommends workers who are routinely exposed to potential injury hazards from low visibility while on the job use hi-vis vests and safety wear. This standard was designed to combine two previously recognized hi-vis apparel standards for non-public safety workers and public safety employees. It is set in place to provide employers with a guideline for selecting high visibility safety apparel including shirts, rain gear, outerwear, safety vests, headwear, shoes and more. The standard also provides performance testing criteria for the materials used in constructing the hi-vis safety wear.

Who Can Benefit from Hi Vis Safety Wear

To average passers-by, all safety vests might look the same. But, they are not. Custom hi-vis safety wear is recommended for:

Road construction crews
Parking lot attendants
Tollbooth operators
Delivery drivers
Workers exposed to warehouse equipment
People recovering shopping carts from parking lots
Cargo loading operators
Survey crews
Utility workers
Emergency response personnel
School crossing guards
Law enforcement
Airport ground crews
Hunters
Flaggers
And more

What you should know, though, is that the ANSI/ISEA 107 is an industry-wide standard with very specific requirements to ensure the safety of workers in potentially hazardous and low visibility professions.

ANSI Safety Standards: Types and Performance Classes

When it comes to shopping for ANSI approved apparel, it is important to understand the different types and performance classes. This serves as a guide for employers to ensure they are choosing the right hi-vis gear for their workers. Classes are broken down based on the work environment and risk for the worker.

Performance Class 1 Apparel

Hi-vis custom apparel that falls into this class is fluorescent and highly visible but does not cover a large surface area on the body. It also is not required to be retroreflective. Examples include safety vests, shirts, hats and some outerwear that is a solid color.

Performance Class 2 Apparel

This performance level is considered the minimum approved for roadway or public safety workers. These hi-vis safety vests and apparel should cover a larger surface area than Class 1 garments.

Performance Class 3 Apparel

This level of performance class is reserved for the highest risk work environments. Garments must cover the arms and legs and have retroreflective material throughout. Safety vests alone do not fit under Class 3 apparel.

When shopping for safety shirts online the types of applications must also be considered. To make the process of shopping a little less complicated for employers, the ANSI Standard breaks down hi-vis garments into three different types.

Type O (Off-Road)

Ideal for the types of workers retrieving shopping carts or working indoors in a warehouse, this single Performance Class apparel is designated for off-road use, typically indoors or in very controlled environments.

Type R (Roadway)

This ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 apparel includes garments constructed specifically for use on roadways. Type R apparel is more fluorescent and includes more retroreflective material. This is the right choice for construction workers, parking attendants, school crossing guards, tow drivers and more.

Type P (Public Safety)

This ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 safety apparel requires more background and retroreflective material for public safety. These garments are used by first responders, EMTs, police, and firemen.

ANSI Safety Standards: Knowing What to Look For

Ultimately, ANSI standards are broken down into several major focus areas. The ANSI standard provides design guidelines that specify the photometric requirements, minimum amounts of component materials, colors, and placement. Increased visibility is the key for workers who are exposed to potentially hazardous working conditions.

Below are some of the important terms you should familiarize yourself with when shopping for safety gear online:

Background material: The colored fluorescent material used on garments to make them stand out in poorly lit conditions. These fabrics are not designed to adhere to the requirements of reflective materials.
Retroreflective materials: Material used on safety apparel that reflects light and returns a bright light in the direction of the passerby.
Combined-performance material: Retroreflective material that is also fluorescent.
Component colors: There are three different options for background materials and combined-performance material which include fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red and fluorescent red.
Photometric performance: This is the effectiveness of the retroreflective material and is measured in terms of its retroreflection.
Flame resistance: This refers to fabric or apparel designed to resist flaming combustion.

Hi Vis Safety Apparel Customization

While there are very set standards when it comes to hi-vis safety wear, there is always room for customization. Companies have the option to screen print or embroider their logo on safety apparel to make their brand stand out. Custom embroidery works well on hi-vis apparel due to its durability and ability to maintain colors. Screen printing is also an option for background materials, but black typically works best because of the fluorescent colors.

Make NationalSafetyGear Your One-Stop-Shop

We understand when you are running a business, shopping for apparel isn’t always on the top of the list. We make it simple to shop for Class 2 and 3 safety apparel in vests, t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and outerwear. We are proud to sell the top brands at prices that will keep you safe and on-budget. Shop our full selection of safety shirts today.