Hi Vis Workwear

EN ISO 20471: The UK Standard for High Visibility Clothing

EN ISO 20471 is the UK and European standard governing high-visibility clothing for workplace safety. It classifies garments into three protection levels based on the amount of fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape. Class 1 provides basic visibility for low-risk, controlled environments such as warehouses, car parks, or enclosed work areas where lighting is adequate and hazards are minimal. Class 2 offers enhanced visibility for moderate-risk settings including construction sites, rail depots, logistics yards, and industrial facilities where machinery and vehicles operate. Class 3 delivers maximum visibility for high-risk environments such as motorway maintenance, traffic management, emergency response, or any role working near fast-moving vehicles or heavy plant equipment. Your employer must assess ambient lighting, weather conditions, and the presence of moving machinery or vehicles when selecting the appropriate class.

How Fluorescent Colours and Reflective Tape Work Together

High visibility clothing combines two technologies: fluorescent background fabric for daytime visibility and retroreflective tape for low-light conditions. Fluorescent yellow and orange are the approved colours under EN ISO 20471; yellow performs best against most UK backgrounds including tarmac, concrete, vegetation, and building materials. The fluorescent dye absorbs ultraviolet light and re-emits it as visible light, making wearers stand out in daylight. Retroreflective tape uses glass beads or prismatic structures to reflect light directly back to its source, creating a bright glow when caught by artificial light from headlamps, site lighting, or torches. Tape placement is critical: horizontal strips around the torso and limbs, combined with vertical or diagonal strips over the shoulders, create a recognisable human outline visible from all angles. EN ISO 20471 specifies minimum surface areas for both background material and tape at each class level.

Choosing the Right Garments for Your Industry and Conditions

This collection includes jackets, trousers, vests, bodywarmers, fleeces, softshells, hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, polos, overtrousers, and coveralls across all three classes. Jackets and bodywarmers typically offer Class 2 or 3 protection with full torso and sleeve coverage. Vests range from Class 1 (basic torso coverage) to Class 2 (increased material and tape); pairing a Class 2 vest with Class 2 trousers achieves Class 3 overall. Trousers are available in Class 1 and 2, essential for roles requiring leg visibility near ground-level hazards or when working in kneeling positions. Specialist options include flame-retardant hi vis for welding or hot work, arc flash protection for electrical environments, freezer-rated garments for cold storage, waterproof and breathable shells for outdoor work, thermal insulation for winter conditions, and RailSpec orange for trackside roles. Check individual product pages for exact class certification, material specifications, and compliance markings. All garments supplied by Glovesnstuff are CE marked and independently tested to EN ISO 20471.