If your crew is exposed to vehicle traffic, forklift movement, rail operations or any moving heavy equipment, hi-vis workwear is not optional. It is legally required in most jurisdictions, and it is verified through one of two standards: EN ISO 20471 (Europe, UK, and most Commonwealth markets) or ANSI/ISEA 107 (United States and Canada). The standards solve the same problem but with different class structures. Buying hi-vis workwear without knowing which standard applies is the most common spec mistake we see.
EN ISO 20471 classes (Europe)
| Class | Fluorescent fabric (m²) | Retroreflective tape (m²) | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 0.14 | 0.10 | Restricted to private property, low-speed environment |
| Class 2 | 0.50 | 0.13 | Warehouse, forklift, loading dock, urban service |
| Class 3 | 0.80 | 0.20 | Road crews, rail crews, highway, vehicle traffic exposure |
The minimum class for any worker exposed to vehicle traffic on a public road is Class 3. Most warehouse and yard environments require Class 2. The class is determined by the minimum visible area of fluorescent background fabric (orange-red or yellow-green) plus retroreflective tape on the garment.
ANSI/ISEA 107 types and classes (North America)
ANSI 107 uses both a Type letter and a Class number:
- Type O (off-road): Class 1 only. Restricted to environments without traffic exposure (warehouse interior, controlled yard).
- Type R (roadway): Class 2 or Class 3. Anyone on a roadway or roadway right-of-way.
- Type P (public safety): Class 2 or Class 3 with cutout/breakaway designs for emergency responders, police, fire.
Class equivalence between the two standards
The classes do NOT map one-to-one perfectly, but there is a working equivalence chart:
| EN ISO 20471 | Closest ANSI 107 | Typical buyer interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Type O Class 1 | Off-road / private property only |
| Class 2 | Type R Class 2 | Warehouse, yard, urban service |
| Class 3 | Type R Class 3 | Road, highway, rail, traffic exposure |
Which standard applies to your program?
- EU, UK, Ireland, EEA: EN ISO 20471 required
- US, Canada: ANSI/ISEA 107 required (OSHA enforces 23 CFR 634)
- Australia, NZ: AS/NZS 4602.1 (similar to EN ISO 20471 with minor variations)
- Middle East, Asia: Buyer's choice — most multinational customers default to EN ISO 20471 because it is recognized globally
- Latin America: Buyer's choice — varies by country
For multinational uniform programs where one factory PO ships to multiple regions, the safe approach is EN ISO 20471 Class 3 with EN/ANSI dual certification. This is what we produce as our default hi-vis spec — it covers nearly every regional requirement on a single garment.
Speccing a hi-vis program?
Send us your region, crew exposure and current spec — we will quote against the correct standard with sample certification documents within three business days.
Request hi-vis quote →