Ask a member of the public to name an item of PPE, and quite often you’ll get the response ‘a hi-vis vest’. Despite their ubiquity, many still get confused by the different classifications of hi-vis clothing available, so we’ve put together this article to give a quick overview of the different ratings. 

In Ireland, High Visibility garments are principally broken down into three rating classes:

High Visibility Class 1

High Visibility Class 1 garments are required to have at least 0.14 square metres of fluorescent background material and 0.1 square metres of retroreflective materials. These tend to be used in environments classed as low risk, e.g., where traffic is under 30km/h and the workers’ attention is not compromised, and the weather is clear.

High Visibility Class 2

Class 2 hi-visibility garments must have a minimum of 0.5 square metres of fluorescent background material and at least 0.13 square metres of retroreflective materials. These reflective materials must be positioned around the middle in at least one 360º horizontal stripe and also over the shoulders.

While they give more visibility than Class 1 garments, Class 2 high-visibility clothing is not suitable for environments where passing traffic is over 60km/h. However, in some scenarios, two Class 2 garments can be worn together to achieve a Class 3 level of protection. 

High Visibility Class 3

This is the highest level of visibility. Class 3 garments should completely cover the torso and, at the very least, have either full-length trouser legs with retroflective bands or sleeves with retroflective bands. They must also have a minimum of at least 0.8 square metres of fluorescent yellow or orange material and at least 0.2 square metres of Retroreflective or Combined- Performance Materials. Class 3 hi-visibility clothing can be made up of one complete garment (e.g., coveralls) or a combination of garments which are certified to EN ISO 20471 (for example, a jacket and trouser legs).

Class 3 Hi-Vis garments are essential in high-risk environments, for example, workers on a 60km/h roadway.

This is, of course, a quick overview, and you should also consider your requirements carefully before committing to a hi-vis product. For more information, call our team on 0402 32116 (Arklow) or 021 484 1370 (Cork) for help in deciding on the best option for your team. You can also visit our Safety Shops in Arklow and Cork.