When talking about high visibility apparel and the requirements that your company should be following, you may have heard of the term, ANSI 107. So the question is, does your company fall into an industry that must adhere to this standard or maybe it’s the step you take to add that extra layer of protection, to your employee workforce. In this article you will learn about the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and how ANSI 107 started, to where it is today.
For more than 90 years, the American National Standards Institute has been serving as the U.S. private sector voluntary standardization system. Originally started by 5 engineering societies and 3 government agencies, today, is a private nonprofit membership organization.
ANSI is supported by a wide range of private and public sector organizations, with the goal of enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the American quality of life, by promoting and facilitating: voluntary consensus standards, conformity assessment systems, and promoting their integrity.
The ANSI/ISEA 107 standard was first established in 1999, as 107-1999. ANSI 107-1999 was the first standard for the design of high visibility safety apparel. It wasn’t until late 2008, when the first U.S. Federal regulation (23 CFR, part 634) was implemented for Federal Aid highway environments and required the use of performance, Class 2 or 3 ANSI/ISEA 107 garments. The 23 CFR regulation applied to highway construction, maintenance, and utility workers.
ANSI 107-2010 was a standard for construction, emergency responders, utility, airport ramp personnel, and any other workers, who routinely work in low visibility areas while on the job. ANSI 107-2010 provided guidelines for the selection and use of high-visibility safety apparel such as shirts, rainwear, safety vests, outerwear, and headwear to improve worker visibility during the day, in low-light conditions and during night. ANSI 107-2010 brought new changes from the previous iteration, which included:
ANSI 107-2010 changes covered design; care labeling; requirements for background and combined-performance retroreflective materials; and photometric and physical performance requirements for retroreflective materials.
The ANSI 107-2010 standard provided design guidelines and specified the photometric requirements, minimum amounts of component materials, colors, and placement to create garments and headwear for the purpose of enhancing the visibility of workers.
There are three different colors for background and combined-performance material from which to choose: fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, fluorescent red.
It’s only after all materials have been tested against performance requirements and certificates of compliance from a third party testing laboratory have been issued, then the apparel manufacturers then assemble garments according to the design guidelines in ANSI 107-2010, Section 6. Only after all the materials’ performance and design requirements have been met, can a garment be labeled ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 compliant. To understand more about garment labeling, general marking, and instructions, see Sections 10 and 12 of the standard.
In Section 7 of the standard we see specifications for color, brightness, fabric strength, and moisture resistance after various exposure tests. If a garment is intended to provide protection during rainfall, background materials also need to be tested as water repellent, water resistant, and/or water-proof. Background and Combined-performance materials need to be tested for chromaticity or color, and luminance or brightness, when new and for colorfastness after laundering and Xenon (UV light) exposure. The background materials must also be tested for colorfastness after crocking and perspiration tests.
Class 1 and 2 garments, such as vests and T-shirts, and Class 3 garment designs, such as vests with Class E pants ensembles, coveralls, outerwear, and rainwear should achieve:
Section 8 of the standard specifies photometric and performance requirements for retroreflective and combined-performance materials, such as minimum brightness after test exposure.
The ANSI standard is being revised, approximately every 5 years, with the previous revision coming in 2010. This latest edition (ANSI/ISEA 107-2015) was released on February 1, 2016.
The new ANSI standard brought new type designations, replacing the existing classes.
So which type ANSI 107 garment do you choose?
If you want to add a logo, an ID panel or lettering, it can cover up to 72 in.2 of the minimum amount of background material and 22in.2 of the minimum amount of retroreflective material. There can also be no gaps in the retroreflective material greater than 1.97” horizontally.
If class 1 and 2 garments (all types) do not have reflective encircling the sleeves, then they must:
This only applies to Type R garments only and there can be no deduction in retroreflective allowed. While all large sizes must meet the regular minimum requirements. For class 2, the smallest size in size range may have a minimum of 540 in.2 of background material. While the class 3 smallest size, in the size range, may have minimum of 1,000 in.2 of background material.
Class E garments do not meet ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 when worn alone. They can be worn with class 2 garments, to make class 3. A pair of gaiters can now be certified class E. If you would like to learn more and purchase the ANSI 107-2015 standard, then you purchase directly from the ANSI website.
If you are looking or needing more information on high visibility clothing, for your team, then contact us and we would be happy to discuss how we can help outfit your team and meet your safety standards.