International standards and safety standards for reflective raincoats

International standards and safety standards for reflective raincoats

In today's globalized market, reflective raincoats, as an important personal protective equipment (PPE), play a key role in many industries. Whether it is traffic construction, sanitation operations, or logistics transportation, reflective raincoats can significantly improve the safety of workers in low-visibility environments. However, to ensure that the product meets international standards and safety standards, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of the specific requirements of each standard.

1. International standards for reflective raincoats
(I) European standard EN ISO 20471
EN ISO 20471 is a high-visibility clothing standard developed by the European Organization for Standardization (CEN/CENELEC) for personal protective equipment such as reflective raincoats. The standard divides reflective raincoats into three categories, each corresponding to different usage scenarios and risk levels.
Class 1: Suitable for low-risk environments, such as inside warehouses or areas where traffic speeds do not exceed 30 kilometers per hour. The reflective raincoat is required to have a fluorescent area of at least 0.14 square meters and a reflective area of at least 0.10 square meters.
Class 2: Suitable for medium-risk environments, such as road construction or areas where traffic speeds do not exceed 60 km/h. The fluorescent area is required to be at least 0.50 square meters and the reflective area is required to be at least 0.13 square meters.
Class 3: Suitable for high-risk environments, such as highways or areas where traffic speeds exceed 60 km/h. The fluorescent area is required to be at least 0.80 square meters and the reflective area is required to be at least 0.20 square meters.
In addition, EN ISO 20471 also has strict regulations on the brightness, durability, color fastness, etc. of reflective materials. For example, the retroreflective coefficient of reflective materials must meet certain standards to ensure that light can be clearly reflected at night or in low light conditions. Reflective raincoats must also undergo multiple washing tests to ensure that their reflective performance does not decrease significantly due to washing.
(II) American Standard ANSI/ISEA 107
ANSI/ISEA 107 is a high-visibility clothing standard jointly developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). The standard also divides reflective raincoats into different grades to suit different working environments and risk levels.
Performance grade: The ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 standard recognizes four performance grades (1, 2, 3, and E), which correspond to different reflective performance and visibility requirements.
Clothing type: The standard also defines three clothing types (O, P, and R), which are suitable for different working scenarios.
For example, O-type clothing is suitable for temporary or part-time workers, P-type clothing is suitable for full-time workers, and R-type clothing is suitable for special environments that require higher visibility. The ANSI/ISEA 107 standard also has clear requirements for the brightness and visible distance of reflective materials to ensure that the wearer can be spotted in time at night or in bad weather conditions.
(III) Other related standards
In addition to the above main standards, there are some supplementary standards and certification requirements that also play an important role in the quality and safety of reflective raincoats.
EN 1150:1999: This is a European standard for high-visibility clothing for non-professional use. Although this standard has been replaced by EN 17353:2020, it still provides basic requirements for the optical performance of reflective raincoats, including color testing, color fastness testing, retroreflective performance testing, etc.
CE certification: Reflective raincoats need to pass CE certification to ensure that they meet the safety and health requirements of the EU market. CE certification involves testing the retroreflective coefficient, weather resistance, mechanical properties, etc. of reflective materials, and requires the product to be marked with the CE mark.

2. Safety standards for reflective raincoats
(I) Reflective effect and visibility
The core function of reflective raincoats is to improve the wearer's visibility in low-visibility environments. Therefore, the reflective effect is one of the key factors in measuring its safety.
Reflective material: High-quality reflective raincoats usually use micro-prismatic reflective materials, which can reflect strong light under light exposure, significantly improving visibility at night or in low light conditions. In contrast, although glass micro-bead reflective materials are lower in cost, their reflective effect is relatively weak.
Reflective area: A larger reflective area can provide better visibility and safety. Generally speaking, the reflective area of reflective raincoats should reach more than 30%. Especially for high-risk environments, such as highway construction or night operations, a larger reflective area can significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
(ii) Durability and durability
Reflective raincoats must not only have good reflective performance when purchased, but also maintain this performance during long-term use. Therefore, durability is another important aspect of measuring its safety.
Abrasion resistance: Reflective materials should be tested for abrasion resistance to ensure that they will not be damaged under frequent use and friction