High Visibility Standard: CSA Z96-15
Hi-Vis apparel is a function of two parts—retroreflective striping (most common is silver tape), and luminance of background material (generally fluorescent yellow-green or fluorescent orange-red).
Classes
Class 1 Apparel is a basic harness or stripes/bands over the shoulder and encircling the waist (stripes/bands only meet CSA/ANSI standard). Can be Level 1, 2, and FR retroreflection.
Class 2 Apparel is full coverage of upper torso—front, back, sides and over the shoulder (stripes/bands and background fabric both meet CSA/ANSI standard). Can be Level 1, 2, and FR retroreflection.
Class 3 Apparel is Class 2 apparel in addition to bands encircling both arms and legs (all stripes/bands and background fabric meet CSA/ANSI standard). Must have Level 2 retroreflection.
Levels
Level FR This level allows for flame resistant garments with striping/bands where the total retroreflective level is at 20% of the level 2 requirement (FR treated fabrics lose lustre after treatment).
Level 1 is a slightly lower performance level of the striping, but still requires the background material to meet CSA/ANSI Standards. Retroreflective level is at 70% of the Level 2 requirement.
Level 2 is the highest level of retroreflection and requires the background fabric to meet CSA/ANSI standards as well as the striping/bands to meet the highest coefficient level (the brightest level).
High Visibility Standard: ANSI/ISEA 107-2015
This new standard combines the requirementments of ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 and ANSI/ISEA 207, creating one standard that takes all occupational tasks into account.
Three Garment TypesThe new garment types categorize hi-vis garments according to the different work environments of specific workers. When garment types are combined with the existing performance classes (1, 2, and 3), this new standard gives safety managers a larger variety of protection levels that considers more hazards.
Balance of Design & Logo Personalization
To maintain the balance in design, at least 40% of both the front and back of garments have retroreflective or combined-performance and background materials.
This new standard also permits company logos or any personalization to be part of a garment without compromising the total background area of the garment according to the following criteria:
Personalization on background material should not exceed a total of 465 cm² or 72 in² on the front and/or back of the garment.
Personalization on retriflective material should not exceed a total of 142 cm² or 22 in² on the front and/or back of the garment.
Flame-Resistant Performance Labeling
All Viking® and Open Road® ANSI/ISEA 2015 garments will be labelled to indicate flame resistance. Garments made from non-inherent flame resistant material or those not designed to meet FR standards will be differentiated on garment label by the following statement: “This garment is not flame resistant by ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Section 10.5”
