ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel
ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 American National Standard for High Visibility Public Safety Vests

ANSI/ISEA 107-2010

Published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), the ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 standard specifies performance requirements for high-visibility safety apparel and headwear. These items are intended to provide high visibility to the user in hazardous situations under any light conditions by day and under illumination by vehicle headlights in the dark. This standard was developed in response to workers who are exposed to low visibility conditions in hazardous work zones.

Performance requirements are included for color, retroreflection, and minimum areas, as well as the suggested configuration of the materials. Performance requirements are also provided for the physical properties of background materials used in the construction of high-visibility safety apparel and headwear. Test methods are provided in the standard to help ensure that a minimum level of visibility is maintained when items are subjected to ongoing care procedures.

There are three classes of garments specified in the standard that are based on the wearer’s activities.

Class 3: These garments provide the highest level of conspicuity for workers. These are for workers with high task loads in a wide range of weather conditions where traffic exceeds 50 mph. The standard “recommends these garments for all roadway construction personnel, vehicle operators, utility workers, survey crews, emergency responders, railway workers and accident site investigators”.

Class 2: These garments are for workers who work near roadways where traffic exceeds 25 mph and need greater visibility in inclement weather. Workers who would typically wear these garments are: railway workers, school crossing guards, parking and toll gate personnel, airport ground crews and law enforcement personnel directing traffic.

Class 1: These garments are worn by workers where traffic does not exceed 25 mph and there is ample separation from the traffic. These workers typically are parking service attendants, warehouse workers in equipment traffic, shopping cart retrievers and those doing sidewalk maintenance.

The three classes of garments are differentiated by the requirements for amounts of retroreflective material that needs to meet specified performance criteria, the width and placement of the material, design and the color of vest used.

There are charts and figures in the standard that give the minimum requirements for retroreflectivity (chromaticity) and luminance (color of vest) combinations that are acceptable. The luminous colors that are used and accepted as long as they meet the minimum standard are fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, and fluorescent red.

The design of the garments and where the tape should be applied is in Appendix B2 of the standard. The garments vary, but can include coveralls, jackets, vests, trousers and sash belts. Section 5.2.2 of the standard has suggested design configurations. For example, 5.2.2a states “jackets, waistcoats, vest and ponchos shall be designed to permit maximum visibility of the wearer”. 52.2.b states that these garments should “have one or more horizontal bands of retroreflective material around the torso and bands of retroreflective material joining the uppermost torso band from the front to the back over each shoulder”.

ANSI/ISEA 207-2006

Published in December 2006, the ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 Standard establishes design, performance specifications and use criteria for highly visible vests that are used by law enforcement, emergency responders, fire officials, and DOT personnel. This public safety vest standard was created in response to public safety user group demand in 2005 for a high visibility safety vest garment differentiated from ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 compliant apparel. The primary concern was a need for flexibility of designs that would provide tactical capability not achievable with ANSI 107 garments. User groups expressed a desire to have a high visibility garment standard intended for law enforcement and emergency responders that would be distinct from ANSI 107 to avoid interchangeability with other high visibility vests.

The standard will only affect the Law Enforcement, Emergency Responders, Fire Officials, and DOT Personnel sectors. It will improve the safety in multi-agency incidents by improving visibility and identification. It will reduce confusion and enhance communication between agencies.

Some of the notable design features reflect the specific needs of public safety workers such as the need to access belt mounted equipment (gun, radio, CPR barrier mask) and the ability for vests to tear away from the body.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA)
http://www.safetyequipment.org/standard.htm.

Federal Highway Administration (FHA)
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=295

3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material
ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 Made Easy: A quick reference to high visibility safety apparel http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UF6EVsSyXTtnxTa5xfaEVtQEVs6EVs6EVs6E666666--&fn=ANSI%20Made%20Easy%202010.pdf

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What are the significant differences between the new 207 and the 107 standard?

A. The primary distinction of the ANSI 207 standard is that the required fluorescent background material (450 in2) falls between ANSI 107 Class 1 (217 in2) and ANSI 107 Class 2 (775 in2).  This difference allows for design accommodation of equipment belts. The new standard also allows for design flexibility to incorporate colored panels to enhance easy; on-scene identification.

ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 Summary Points

1. ANSI 207 is a new standard with a specific name, “Public Safety Vests” (PSV).
2. Area requirements for fluorescent background material falls between ANSI 107 Class 1
   and Class 2.
3. A lesser background area requirement allows for short designs giving tactical access to equipment belts.
4. Retroreflective area requirements are the same as those for ANSI 107, Class 2
5. Retroreflective performance requirements are almost the same as ANSI 107, except only the Level 2 (330 RA table) is included.
6. ANSI 207 is not intended to replace, or be interchangeable with ANSI 107 Class 2 apparel.  Law enforcement officers performing traffic control duties are still encouraged to follow ANSI 107 Class 2 or Class 3 guidelines whenever possible.

Q. Does OSHA require this type of PPE?

A. ANSI/ISEA developed this standard to address situations in which workers are in danger because of low visibility. These garments meet ANSI/ISEA criteria for performance and visibility. There is not an OSHA standard at this time requiring that vests be worn, although individual municipalities, counties and states may require their use.

Note: This information is for reference only. To be sure that your vest, shirts, etc., are in compliance, we suggest that you obtain a copy of the actual ANSI standard document.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please contact us for information about your particular application. We will help you with what you need to meet all ANSI specifications. Specifications vary by application and by industry. Contact us at info@metlon.com or (401) 467-3435.