High visibility jackets are perhaps the most widely used personal protective equipment (PPE) used by industrial, construction, utility, safety, electrical, civil engineers, architects, and other workers while on a construction site.
If you work around massive equipment, vehicles, and machinery, chances are you use high visibility jackets, also known as hi-vis jackets, to ensure you are always visible to anyone operating heavy equipment around.
This article highlights the important things to know when shopping for a high visibility/ hi-vis safety jacket for you and your team. We discuss high visibility jacket classes and highlight some top brands in the industry.
Let’s get started!
What Is a High Visibility Jacket?
Technically, a high visibility jacket belongs to the class of high visibility clothing. High visibility clothing is any type of apparel designed to make the wearer more visible and noticeable in their work environment.
High visibility clothing is categorized as PPE in work environments and commonly has an ISEA/ANSI label detailing the characteristics of the apparel.
High visibility clothing achieves improved visibility for workers with the use of materials made in fluorescent colors such as Saturn Yellow, Lime, and Orange in combination with retroreflective materials. The retroreflective material is crafted in an ‘H’ pattern on the front and back of the hi vis clothing.
Retroreflective materials help a worker remain visible in low-light situations, and fluorescent colors help you stay discernible in daylight.
High visibility jackets with reflective tape are typically worn by construction workers or safety personnel to ensure enhanced visibility in low-visibility work environments to ensure their safety.
Workers who use a high-visibility or reflective jacket include:
- Construction workers
- Sanitation workers
- Engineers
- Warehouse workers
- Industrial workers
- Gas and electric utility workers
Hi-vis jackets have been adopted as a standard for ensuring workers’ safety in various work environments according to the ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 standard, which provides the design guidelines for high-visibility clothing and its adoption methods.
Understanding the Type and Class of High Visibility Jacket
There are three (3) classes of high-visibility jackets, namely:
Class 3 – Highest Level of Protection
Class 3 high visibility jackets have bands of retroreflective materials that are at least 2 inches wide, the background materials must be at least 8.6 sq ft., and the minimum retroreflective material must be at least 2 sq ft.
Class 3 high visibility jackets offer the highest level of visibility protection and typically have long sleeves featuring reflective bands to meet the surface area requirements.
Class 2 – Intermediate Level of Protection
The retroreflective material in a class 2 hi vis jacket must also be at least 2 inches wide. However, the minimum background apparel can be at least 5.4 sq ft., and the surface area of the retroreflective material can be 1.4 sq ft. This offers an intermediate level of visibility protection.
Class 1 – Lowest Level of Protection
Class 1 high visibility jackets are used for minimal off-road situations only, and while their retroreflective bands should not be less than 2 inches wide, the minimum area of the background and retroreflective material can be 1.5 sq ft. and 1 sq ft, respectively.
Types of Hi Vis Work Jackets
There are three major types of high visibility jackets you are likely to find in most stores.
Insulated Hi Vis Jacket: These kinds of high visibility jackets are designed to provide the wearer with warmth in cold weather conditions. The embedded insulation material helps to provide both warmth and comfort.
Insulated hi vis jackets are used in outdoor environments in cold weather conditions like winter or a blizzard.
Waterproof Hi Vis Jacket: Waterproof high visibility jackets are useful for workers who work in wet or rainy conditions, and they work by using a waterproof outer layer to keep water out of the jacket.
This keeps the worker dry while still ensuring high visibility in both low-light and daylight conditions. This is especially useful in road construction, emergency response, and outdoor security.
Flame-Resistant Hi Vis Jacket: Flame-resistant hi vis jackets are very useful for workers who work in facilities or areas where they are exposed to heat and fire. This type of hi-vis jacket is made from unique materials that can withstand extreme temperatures without igniting.
Typical industries where they are used include oil and gas, firefighting, manufacturing, and welding. Vests like the RefrigiWear Hi Vis Iron-Tuff Vest belong to a special category of abrasion-resistant, high-visibility clothing.
Picking the Right High Visibility Jacket for Your Use
Factors to consider when choosing a visibility jacket include:
Base Material and Durability
Most hi vis jackets are made from polyester or nylon, which are durable materials, so you mostly have nothing to worry about in this regard. However, make sure you go for jackets with reinforced seams and sturdy zippers to ensure that they last you a long while.
Also, check the description of a jacket to know if it is flame, water, heat, or abrasion resistant, and pick the one that suits your needs.
Visibility and Reflectivity
The level of visibility provided by a high-visibility jacket depends on the protection level of the jacket. Level 3 hi vis jackets are better suited for high-risk situations like busy constructions on a busy road or dangerous construction sites.
Level 1 jackets work better for casual use cases like home inspections or minimal off-road situations.
Comfort
High visibility jackets with adjustable cuffs, hoods, and waistbands are likely to offer better comfort than those without these features. Also, picking a high visibility jacket that is appropriate for the weather conditions where you work would go a long way in making you comfortable. Short-sleeved hi vis jackets or those with ventilation work better for hot climates.
Note: Most manufacturers put a certificate that shows that their high visibility jackets have passed the appropriate standardized tests.
Shop for Functional Hi Vis Jackets From Trusted Brands – All Security Equipment Partners
High visibility clothing is an essential part of any worker’s safety protection equipment in the workplace, and wearing authentic hi-vis jackets and other forms of PPE is essential to ensuring the safety of workers as they perform their duties.
Understanding the intricacies of high-visibility jackets is critical to choosing the right one for your specific needs.
All Security Equipment is a one-stop shop for all your safety and security apparel needs. We stock only high visibility jackets and other PPE equipment from reputable brands like ERB Safety and RefrigeWear to ensure that our customers only get the best safety products when they shop with us.
Contact us today for inquiries or to learn more about the high visibility jackets that we offer.
