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.
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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!
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:
Hi-vis jackets have been adopted as a standard for ensuring workers’ safety in various work environments according to the ANSI/ISEA 107- standard, which provides the design guidelines for high-visibility clothing and its adoption methods.
There are three (3) classes of high-visibility jackets, namely:
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.
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 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.
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.
Factors to consider when choosing a visibility jacket include:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Safety vests are vital to health, security, and branding. Whether you're an event manager or a general contractor, you need customized vests that comply with safety standards and successfully promote your brand.
Fortunately, you can customize your own vests with Hi-Viz without any prior experience. Customers also enjoy generous discounts on bulk orders.
Learn more about custom printed safety vest types and tips for designing your apparel.
The company is the world’s best High Visibility Vest supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Are you new to buying and customizing safety vests? Let's start from the beginning with safety vest classifications.
First, all safety vests must get approval from the American National Standards Institute, also known as ANSI. Vests are also classified as class 1, 2, or 3 safety vests. Vest classifications are determined by the amount of reflective material and high-contrast fluorescent fabric used.
For example, sites with lower safety risks, or low-impact worksites, only require class 1 vests. Low impact areas don't receive much traffic. Employees are kept at a safe distance from high-traffic areas, unlike emergency response teams.
Class 1 vests are ideal for parking lot attendants and delivery professionals in low-traffic areas. These safety vests need at least 155 sq inches of reflective material. They work best with neon orange or yellow fabric.
The following safety vest group is classification 2. These vests are ideal for employees working near higher traffic sites, typically over 25 mph. While people work closer to traffic, they should still remain at a safe distance.
Class 2 vests are meant for airport professionals, forest management workers, and toll booth employees. These safety vests also require over 200 square inches of reflective fabric tape. Make sure the reflective tape covers the vest's shoulders and mid-torso area.
The last safety vest classification is class 3. These vests are reserved for the riskiest high-traffic areas, like freeways and railroads. These vests are ideal for emergency responders, worksite inspectors, and roadway construction workers.
These vests require over 310 sq inches of reflective safety tape. Unlike class 1 and 2 vests, class 3 vests must outline the entire silhouette in reflective material.
You don't have to worry about sewing your own vest. Custom printed safety vests are produced for you. All you have to do is provide your logo and text.
Let's start with your logo.
Custom safety vests can teach you a lot about logo design in general. For example, one of the principles of logo design is versatility. Effective logos make an impact at any size and color.
Safety vests come in a limited color palette, including neon yellow, orange, and lime green. Some safety vests come in black but still have fluorescent stripes. Safety vests force you to think about your logo's overall versatility.
First, take your logo and convert it to a simple black outline. Black logos work best on fluorescent yellow and orange vests. If you're customizing a black vest, convert your logo into a white, yellow, or lime green outline.
If you don't want a logo outline, use no more than two colors in your logo. One color will pop more, making a greater impact in the moment.
Consider your branding. How do you want passersby to respond to your safety vest logo? These passersby and worksite visitors could be your next clients.
Let's go back to the previous point: how do you want people to engage with your vest logo?
Suppose you're a general contractor. You create a simple and relevant hard hat logo that tests well with your target audience. What else can you do to drive engagement?
Why not add your number to the back of your vest? You could also add your website or address instead. This strategy turns your safety vests into walking billboards!
Slogans and taglines also get your message across.
Short taglines work best below the logo. Alternatively, you could include your company's founding date, like est. in .
Text-based logos look great on safety vests because they're simple and timeless, two other principles of logo design. However, the wrong font style can lessen the impact of the logo and distract from the vest negatively.
San serif fonts work well on safety vests. They're clear, simple, and easy to read.
Popular sans serif fonts include:
These fonts also work if you want to make generic "staff" or "security" safety vests without branding.
While simple fonts work best, you can still include a script font. For example, you could use a script cursive font for your tagline underneath an Arial-font logo.
Logos, text, and taglines are screen printed onto custom safety vests. Hi-Viz also sews custom patches onto safety apparel.
Patches stand out to potential clients and customers. Plus, you can include your full company name, logo, slogan, and preferred brand colors.
Digitized embroidery is another option.
Like patches, embroidery has a classic appeal. Safety vest embroidery is strong, professional, and resistant to fading. It also works for both text and graphical logo designs.
You're one step closer to having new custom safety vests.
First, clarify your business goals, logo design, and order amount.
Is your logo simple enough for the safety vest? Do you want to include a number or website?
Next, learn more about the customization process and request a full quote. You could also create multiple safety vest prototypes and choose the best one!
Custom printed safety vests turn your regular safety vests into real marketing opportunities.
First, start with the right safety vest classification. Next, add your logo, tagline, and contact information for maximum marketing impact. Think about best practices in logo design and text.
Are you ready to print your safety vests now?
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Industrial Safety Gear.