What is BS EN ISO 20471:2012?

BS EN ISO 20471:2012 is a professional technical standard that specifies the requirements for high visibility clothing, also known as hi-vis clothing. It is applicable to clothing worn in situations where enhanced visibility is required, in order to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of individuals working in hazardous environments.

Importance of BS EN ISO 20471:2012

High visibility clothing plays a crucial role in industries such as construction, roadworks, and emergency services, where workers are exposed to potential risks and need to be easily visible to others. The BS EN ISO 20471:2012 standard provides guidelines for the design, materials, and performance of hi-vis garments to ensure maximum visibility during both day and night conditions.

Key Requirements of BS EN ISO 20471:2012

The standard outlines several essential requirements that hi-vis clothing must meet. These include fluorescent material with specified colorimetric properties, retroreflective tape placement and coverage, as well as design features to enhance conspicuity, such as reflective piping or badges. The standard also specifies minimum areas of visible material on different garment classes, ensuring that workers are easily seen from various angles and distances.

Compliance and Certification

In order to ensure compliance with BS EN ISO 20471:2012, manufacturers and suppliers of hi-vis clothing must subject their products to testing by accredited laboratories. Once a product meets all the requirements outlined in the standard, it can be certified accordingly. This certification provides assurance to employers and workers that the hi-vis clothing they are using is of high quality and meets safety standards.