EN ISO 20471 Explained In Plain Language

EN ISO 20471 is the international standard for high visibility clothing that specifies how garments must be designed, tested and manufactured to make the wearer conspicuous in daylight and under vehicle headlights. In the UK and Europe, it provides the framework used for high visibility clothing, replacing the earlier EN 471 standard in 2013. It works by setting minimum areas for two key materials: fluorescent background material and retroreflective material. Garments are then classified as Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 according to the amount and arrangement of those materials. In simple terms, EN ISO 20471 tells you how visible a certified garment is designed to make its wearer.

What EN ISO 20471 Actually Is

EN ISO 20471 is the international standard specifying design, material and performance requirements for clothing that makes the wearer conspicuous in daylight and under headlights.

The standard is published internationally as ISO 20471 and adopted in Europe as EN ISO 20471. In the UK, it is implemented as BS EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016. ISO explains that the standard covers high visibility clothing intended to signal the wearer's presence, including requirements for colour, retroreflection, minimum material areas and material placement.

A useful distinction is that a standard is not the same thing as a law. EN ISO 20471 tells manufacturers how a garment is designed and tested. It does not, by itself, tell an employer when a worker must be given high visibility clothing. That decision comes from the workplace risk assessment and applicable health and safety requirements.

EN ISO 20471 replaced EN 471 in 2013. The newer standard changed the requirements for high visibility garments, including the way visibility materials and garment designs are assessed. Buyers should therefore check that the garment they are purchasing is certified to the applicable current standard rather than relying on an old EN 471 label.

High visibility clothing is personal protective equipment (PPE). In the UK framework, this sits within the requirements for PPE supplied and used at work. For Category II PPE, conformity assessment involves assessment by an appropriate third-party body rather than relying solely on the manufacturer's own declaration.

If you are looking for compliant clothing for your workforce, explore our hi-vis workwear range.

The Two Materials That Decide Compliance

Every compliant high visibility garment uses fluorescent background material for daylight visibility and retroreflective material for visibility when illuminated by headlights.

Fluorescent background material is the bright coloured fabric used to make the wearer stand out during daylight and lower-light daytime conditions. Fluorescent materials work by absorbing ultraviolet radiation and re-emitting some of that energy as visible light, making the colours appear particularly bright. They are useful during daylight, dull weather, dawn and dusk, but they do not provide the same function in darkness.

EN ISO 20471 specifies three fluorescent background colours:

• Fluorescent yellow
• Fluorescent orange-red
• Fluorescent red

Retroreflective material is the contrasting reflective material, usually seen as silver tape. It is designed to return light towards its source, which is why it becomes particularly visible when illuminated by vehicle headlights at night.

The practical point is that these materials perform different jobs. A garment needs the required combination of fluorescent and retroreflective material to achieve its certified class. A garment with only one type of material cannot simply be treated as compliant high visibility clothing at any class.

There are also design requirements that affect how the reflective material works. For example, the tape used for the required visibility calculations must meet the relevant width requirements, and the placement of bands is designed to provide visibility around the wearer rather than only from one direction. HSE guidance also stresses that high visibility clothing needs to be suitable for the actual conditions, including lighting, weather and the level of vehicle risk.

For a simple starting point, see our range of hi-vis vests.

Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3, and How to Choose

The EN ISO 20471 class is determined by the minimum area of fluorescent and retroreflective material, with Class 1 providing the lowest level of conspicuity and Class 3 the highest.

Class	Minimum fluorescent background material	Minimum retroreflective material	Typical garments	Typical environment
Class 1	0.14 m²	0.10 m²	Lower-coverage garments	Low-risk, low-speed environments
Class 2	0.50 m²	0.13 m²	Vests, waistcoats and many standard hi-vis garments	Moderate-risk environments
Class 3	0.80 m²	0.20 m²	High-coverage jackets, trousers and combinations	Higher-risk environments and work near fast-moving traffic

The class is not a quality rating. It is a measurement-based classification of the garment's visible material. Choosing the right class should start with the risk assessment, taking account of factors such as traffic speed, lighting conditions and whether work takes place on or near public roads. Certified garments can also be combined in some circumstances, but buyers should always check the certification and intended use of the individual garments rather than assuming that any two items automatically create a higher class.

For buyers looking specifically for a commonly used mid-level option, see our Class 2 hi-vis range.

Class 1

Class 1 requires a minimum of 0.14 m² of fluorescent background material and 0.10 m² of retroreflective material. It is intended for lower-risk environments where vehicle movement is limited and speeds are low, such as some private yards or low-traffic depot areas.

Class 1 is rarely sufficient on its own for higher-risk site work, roadworks or work carried out in darkness. Buyers should check the risk assessment and site requirements rather than assuming that the lowest-class garment is suitable simply because it is high visibility.

Class 2

Class 2 requires a minimum of 0.50 m² of fluorescent background material and 0.13 m² of retroreflective material. It is commonly used in moderate-risk environments, including many warehouse, logistics, utilities and facilities settings, as well as some work on or near public roads at lower speeds.

A standard full hi-vis waistcoat or vest is commonly Class 2, which helps explain why this is one of the most frequently encountered levels of high visibility clothing in the UK.

Class 3

Class 3 requires a minimum of 0.80 m² of fluorescent background material and 0.20 m² of retroreflective material. It is intended for higher-risk situations where greater conspicuity is required, including certain work on motorways, dual carriageways, airports, rail environments and work in darkness near moving traffic.

Class 3 has important design implications. The garment must provide the required torso coverage and the required visibility arrangement involving sleeves or compatible full-length trousers. A sleeveless vest cannot become Class 3 simply because it is brightly coloured or has more reflective tape.

See our Class 3 hi-vis range for higher-coverage options.

Where UK Law Fits In

UK law does not simply state that every worker must wear EN ISO 20471 clothing. The legal duty is to assess risk and provide suitable PPE where it is needed.

The general workplace duty sits within the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, while the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 provide specific requirements for PPE. The 2022 amendment extended the relevant employer and worker duties to a wider group of workers, including limb (b) workers.

In practical terms, the risk assessment is the starting point. If workers face a risk of not being seen by vehicles, plant or machinery, suitable high visibility clothing may be required. The class selected should reflect the working environment rather than simply the buyer's preference or the lowest purchase price.

Where PPE is required, employers must provide suitable PPE without charging workers for it and must ensure that it is properly maintained, stored and used. Workers should also receive appropriate information, instruction and training.

Sector-specific requirements can sit alongside EN ISO 20471. Construction activities may involve the requirements of CDM 2015, while rail work can involve RIS-3279-TOM. Rail requirements are particularly relevant to colour, with orange high visibility clothing used for rail-specific applications rather than simply selecting any yellow or orange EN ISO 20471 garment.

For rail-related requirements, see our RIS-3279-TOM rail spec hi-vis range.

Adding a Logo Without Dropping a Class

Branding can affect a garment's certified class if a logo covers reflective tape or reduces the visible fluorescent area below the minimum required for that class.

The reason is straightforward. An EN ISO 20471 class is based partly on the amount of visible fluorescent and retroreflective material. A large logo printed over fluorescent fabric reduces the amount of fluorescent area available. A logo placed over reflective tape can reduce the reflective area available. If enough material is covered, the finished garment may no longer meet the requirements for the class shown on its label.

There is also a size issue. Certification takes the garment size range into account, so artwork that appears acceptable on a large jacket may have a different effect on a smaller size. The same logo should therefore not automatically be applied at exactly the same size and position across every garment in a size range.

The practical approach is to keep branding within suitable areas between reflective bands. Common positions include the upper chest above a chest band or the upper back between shoulder and chest bands. Artwork should remain proportionate to the available fluorescent area.

Reflective transfers can also be considered where appropriate because they can provide a different approach from ordinary print. The application method must always be suitable for the particular garment and its certification.

For hi-vis garments, print is often a practical choice, particularly where the fabric or garment construction makes stitching unsuitable. Embroidery can be appropriate on other workwear fabrics, but needle penetration can be unsuitable for some waterproof constructions. The important point is to consider the garment, decoration method and certified visibility requirements together.

See our range of printed hi-vis for branded high visibility options.

Reading the Label and Knowing When to Replace

A compliant garment should carry the EN ISO 20471 pictogram, the relevant class information and a declared maximum number of wash cycles, together with appropriate care information.

The label is an important part of checking a garment. It should identify the relevant standard and class so that the buyer or wearer can establish what the garment was certified to provide. If the label is missing or cannot be read, the garment should not simply be assumed to remain compliant.

One common misconception is that every EN ISO 20471 garment is automatically limited to 25 washes. There is no universal 25-wash rule that applies to every garment. The manufacturer declares and tests the garment to a maximum number of wash cycles, which means the figure can vary between products. The care label should therefore be treated as the source for that particular garment.

Replacement should also be based on condition rather than an arbitrary number of months. Look for fluorescent material that has visibly faded or become grey, reflective tape that is cracked, peeling or heavily abraded, and dirt or contamination that cannot be removed through the specified cleaning process.

HSE guidance stresses that high visibility clothing needs to be maintained in a clean and good working condition. Dirt, damage and poor fit can reduce how effectively the garment performs. A sensible procurement approach is to budget for replacement and inspect garments regularly rather than waiting until deterioration becomes obvious during an incident or formal inspection.

Explore our hi-vis jackets for replacement and additional high visibility workwear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EN ISO 20471 the same as the American ANSI/ISEA 107 standard?

No. EN ISO 20471 and ANSI/ISEA 107 are separate high visibility clothing standards with different classification systems, requirements and test methods. A garment certified to one standard should not automatically be assumed to comply with the other. This matters when sourcing workwear internationally or supplying teams across different regions.

Do hi-vis garments need UKCA or CE marking in the UK?

Yes, appropriate conformity marking forms part of the PPE product requirements. The exact marking route depends on where the product is being placed on the market and the applicable regulations. In Great Britain, current government guidance recognises CE marking alongside UKCA for PPE under the relevant arrangements, so buyers should check the current requirements.

Does the employer duty cover self-employed workers and subcontractors?

The 2022 amendment extended PPE duties to limb (b) workers as well as employees. A genuinely self-employed person is generally responsible for their own PPE, but the exact position depends on the working arrangement. Employers and site operators should assess who falls within the legal definition of worker and apply their PPE arrangements accordingly.

How should hi-vis be washed so it stays compliant?

Follow the garment's care label, including the specified washing temperature. Avoid bleach and fabric conditioner unless the manufacturer specifically permits them, and take care with drying because excessive heat and abrasion can damage reflective material. Washing inside out can help protect the garment, but the manufacturer's care instructions should always take priority.

Next Steps

You now have the key points to check when specifying EN ISO 20471 high visibility clothing: the garment's certified class, the amount and arrangement of fluorescent and retroreflective material, the working environment, the label and the garment's condition over time.

If your team also needs branded hi-vis, the same checks should be made before artwork is applied. Workwear Express can help you select suitable high visibility garments and consider the placement of branding against the garment's visibility requirements before production. Explore the hi-vis workwear range or browse printed hi-vis options.