A high-visibility garment specification should define the work environment, required visibility class, fluorescent background material, retroreflective material, garment configuration, tape placement and wash-performance requirements. If FR or rain protection is also required, those protections must be specified separately.
High visibility is more than reflective tape
ISO 20471 considers colour, retroreflection, minimum material areas and placement. A garment should therefore not be described as compliant simply because reflective tape has been added.
Define the risk environment
Typical applications include road work, traffic management, construction, utilities, logistics yards and work around moving equipment. The required visibility class should come from the project or risk assessment.
Specify the background material
Confirm the fluorescent colour, fabric type, GSM, comfort requirement and any additional protective property such as FR or weather protection.
Specify the reflective material
Useful RFQ fields include tape width, colour, placement, retroreflective performance, wash durability and method of attachment. A simple “5 cm reflective tape” line is not always enough to define finished-garment compliance.
Wash durability matters
High-visibility performance can be affected by laundering, abrasion and contamination. The buyer should confirm the claimed number of wash cycles and the care conditions under which visibility performance is maintained.
Combining high visibility with FR
Where the garment must also be flame resistant, the background fabric, reflective material, thread and other components should be selected for the complete protective system. Do not assume a standard hi-vis trim is suitable for an FR garment.
Combining high visibility with rainwear
Visibility and rain protection are separate performance dimensions. A hi-vis rainsuit may need to satisfy both the visibility requirement and the applicable rain-protection requirement.
Current standard status
ISO 20471:2013 with Amendment 1:2016 remains the current published international standard as of October 2026. A replacement draft is under development, so project specifications should always confirm the required edition.
Frequently asked questions.
Does reflective tape alone make a garment high visibility?
No. Complete-garment colour, material areas, placement and retroreflective performance all matter.
Is 5 cm tape always enough?
No. Tape width by itself does not establish a garment class or compliance.
Does wash performance matter?
Yes. Visibility can deteriorate through laundering, contamination and abrasion, so wash durability should be part of the specification.
Can FR coveralls also meet high-visibility requirements?
Yes, if the full garment design and materials meet the required FR and visibility performance.
Is ISO 20471 being revised?
Yes. ISO 20471:2013 remains current, while a replacement draft is under development.