ANSI 107 Approved Hi-Vis Safety Clothing

People who work in environments where there are potential safety hazards need clothing that ensures that they are safe. There are standards in place in the United States (and similar standards in other countries) that regulate what type of clothing must be worn in work environments.

This page explains the ANSI standards that govern the use of apparel that makes wearers highly visible and presents the best options for outfitting people and work crews with the various kinds of high-visibility (often shortened to “hi-vis”) clothing that meets the various ANSI standards, including the most recent standard ANSI 107-2020.

Charles River Apparel ANSI Approved Hi-Vis Outerwear

These styles are some of our most popular hi-vis outerwear. They are well-stocked and ready for quick shipment.

What is ANSI 107?

The American National Standards Institute is a private nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, that defines thousands of standards that apply to products and services, processes and systems, and for personnel working for companies in the United States. The ANSI 107 standard makes specific recommendations for colors and materials used in manufacturing clothing worn in environments where it’s important for people to be seen.

Standards for a class of clothing known as High Visibility Safety Apparel (HVSA) have been in place since 1999, when the ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 standard described design and performance expectations for HVSA. That standard has been updated several times since 1999. The ANSI 107 Standard was made widely applicable throughout the United States in 2008, when the Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration enacted Final Rule 23 CFR Part 634, which referenced the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard in its definition of “high-visibility safety apparel“.

High-visibility safety apparel means personal protective safety clothing that is intended to provide conspicuity during both daytime and nighttime usage, and that meets the Performance Class 2 or 3 requirements of the ANSI/ISEA 107–2004 publication entitled ‘‘American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear.’’

Final Rule 23 CFR Part 634

In 2009, a publication released by the Federal Highway Administration (their Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD) required anyone working on or near public accessed roadways, including those doing construction, emergency responders, and even volunteers to wear hi-vis clothing.

High Visibility Safety Apparel

As defined by the US Federal Highway Administration, High-Visibility Safety Apparel (HSVA) should make the wearer conspicuous during daytime and nighttime usage. As you would expect, high-visibility clothing comes in a variety of apparel styles and categories, each of which is designed to be used for working in specific conditions related to weather and exposure to the elements and other factors related to working conditions. These clothing categories include: safety vests, long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, rainwear, and jackets.

Official Safety Colors

There are three different colors that are used as “component colors” for manufacturing hi-vis clothing according to the ANSI 107 standard. Those colors are:

• Fluorescent Yellow-Green
• Fluorescent Orange-Red
• Fluorescent Red

More details about these ANSI approved colors can be found below.

Examples of High Visibility Clothing

Hi-Vis Safety Vests

Hi-vis safety vests are normally worn over a shirt. They are often made out of a mesh material that makes them more breathable.

Below is one of our most popular hi-vis vests, the CornerStone Surveyor vest.

Long-Sleeve Hi-Vis Safety Shirts

Long-sleeve hi-vis safety shirts are normally used in the fall and spring, or in other situations when the weather is slightly cooler. They are also used in situations where the arms need to be protected from material touching the skin on the lower arm.

Short-Sleeve Hi-Vis Safety Shirts

Short-sleeve hi-vis safety shirts are often used during summer months when the weather is warmer outside.

Hi-Vis Rainwear

Hi-Vis rainwear is waterproof and often windproof. ANSI approved rainwear includes parkas and other jackets, as shown below.

Hi-Vis Jackets

Hi-vis jackets are normally used in cold weather work situations. The Charles River Apparel Signal Jacket below is one of our most popular selling hi-vis jackets.

Hi-Vis Safety Sweatshirts

Hi-vis colored sweatshirts are comfortable for cold-weather conditions and are preferable for many work environments. The Charles River Apparel Quarter-Zip Hi-Vis Sweatshirt below is a good example of incorporating the requirements of ANSI 107 into a functional, warm, comfortable, pullover style sweatshirt.

ANSI Approved Garment Types and Classes

The ANSI 107 standard for high visibility clothing defines several different garment types and classes. The chart below, published by 3M, which supplies much of the reflective tape for ANSI approved hi-vis clothing, summarizes the ANSI approved garment types and classes.

Reference: 3M

Much of the information used to create this article comes from a resource provided by 3M entitled, ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Made Easier: A Quick Reference to the High-Visibility Safety Apparel Standard.