INTRODUCTION TO THE ANSI
INTRODUCTION TO THE ANSI HI-VISIBILITY STANDARD The American National Standard for High- Visibility Safety Apparel and Accessories (ANSI/ ISEA 107-2015) is a standard established by the American National Standards Institute. Construction, maintenance, utility, emergency responders, airport ramp personnel and many categories of off-road workers are routinely exposed to potential injury hazards from their low visibility while on the job. This standard provides guidelines for the selection and use of high-visibility safety apparel and other high-visibility accessories to improve worker visibility during the day, in low-light conditions, and at night. Private companies, as well as various federal, state, and local authorities have embraced ANSI/ ISEA 107-compliant garments and accessories as useful PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for workers exposed to struck-by hazards. ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 SPECIFIES THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MUST BE MET: • Performance requirements for background and combined-performance retro-reflective materials • Photometric and physical performance requirements for retro-reflective and combined-performance materials • Garment design • Proper labeling FINAL RULE The Final Rule, 23 CFR Part 634 Worker Visibility, was passed on November 18, 2006, and took effect on November 24, 2008. The Rule states that all workers within a rightof-way of a Federal-aid highway who are exposed to traffic or to construction equipment within the work area shall wear High-Visibility apparel that must meet Performance Class 2 or Class 3 requirements of ANSI/ISEA 107-2015. The Federal Register Final Rule and revised document of the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) was released on December 16, 2009. The Rule states that mandatory use areas are expanded beyond Federal-aid highways and will require all workers on or near the roadway right-of-way to wear high visibility safety apparel that meets Performance Class 2 or 3 of ANSI 107-2004 or equivalent revisions. The Federal Highway Administration has issued a formal interpretation recognizing the 2015 edition of ANSI/ISEA 107 as meeting the requirements of 2009 MUTCD. ULTRAVIOLET PROTECTION FACTOR (UPF) RATING A relatively new rating designation for sun protective textiles and clothing is UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). Unlike SPF (Sun Protection Factor) that measures only UVB, UPF measures both UVA and UVB. Sun protective clothing is clothing specifically designed for sun protection and is produced from a fabric rated for its level of ultraviolet (UV) protection. Sun protective clothing may be pre-treated with UV inhibiting ingredients during manufacture to enhance UV blocking capacity. BE SURE TO LOOK FOR THE UPF 40 ICON TO SEE WHICH RED KAP ® PRODUCTS ARE MADE FROM FABRIC THAT CAN HELP PROTECT YOU FROM HARMFUL UV RAYS. UPF Rating based upon testing performed on dry fabric, prelaundered. Test data available upon request. 6 VISIBILITY APPAREL PRODUCT GUIDE
CHANGES TO THE ANSI STANDARD ANSI/ISEA 107 AND ANSI/ISEA 207 HAVE BEEN COMBINED INTO ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 ANSI/ISEA 107 and ANSI/ISEA 207, American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests, were merged to form a single document, ANSI/ISEA 107-2015. This new consolidated standard covers the needs of workers in all industries for high visibility garments as well as synchronizes the revision schedules for these two previously separate documents. ALLOWANCE FOR SMALL SIZED GARMENTS Garment performance classes are defined by minimum area requirements for both background material and retroreflective striping. Prior minimum requirements for background fabric prevented manufacturers from offering a true small-sized garment. The 2015 edition of ANSI/ISEA 107 includes a reduction in the minimum requirement for background fabric in only the smallest size garment offered by a manufacturer. This change will make small sized garments available to workers who previously were forced to wear garments that were too large for them in order to be compliant with the standard. LABELING REQUIREMENTS In addition to garment brand, size and care instructions, labels must carry these elements: A Must state that garment meets ANSI 107-2015 • Must contain pictogram showing: B C D E Garment Type (O, R or P) Garment Performance Class If the garment is not FR, must state “This garment not flame resistant as defined by ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Section 10.5” Must indicate the maximum laundries for the finished item REDKAP.COM ANSI STANDARDS A MADE IN COUNTRY NAME VF IMAGEWEAR, INC. ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 COMPLIANT TYPE O CLASS 1 NOT FR 65% POLYESTER 35% COTTON LOT# L – RG B C D Previous Standard: Class 2 ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 775 Sq. In. Current Standard: Type R Class 2 ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 540 Sq. In. DO NOT DRY CLEAN MACHINE WASH WITH LIKE COLORS NO CHLORINE BLEACH NO FABRIC SOFTENER TUMBLE DRY LOW REMOVE PROMPTLY DO NOT IRON MAX WASH - 50X AT 140°F/60°C THIS GARMENT IS NOT FLAME RESISTANT AS DEFINED BY ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 SECTION 10.5 A1B1 C123 DE E D There has been an addition of garment types (O, R, and P) which address a wider range of occupations that should be in high visibility safety apparel. 7
