Hi-vis vest classes 1, 2 and 3 (EN ISO 20471)
EN ISO 20471 sets out how much fluorescent and retroreflective material a high-visibility vest or other warning garment must have. The standard divides warning garments into three classes, and the class tells you which work and traffic situations the garment is intended for.
Below we explain the surface areas each class requires, how the employer chooses the class, how a logo affects visibility and how to order a printed high-visibility vest. Sources and answers to frequently asked questions are at the end.
What the standard requires
High-visibility warning garments are personal protective equipment. High-risk work requires high-visibility warning clothing that complies with the standard SFS-EN ISO 20471:2013. A warning garment contains fluorescent material, which is visible in daylight and at dusk, and retroreflective material, which reflects light back towards the source it comes from. The standard sets minimum requirements for the colour, reflectivity and surface area of the material, as well as requirements for how the materials are positioned on the garment.
Both materials are needed, because a fluorescent colour does not reflect light in the dark and a reflector is not visible without a light source. Fluorescent material is used in fabric or film form, and retroreflective materials contain small prisms or glass beads that direct light back towards its source. For lower-risk work, enhanced visibility clothing complying with the standard SFS-EN 17353:2020 + A1:2025 may be used. In that standard the fluorescent colour may be, in addition to yellow, orange or red, for example pink or lime green, and it is visible both in daylight and at dusk. Enhanced visibility clothing should not be confused with the high-visibility garments intended for high-risk situations.
Pedestrian safety reflectors belong to the same subject. Individual safety reflectors are covered in the Safety reflectors category, and their selection and use are discussed in the article Reflectors for distribution: standard, CE marking and schedule.
Classes 1, 2 and 3
The standard SFS-EN ISO 20471:2013 has three protection classes. The class is determined by how much fluorescent and retroreflective surface area the garment has.
- Class 1: the total fluorescent area must be at least 0.14 m² and the retroreflective area 0.10 m². Class 1 garments may be used only if vehicles are encountered rarely during the work and/or traffic moves at low speed.
- Class 2: the total fluorescent area must be at least 0.50 m² and the retroreflective area 0.13 m². Class 2 garments are used in ports, on railways, on construction sites, in car parks, in search operations in the field, in lorries and in other places where class 3 is not required.
- Class 3: the total fluorescent area must be at least 0.80 m² and the retroreflective area 0.20 m². Class 3 warning garments must be used in the vicinity of fast-moving traffic.
In practice the choice breaks down as follows: class 1 is suitable for situations where vehicles are encountered rarely during the work and/or traffic is slow. Class 2 covers work in ports, on railways, on construction sites and in other similar places. Class 3 is chosen when working in the vicinity of fast-moving traffic.
The class is chosen on the basis of a risk assessment of the work
The warning clothing needed for the work must be based on an assessment of the hazards of the work. On the basis of the risk assessment, the warning garments needed for each job and situation are chosen and the protection class and level of the garment are determined. The class is therefore decided by the employer, not the seller. The selection and use are based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act and on the Government Decree on the selection and use of personal protective equipment at work. Construction work also has its own safety requirements.
Work situations where a warning garment is needed include guiding vehicles and work machines, traffic control, guiding reversing vehicles, road works, cleaning and waste management, construction and maintenance of waterways, warehouse work within the operating area of a machine, and work on railways, in ports and at airports. Class 2 provides better protection than class 1 especially in daylight, at dusk and in foggy weather. When working in the vicinity of fast-moving traffic, a class 3 warning garment is required.
It is worth knowing the class before ordering, because it determines both the model and the print that is permitted. Once the class is known, it is also worth stating in the quote request the work situation in which the vest will be used and whether the work takes place near traffic or near work machines.
A high-visibility vest is worn over an outdoor jacket, so ordinary workwear can be worn underneath. Outer garments are chosen according to the weather: the Jackets and vests category has jackets and vests, and clothing for the working day can be found in the Workwear category.
Print and visibility
The logo is printed on the vest in the print positions marked for the model, usually on the chest or the back. According to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, any modification to the product, such as printed logos, may reduce the minimum areas of the visible materials and impair the performance of the product.
For this reason, the manufacturer's print instructions are followed when printing a certified high-visibility vest: the print does not cover the retroreflective tapes and does not exceed the print area allowed by the manufacturer. Some vests are printed in one colour using heat transfer print with a print no larger than A6 for orders of fewer than one hundred pieces, and from one hundred pieces upwards screen print is used. The print method and print area for other vests are stated on the product page.
Before production you receive a proof for approval. Production begins once the proof has been approved. For a certified vest it is worth also asking for the manufacturer's print instructions. Ask about the product's certificate in your quote request.
Certified high-visibility vest or promotional vest
Not every yellow or orange vest is personal protective equipment. Enhanced visibility clothing, such as a promotional vest, is suitable for situations where the need to be seen is moderate, for example leisure use. High-risk work requires a warning garment complying with EN ISO 20471.
Personal protective equipment can be identified by the CE marking, the standard number and the instructions for use supplied with it. In Finland the instructions for use must be in Finnish and Swedish. The difference from a promotional vest is testing: the manufacturer or importer of personal protective equipment must have the product tested and EU type-examined. Not all products containing retroreflective elements are type-approved personal protective equipment, even if tested retroreflective materials have been used in them.
The Reflective vests category includes both high-visibility vests that can be printed and vests supplied without print. Some vests in the category are marked in the product information as complying with class 2, and these have retroreflective tapes all the way round the body. A promotional vest suits event organisers, an excursion group or a campaign team whose job is to stand out from the crowd. It does not replace a warning garment in work where there is a hazard from vehicles or work machines.
Care and service life
Warning garments must be looked after and maintained. The reflectivity of the retroreflective materials must be monitored, because they can wear and lose their effectiveness before the garment is otherwise worn out.
Sunlight can fade the colours of a warning garment, which reduces its visibility and reflectivity. Protective equipment is cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. The employer instructs employees in the use of personal protective equipment, and the employee reports any faults and shortcomings they notice to the employer. Maintenance is the employer's responsibility, and the employer keeps the equipment fit for use. When the retroreflective tapes are worn or the fluorescent colour has faded, the vest is replaced with a new one.
Printed high-visibility vest to order
The printable models in the category include a high-visibility vest with hook-and-loop fastening and one with a zip, as well as models with pockets, which also have an ID card pocket. Some printed vests can be ordered from 10 pieces upwards, and the minimum order quantity for the others is 25 or 50 pieces. The colours are yellow and orange, and some models are also available in black, red, blue and pink. Sizes run from S to 5XL, and the dimensions of the adult one-size vests are approximately 65 x 70 cm.
The price of the product is shown on the product page excluding VAT, and the price of printed vests includes a one-colour print.
The category also includes children's vests, reflective harnesses that are worn over outer clothing, and vests supplied without print. The minimum order quantity for vests ordered without print is one piece.
When ordering, state the quantity, the colour and the print position you want. File formats, checking a vector logo and PMS colours are covered in the guide Logo and artwork.
- Add the products to the quote basket and send a quote request.
- State the quantity, colour and sizes in the quote request.
- Attach the artwork if it is ready. It can also be sent later.
- State the delivery date you want in the quote request.
The lead time for printed products is usually about 2 weeks from approval of the proof. The exact lead time is stated in the quote.
A high-visibility vest is also one of the election campaign products. The timing of campaign product orders is covered in the article Campaign products for candidates: what to order and when.
Sources
- Työsuojelu.fi: high-visibility warning clothing, the surface area and use requirements of the classes, and risk assessment of the work.
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health: safety reflectors and high-visibility clothing, the effect of printed logos on visibility, and markings on personal protective equipment.
- Turun Mainostuote product information, checked 29.10.2026: models, colours, sizes, minimum order quantities and print methods in the category.
Frequently asked questions
What are the classes of an EN ISO 20471 high-visibility vest?
Class 1 has at least 0.14 m² of fluorescent and 0.10 m² of retroreflective area, class 2 has 0.50 m² and 0.13 m², and class 3 has 0.80 m² and 0.20 m².
Which class is suitable for a construction site?
Class 2 garments are used on construction sites. Class 3 is required in the vicinity of fast-moving traffic. The class is decided by the employer on the basis of a risk assessment.
Can a logo be printed on a high-visibility vest?
Yes. The print is made in the print positions marked for the model, usually on the chest and the back. Printing can reduce the areas of the visible materials, so for a certified vest it is worth also asking for the manufacturer's print instructions.
Can a high-visibility vest be ordered without print?
Yes. The category includes vests supplied without print, and their minimum order quantity is one piece.
How long does delivery of a printed high-visibility vest take?
The lead time for printed products is usually about 2 weeks from approval of the proof. The exact lead time is stated in the quote.
How is a high-visibility vest cared for?
Protective equipment is cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. The reflectivity of the retroreflective materials must be monitored, because they can wear out before the garment is otherwise worn out.