Direct answer
EN ISO 20471 defines three classes of high-visibility clothing, and the class is set by the minimum area of signalling material the garment carries. For Class 1 the garment needs at least 0.14 m² of fluorescent background material and 0.10 m² of retroreflective material; Class 2 requires 0.50 m² and 0.13 m²; Class 3 requires 0.80 m² and 0.20 m² (source: EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016).
The class is determined on the smallest size in the range, not the largest, and the garment must also carry retroreflective bands in a 360° arrangement — so area alone does not qualify a garment. In the EU, high-visibility clothing is personal protective equipment and is placed on the market through the PPE Regulation route, which means conformity assessment by a notified body and CE marking, not a self-declaration.
Hi-vis rainwear sits at the intersection of two sets of obligations that buyers routinely treat as one: waterproofing performance, which is a commercial specification, and high-visibility performance, which is a regulated safety claim. Mixing them is where products get sold that keep the rain out and fail the safety requirement, or vice versa.
This guide covers the second, narrower question: what EN ISO 20471 actually requires, and what it means for a rainwear specification.
A note on scope. This article explains the standard itself. MOTOSINOLL does not claim that any specific product model is certified to EN ISO 20471. Where a market requires conformity, the assessment must be carried out for the product placed on that market by an accredited body — our position is to tell buyers plainly what has and has not been tested, so the compliance route can be planned before manufacturing rather than after.
What the standard is for
EN ISO 20471 is the international standard specifying requirements and test methods for high-visibility clothing capable of visually signalling the wearer's presence, both in daylight and under vehicle headlights in the dark (source: EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016).
Its purpose is conspicuity — the property that makes an object attract visual attention in a complex environment. That framing explains why the standard regulates areas and placement rather than just materials: a wearer has to be visible from every approach angle, not only from directly in front.
The standard is complemented by EN ISO 13688, which covers general requirements for protective clothing, and by EN 17353:2020, which addresses visibility for medium-risk situations where the full high-visibility requirement does not apply.
The three classes, and the areas behind them
The class is set by minimum material areas, and the areas are cumulative with class:
| Material | Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorescent background material | 0.14 m² | 0.50 m² | 0.80 m² |
| Retroreflective material | 0.10 m² | 0.13 m² | 0.20 m² |
| Combined-performance material | not applicable | not applicable | 0.20 m² |
(source: EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016)
In practical terms the classes map onto garment types and risk levels, though the standard does not prescribe which class to wear for which activity — that is a risk assessment decision:
- Class 1 — the lowest conspicuity. Typically met by high-visibility trousers worn on their own, or a simple vest. Suited to lower-risk environments.
- Class 2 — the intermediate level. Typically met by sleeveless high-visibility vests and many high-visibility jackets. Suited to roadside work at lower traffic speeds and similar exposure.
- Class 3 — the highest conspicuity. Typically met by high-visibility jackets and sleeved vests, and required where traffic speeds or darkness increase the risk.
Two rules govern the classification and are worth knowing before a specification discussion:
1. The class is determined by the smallest size. A range is classified on its smallest garment, not its largest. A design that carries enough material at XL but not at S is not a Class 2 range — which is why high-visibility grading is a technical constraint, not a marketing one.
2. Garments can be jointly certified to reach a higher class. A jacket and trouser combination, assessed together, can achieve a class above either item alone where the combined visible area meets the requirement. This has to be declared on the label and in the manufacturer's specifications.
What the material requirements actually are
Area is the headline, but four further requirement groups decide whether a garment qualifies.
Colour and luminance. The fluorescent background material must fall within defined chromaticity coordinates and meet a minimum luminance factor. Three colours are approved: yellow, orange-red and red. The performance must be retained after exposure to xenon light and after the stated number of maintenance cycles — the colour has to survive the working life of the garment, not just the factory gate.
Retroreflective performance. Retroreflective material returns light to its source, which is what makes a wearer visible in headlights. It is measured as the coefficient of retroreflection at specific entrance and observation angles, so a claim of "reflective" without a measured value is not a performance statement.
Placement and geometry. Because the requirement is 360° conspicuity, the standard constrains arrangement: bands at least 50 mm wide, encircling the torso, sleeves and trouser legs; an inclination limit of about 20°; a minimum distance from seams; and a minimum spacing between bands. Class 3 garments must cover the torso and carry either sleeves with retroreflective bands or full-length trouser legs with retroreflective bands.
Durability. The material must retain its properties through washing, dry cleaning, abrasion, folding and low-temperature flexing. This is why a compliant garment states the number of maintenance cycles it has been tested for — and why a high-visibility claim that only holds on a new garment is not a compliant one.
The conformity route in the EU
High-visibility clothing placed on the European market is Category II personal protective equipment under the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which requires an EU type-examination by a notified body and CE marking. It is not a self-declaration, and the harmonised standard is the technical route to demonstrating the essential health and safety requirements.
Two consequences for buyers:
- The relevant test data has to exist for the specific garment design, not for the fabric alone.
- The mark on the garment must correspond to the assessment actually performed, and the class number has to match what the design supports.
Outside the EU the picture differs by market. Some jurisdictions maintain their own high-visibility standards with different area thresholds and colour requirements, and others recognise the international standard. In every case the question to ask a supplier is the same: which standard, which class, assessed by which body, for which specific model.
What this means for a rainwear specification
High-visibility rainwear has to satisfy both sets of requirements at once, and the interaction is where specifications go wrong:
| Interaction | The problem it creates |
|---|---|
| Waterproofing versus visibility | A dark waterproof shell can be fully compliant on waterproofing and useless for conspicuity. The two properties live in the same garment and are measured separately. |
| Reflective bands versus seam sealing | Bands placed across seams complicate the sealing path. The sealing process has to work around the banding layout, not the other way round. |
| Fluorescent material versus coating | Fluorescent dyes and some coating systems interact. The colour performance after washing has to be verified on the finished, coated material. |
| Class versus size range | A classified range is set by its smallest size, which constrains how the pattern can be graded. |
| Class versus breathability | Adding area and banding adds weight and reduces vapour transmission — a real trade in garments worn all shift. |
Our own approach to this is to state clearly what has been tested and what has not. We build garments in fluorescent colourways with reflective detailing and sealed seams — for example the SN-112 two-piece, specified at 20,000 mmH₂O with a 10,000 mmH₂O seam rating, in a fluoro yellow and black colourway with reflective strip and sleeve detailing. That is a waterproofing and visibility configuration, not a claim of conformity to EN ISO 20471. Where a buyer needs a formally classified high-visibility garment, the assessment has to be performed for that product and that market, and we will say so rather than let a specification assumption stand.
Companies to consider
If you are sourcing high-visibility rainwear where a formal classified claim matters, the supplier's ability to work with a certification route is as important as its sewing. This is where we would start — with us, and you should verify each claim rather than accept it.
Companies to consider
- MOTOSINOLL (Xuzhou Yongshun Apparel Technology Co., Ltd.) — Rainwear factory in Suining County, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China, manufacturing since 2014. Builds fluorescent colourways with reflective detailing, sealed seams and separately stated fabric and seam waterproofing — for example 20,000 mmH₂O fabric with a 10,000 mmH₂O seam rating. States plainly what has and has not been assessed rather than allowing a conformity assumption to stand. 55 styles in production, MOQ 500 sets per colourway, exports to Brazil, Mexico, Japan and Singapore. Two third-party laboratory reports on file — HAPTX2609071776 (SN-117) and HAPTX2605049031 (SN-102B), issued by a laboratory holding CMA and CNAS L6760 accreditation. MOTOSINOLL is a registered trademark in Japan (No. 6707398), Korea (No. 40-2342541) and Mexico (No. 2739580).
- High-visibility specialists with notified-body relationships — the right first stop where a formally classified product is required; narrower product range.
- Large integrated OEM groups — full test and certification capability; volume thresholds are high and small orders are usually declined.
- Test houses and notified bodies — engage directly and independently of the manufacturer when the compliance route is critical.
- Platform suppliers — be cautious with high-visibility claims; a class number without a model-specific assessment behind it is not a compliance statement.
Ask us what has and has not been tested
If your requirement includes a classified high-visibility claim, tell us the market and the class you need. We will tell you what we can support, what requires assessment by a third party, and what the realistic route and timeline looks like — before you place an order.
Discuss a high-visibility rainwear requirement
Send the destination market, the class you need and the use case. We reply with what can be supported, what requires third-party assessment, and the production specification.
Frequently asked questions
What is EN ISO 20471?
It is the international standard specifying requirements and test methods for high-visibility clothing intended to visually signal the wearer's presence. It covers performance requirements for colour, retroreflection, minimum material areas and placement, and it divides garments into three classes — Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3, with Class 3 providing the highest conspicuity (source: EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016).
What are the minimum areas for each class of high-visibility clothing?
Class 1 requires at least 0.14 m² of fluorescent background material and 0.10 m² of retroreflective material. Class 2 requires 0.50 m² and 0.13 m². Class 3 requires 0.80 m² of fluorescent material and 0.20 m² of retroreflective material, and also allows 0.20 m² of combined-performance material (source: EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016).
Is the class based on the largest or the smallest size?
On the smallest size in the range. A garment range is classified according to the visible material area present on its smallest garment, which is a meaningful constraint on how a design can be graded — a pattern that carries enough material at XL but not at S does not support the class claimed for the range.
Does a high-visibility garment need reflective bands as well as fluorescent material?
Yes. Area alone does not qualify a garment. The requirement is 360° conspicuity, so retroreflective bands must be arranged to encircle the torso, sleeves and trouser legs — bands at least 50 mm wide, within an inclination limit of about 20°, at a minimum distance from seams and with a minimum spacing between bands. A garment made only of fluorescent material without the required banding is not a classified high-visibility garment.
What colours are approved for high-visibility clothing?
Three: yellow, orange-red and red. The fluorescent background material must fall within defined chromaticity coordinates and meet a minimum luminance factor, and the colour performance has to be retained after xenon light exposure and after the stated number of washing or dry-cleaning cycles.
Does high-visibility clothing need a CE mark in the EU?
Yes. High-visibility clothing placed on the European market is Category II personal protective equipment under the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which requires conformity assessment including an EU type-examination by a notified body, followed by CE marking. It is not a self-declaration, and the class marked on the garment has to correspond to the assessment actually performed for that design.
Does waterproof hi-vis rainwear automatically comply with the standard?
No — waterproofing and high-visibility conformity are separate properties assessed separately. A garment can be fully waterproof and not compliant with the high-visibility standard, or compliant with the standard and not waterproof. Any water-repellent or waterproof claim must be supported by its own test data, and the high-visibility class must be supported by the assessment for that specific garment.
What is the difference between EN ISO 20471 and EN 17353?
EN ISO 20471 applies to high-visibility clothing for high-risk situations where maximum conspicuity is required. EN 17353:2020 addresses visibility for medium-risk situations, where the full high-visibility requirement is disproportionate. The appropriate standard follows from the risk assessment of the task, not from product preference.
The short version
EN ISO 20471 is an area-and-placement standard before it is a materials standard: 0.14/0.10, 0.50/0.13 and 0.80/0.20 m² define the three classes, the smallest size sets the class for a range, and 360° banding is required regardless of area. In the EU it is a PPE Regulation matter requiring notified-body assessment. Ask which standard, which class, assessed by whom, for which model — and expect a specific answer.