High Visibility Apparel: Providing Protection, Safety, Comfort and Style
High visibility apparel plays a critical role in making the jobs of those who work in hazardous environments safer. Indeed, high visibility apparel is a key category of the industrial protective clothing market—a sector which is expected to achieve significant growth between 2016 and 2021 as safety awareness increases and industrialisation proceeds in developing countries. High visibility apparel is also being used increasingly to minimise risks by members of the public who use the roads—including vehicle drivers and cyclists. Wearers of safety apparel are able to choose from a variety of high visibility garments, including those which incorporate fluorescent materials and/or retroreflective materials. Additionally, advances in wearable technology have facilitated the development of garments which incorporate light emitting diodes (LEDs). Furthermore, while safety is considered to be of the highest importance in the design of high visibility protective apparel, style and comfort are also key. Indeed, several high visibility garments are designed so that they facilitate performance properties such as moisture wicking, or are styled in a way which is similar to conventional casual apparel. However, the use of high visibility materials is by no means restricted to safety apparel as retroreflective materials are being used increasingly to add attractive design details to casual apparel. This report provides a wealth of information on high visibility apparel, including the types of high visibility material used in the design and construction of causal apparel. The report also features information on: the development and application of high visibility materials; the latest developments in high visibility products; regulations and standards relating to high visibility apparel; and the outlook for the high visibility apparel market.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
MARKETS FOR HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Growth and size of the market for high visibility apparel
Growth and size of the market for industrial protective apparel
Factors affecting market growth
DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS
Development of fluorescent fabrics
Development of retroreflective materials
THE NEED FOR HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Occupational safety
Personal safety
Risks to personal safety faced by pedestrians
Risks to personal safety faced by motorcyclists
Risks to personal safety faced by cyclists
Risks to personal safety faced by participants in sports and recreation
DRAWBACKS OF HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
VISIBILITY AND CONSPICUITY
Colour
Fluorescence
Retroreflection
HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS USED IN APPAREL
Fluorescent materials
Retroreflective materials
Glass bead technology
Microprismatic technology
Light emitting diodes
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Designing safety apparel
Design of high visibility personal protective equipment (PPE)
Designing athleisure and general outdoor apparel
Making the best use of retroreflective materials
Brightness
Area
Placement
Size
Biomotion
Assessing the overall visibility of a garment incorporating retroreflective materials
Visibility Rating Score (VRS)
USE AND MAINTENANCE OF HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL APPLICATIONS OF HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS
Industrial protective apparel
Promotional apparel
Corporate apparel
Athleisure apparel, sportswear and recreational wear
Casualwear, children’s wear and fashion wear
Casualwear and children’s wear
Fashion wear
LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS RELATING TO HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Legislation governing the use of high visibility apparel for occupational purposes
Non-compliance with safety regulations
Legislation governing the use of high visibility apparel for non- occupational purposes
Standards for high visibility apparel
EN ISO 20471:2013
ANSI/ISEA 107-2015
INNOVATIONS IN HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS
Retroreflective sewing threads
American & Efird (A&E): Anefil Reflector
Coats: Coats Signal sewing thread
Reflective materials
3M: 3M Scotchlite
Orafol: Oralite
Regine IQtrim: IQperform and IQseen
Safe Reflections: Brilliant Color Reflective, Eclipse and Airex Segmented retroreflective technologies
Viz Reflectives: VizLite Dual Technology
High visibility fabrics
Argar Technology: HVis-Tes, HVis-Tes 2.0, HVis-Tes esd, Noflam-HV and Tes-fir ESD-HV
DuPont: Nomex ProVis
Glen Raven: GlenGuard Hi-Vis
TenCate Protective Fabrics: TenCate Tecasafe Plus
Teijin Limited: high visibility fabric made from aramid fibre
INNOVATIONS IN HIGH VISIBILITY PRODUCTS
Bulwark: iQ Series Comfort Knit ANSI Hi-Visibility Long Sleeve Henley shirt
Fhoss Technology: FiSalus Safety Trousers
Lumo: Herne Hill Harrington Jacket
National Safety Apparel (NSA): Class 2 Hi-Vis FR Control 2.0 Base Layer Tee
Ongrade and Visijax: illuminating high visibility jackets
Snickers Workwear: 1973 High-Vis Waterproof Jacket, Class
Sympatex: Sympatex Lighting System
Visijax: Commuter Jacket
OUTLOOK
INTRODUCTION
MARKETS FOR HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Growth and size of the market for high visibility apparel
Growth and size of the market for industrial protective apparel
Factors affecting market growth
DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS
Development of fluorescent fabrics
Development of retroreflective materials
THE NEED FOR HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Occupational safety
Personal safety
Risks to personal safety faced by pedestrians
Risks to personal safety faced by motorcyclists
Risks to personal safety faced by cyclists
Risks to personal safety faced by participants in sports and recreation
DRAWBACKS OF HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
VISIBILITY AND CONSPICUITY
Colour
Fluorescence
Retroreflection
HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS USED IN APPAREL
Fluorescent materials
Retroreflective materials
Glass bead technology
Microprismatic technology
Light emitting diodes
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Designing safety apparel
Design of high visibility personal protective equipment (PPE)
Designing athleisure and general outdoor apparel
Making the best use of retroreflective materials
Brightness
Area
Placement
Size
Biomotion
Assessing the overall visibility of a garment incorporating retroreflective materials
Visibility Rating Score (VRS)
USE AND MAINTENANCE OF HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL APPLICATIONS OF HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS
Industrial protective apparel
Promotional apparel
Corporate apparel
Athleisure apparel, sportswear and recreational wear
Casualwear, children’s wear and fashion wear
Casualwear and children’s wear
Fashion wear
LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS RELATING TO HIGH VISIBILITY APPAREL
Legislation governing the use of high visibility apparel for occupational purposes
Non-compliance with safety regulations
Legislation governing the use of high visibility apparel for non- occupational purposes
Standards for high visibility apparel
EN ISO 20471:2013
ANSI/ISEA 107-2015
INNOVATIONS IN HIGH VISIBILITY MATERIALS
Retroreflective sewing threads
American & Efird (A&E): Anefil Reflector
Coats: Coats Signal sewing thread
Reflective materials
3M: 3M Scotchlite
Orafol: Oralite
Regine IQtrim: IQperform and IQseen
Safe Reflections: Brilliant Color Reflective, Eclipse and Airex Segmented retroreflective technologies
Viz Reflectives: VizLite Dual Technology
High visibility fabrics
Argar Technology: HVis-Tes, HVis-Tes 2.0, HVis-Tes esd, Noflam-HV and Tes-fir ESD-HV
DuPont: Nomex ProVis
Glen Raven: GlenGuard Hi-Vis
TenCate Protective Fabrics: TenCate Tecasafe Plus
Teijin Limited: high visibility fabric made from aramid fibre
INNOVATIONS IN HIGH VISIBILITY PRODUCTS
Bulwark: iQ Series Comfort Knit ANSI Hi-Visibility Long Sleeve Henley shirt
Fhoss Technology: FiSalus Safety Trousers
Lumo: Herne Hill Harrington Jacket
National Safety Apparel (NSA): Class 2 Hi-Vis FR Control 2.0 Base Layer Tee
Ongrade and Visijax: illuminating high visibility jackets
Snickers Workwear: 1973 High-Vis Waterproof Jacket, Class
Sympatex: Sympatex Lighting System
Visijax: Commuter Jacket
OUTLOOK
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: USA: number of fatal workplace injuries, 2003-15
Table 2: Relationship between stopping sight distance and driving speed
Table 3: Standards for high visibility apparel
Table 4: Requirements of EU standard EN ISO 20471:2013 by level of conspicuity
Table 5: ANSI/ISEA 107-2015: fabric and reflective requirements by garment type and performance class
Table 6: Orafol: Oralite glass bead retroreflective tapes, March 2017
Table 7: Orafol: Oralite microprismatic retroreflective tapes, March 2017
Table 8: Orafol: Oralite retroreflective tapes for firefighters’ apparel, March 2017
Table 9: Argar Technology: high visibility fabrics, March 2017
Table 1: USA: number of fatal workplace injuries, 2003-15
Table 2: Relationship between stopping sight distance and driving speed
Table 3: Standards for high visibility apparel
Table 4: Requirements of EU standard EN ISO 20471:2013 by level of conspicuity
Table 5: ANSI/ISEA 107-2015: fabric and reflective requirements by garment type and performance class
Table 6: Orafol: Oralite glass bead retroreflective tapes, March 2017
Table 7: Orafol: Oralite microprismatic retroreflective tapes, March 2017
Table 8: Orafol: Oralite retroreflective tapes for firefighters’ apparel, March 2017
Table 9: Argar Technology: high visibility fabrics, March 2017
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Light reflecting off glass bead
Figure 2: Light reflecting off a microprism
Figure 3: Visibility Rating Score (VRS) infographic
Figure 4: Sample sewn with Anefil Reflector
Figure 5: 3M Scotchlite Reflective Fabric 8910 Silver Fabric
Figure 6: 3M Scotchlite Reflective Fabric 9187 Industrial Wash Flame Resistant Trim
Figure 7: 3M Scotchlite 6187R Fluorescent Lime-Yellow High Gloss Trim
Figure 8: Safe Reflections: garments with Brilliant Color Reflective material in daylight and at night time
Figure 9: Safe Reflections: garments with Airex Segmented retroreflective material
Figure 10: Garment incorporating VizLite Dual Technology (VizLite DT)
Figure 11: Teijin: high visibility aramid fabric
Figure 12: Bulwark: iQ Series Comfort Knit ANSI Hi-Visibility Long Sleeve Henley shirt
Figure 13: Dickies Hi-Vis Jogger
Figure 14: Fhoss Technology: FiSalus Safety Trousers
Figure 15: Lumo: women’s Herne Hill Harrington Jacket
Figure 1: Light reflecting off glass bead
Figure 2: Light reflecting off a microprism
Figure 3: Visibility Rating Score (VRS) infographic
Figure 4: Sample sewn with Anefil Reflector
Figure 5: 3M Scotchlite Reflective Fabric 8910 Silver Fabric
Figure 6: 3M Scotchlite Reflective Fabric 9187 Industrial Wash Flame Resistant Trim
Figure 7: 3M Scotchlite 6187R Fluorescent Lime-Yellow High Gloss Trim
Figure 8: Safe Reflections: garments with Brilliant Color Reflective material in daylight and at night time
Figure 9: Safe Reflections: garments with Airex Segmented retroreflective material
Figure 10: Garment incorporating VizLite Dual Technology (VizLite DT)
Figure 11: Teijin: high visibility aramid fabric
Figure 12: Bulwark: iQ Series Comfort Knit ANSI Hi-Visibility Long Sleeve Henley shirt
Figure 13: Dickies Hi-Vis Jogger
Figure 14: Fhoss Technology: FiSalus Safety Trousers
Figure 15: Lumo: women’s Herne Hill Harrington Jacket
