High Visibility Warning Clothing: Chinese Standard vs American Standard

As a company that sells high-visibility warning clothing to more than 120 countries, SFVEST's products must meet the standards of each country. This article focuses on the differences between the new and old versions of the U.S. high-visibility warning clothing standards, as well as the differences between the U.S. and Chinese standards for the main indicators of high-visibility warning clothing.

6.1

New American Standard vs Old American Standard

Standard update background: ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 is the fifth version of the U.S. standard for high-visibility protective clothing. Compared to the previous version 2015, the latest version has updates in the following areas:

● 360°Visibility

● Label Markings

● Flame Resistance

● Singe-Use Disposable Coveralls

● Optional Testing for Overall Conspicuity

1.360°Visibility

America has re-updated the design requirements. There must be a continuity and high-visibility reflective tape around the torso. The reflective tape of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 warning clothing should not exceed a 5cm empty break.

In addition, Level 3 warning clothing should contain one or more reflective bands around the sleeves and not differ by 5cm.

6.2

2. Label Markings

   The new standard does not require the maximum number of washes on the wash label.

6.3

03. Flame Resistance

The new American Standard has been updated with six standards. High-visibility apparel must meet at least one of the newly updated standards labeled FR (Flame Resistant)

04. Single-Use Disposable Coveralls

The new American Standard adds single-use, high-visibility protective clothing. These disposable products need to be noted for single-use markings only. The substrate material requirements also need to meet the same physical test before the chromaticity and brightness. The reflective tape's reversal factor also needs to meet the requirements before the corresponding physical test. Since this type of protective clothing is disposable, there is no need for post-physical testing.

05. Optional Testing for Overal Conspicuity

The new American Standard has added an additional test method for brightness, ASTM E1501. manufacturers can refer to this method for 360° reflective apparel testing. 

American Standard vs Chinese Standard

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 and GB20653-2020 test items are basically the same, but the test method is not exactly the same.

01.Design Requirements / Design

The design requirements of American Standard for high-visibility warning clothing are divided into different categories, and it is worth noting that AFSL Type O (non-road use) and Type R (road use) require the same base material area and reflective material area as the national standard. Only American Standard stipulates that Level 1 warning clothing can only be used in non-road situations, which is not explicitly required by GB.

The width of the reflective material is similar to that required by GB and ANSI. Chinese Standard stipulates that the minimum width of the reflective tape for Level 1 warning clothing is 25mm, and the minimum width of the reflective tape for Level 2 and Level 3 warning clothing is 50mm, while the reflective tape for Level 2 warning clothing of the American standard is 25mm and 35mm, and the reflective tape for Level 3 warning clothing is 25mm and 50mm.

6.4

02. Color 

   American Standard and the Chinese Standard for the base material and the combination of performance material color performance requirements are the same, but the test method is not the same.

6.5

03. Color fastness

America, China and Europe have the same requirements and same test methods for color fastness.

04. Minimum coefficient of retroreflection

America and China have the same detection method and coefficients for the initial value of the minimum inverse coefficient.

6.6

Regardless of which country's standards, the main indicators of a qualified high-visibility warning clothing are I. The color performance of the base material, qualified base material mainly in the daytime to highlight the high-visibility function. Second, the retroreflective coefficient of reflective materials, commonly known as reflectivity. The brightness of the reflectivity determines the wearer's visibility at night, whether the traveler can notice the wearer at a distance and take braking behavior. Third, color fastness, color fastness to ensure that the clothes in any environment will not easily stain will not easily fade, affecting the wearer's normal use of function. Fourth, to meet the requirements of the design can make the wearer in all aspects of the role of high visibility will not have visual dead space.