Hi Vis Jackets
High visibility jackets to EN ISO 20471: bombers, parkas, fleeces and rain-patch styles.
Hi Vis Jackets — common questions
Straight answers about what we stock, how it is sold and which standard applies.
Which hi vis jacket reaches Class 3?
A jacket that covers the torso and carries reflective bands on the sleeves. Class 3 needs 0.80 m² of fluorescent material and 0.20 m² of retroreflective, which a sleeved jacket can carry and a vest cannot. If the jacket alone does not state Class 3, it can still be reached by wearing it with hi vis trousers that carry bands.
Bomber, parka or fleece?
A bomber is the shortest and least restrictive, so it suits work with a lot of movement. A parka is longer and warmer for standing outdoors in winter. A hi vis fleece is a mid-layer that happens to certify, which makes it the practical choice indoors and out on a mild day. Rain-patch styles put a waterproof panel across the shoulders where the wet lands first.
Does washing affect the certification?
Yes. EN ISO 20471 garments are certified to a stated number of wash cycles, printed on the care label, and both the fluorescent colour and the reflective tape degrade with washing and with UV. A faded jacket no longer meets the class it was sold as. Treat hi vis as a consumable rather than a uniform that lasts for years.