subject: Reflective Tape - Class 2 Ansi Standards [print this page] In 1999, the American National Standards Institute laid down standards for reflective tapes and clothing worn by workers. These were to decrease the amount of accidents that can injure and even kill American workers. These standards are fluid and have been refined many times over the years as the times change and as more hazards appear in the workplace. Since the standards were put in place, high visibility clothing has been broken into classes that define minimum sizes, colors, and the quality of the reflective tapes.
Defining Class 2 Standards- To be in the Class 2 category, a garment must be used for a specific purpose. They define safety apparel that is used by police, fire firefighters, construction workers, utility workers, and emergency personnel. These occupations are the primary target, but garments that receive this certification are used in any area where there is traffic exceeding 25 miles per hour or you need to take your attention off the job site around you. Any occasion where high visibility is a main concern.
Garment Size- The garment that any reflective tape or material is attached to must also meed certain standards. Any item that has a reflective material must be 775 square inches. The color must stand out against the background and be easily visible. The most common choices are fluorescents and neon, and it does not need to be reflective itself. Green/yellow, red/orange and red are common color choices. With these colors, no matter how small the garment is, it will be able to be seen and stand out for high-visibility.
Reflective Material- Class 2 standards dictate the reflective placement, size, and amount. For optimal visibility the standards state there must be at least one band of the reflective material around the torso of the garment and bands need to be spaced two inches apart to allow the background to show through. The reflective material used must be at least 1.375 inches in width and there must be no less than 4 yards of material over the entire garment. There is a 2 inch wide tape available, and if the manufacturer uses that size, the amount of total tape on the garment must total 2.8 yards.
Reflective Performance- To qualify for Class 2, a garment must meet standards of visibility and durability. Reflective tapes or other material must have a visibility level of 2 in Table 5, or a level 1 in Table 6 based on the ANSI 107-2004 standards. Garments also must be tested to hold up against repetitive washing, harsh weather, tensile strength, and abrasion to meet the Class 2 standard
ANSI Certification- All testing is done in a third party laboratory, and if the garment passes inspection, then it is given it's certification. Any garment passing the tests will be labeled with the manufacturer, the type of product and the size, safe use and care instructions and what level of ANSI standard qualification it meets. The garment will also have a picture of the class and it's level of performance
