An ANSI Class 1 vest is a type of high-visibility safety vest designed for low-risk environments where traffic speeds do not exceed 25 mph. These vests are typically used by parking lot attendants, delivery drivers, and roadside assistance personnel. To meet ANSI Class 1 standards, the vest must have at least 155 square inches of reflective material and be made from high-contrast colors like orange or yellow. This ensures that the wearer is visible to others, especially in low-light conditions.
An ANSI Class 2 safety vest is designed for environments with higher risk levels, such as roadways where traffic speeds are up to 50 mph. These vests provide greater visibility than Class 1 vests due to their larger size and increased reflective material. They must have at least 775 square inches of background material and 201 square inches of reflective material. Common users of ANSI Class 2 vests include road construction workers, utility workers, survey crews, and airport ground crews. These vests are typically available in high-visibility colors like orange or yellow to ensure maximum visibility in various lighting conditions.
An ANSI Class 3 safety vest offers the highest level of visibility and is designed for high-risk environments where workers need to be seen from a distance and in low-light conditions. These vests are required to have at least 1,240 square inches of background material and 310 square inches of reflective material. Class 3 vests typically include sleeves to provide additional reflective surface area, making them suitable for workers such as emergency responders, highway workers, and tow truck operators. The high-visibility colors, usually fluorescent yellow or orange, combined with the extensive reflective material, ensure maximum visibility.
There is no ANSI Class 4 safety vest. The ANSI/ISEA 107 standard for high-visibility safety apparel includes three classes: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. Each class is designed for different levels of risk and visibility requirements. Class 1 vests are for low-risk environments with minimal traffic. Class 2 vests are for higher-risk environments with moderate traffic speeds. Class 3 vests are for high-risk environments with high traffic speeds and low-light conditions.
