ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 classifies high-visibility safety apparel by the amount of background and retroreflective material provided:

• Class 1: minimum visibility requirements — for workers on sidewalks, parking lots, and environments where traffic is separated from workers and speeds are low
• Class 2: greater visibility — required for workers near roadways where vehicles travel above 25 mph; includes most construction, utility, and road work applications
• Class 3: highest visibility — full-body coverage including sleeves; for workers in high-speed, complex traffic environments and low-light conditions
• Class E: compliant pants/shorts — must be worn with a Class 2 or Class 3 garment to create a combined Class 3 system

Type R (Roadway) is the most common classification in this category. The MUTCD requires a minimum Class 2 for most road work; flaggers require Class 2 minimum under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.201.

NFPA 2112 is the standard for flame-resistant garments for protection against flash fire. It applies primarily to oil & gas, petrochemical, refinery, and chemical plant workers exposed to hydrocarbon flash fire hazards. Garments tested to NFPA 2112 carry a heat attenuation factor (HAF) — the percentage of thermal energy blocked — and must not ignite, melt, or drip when exposed to a flash fire.

NFPA 70E governs electrical safety for energized work and requires arc-rated clothing with a published ATPV or EBT rating in cal/cm² for arc flash protection. All arc-rated garments are also flame resistant, but NFPA 2112 garments without an arc rating are not NFPA 70E compliant for arc flash work.

Many garments in industry meet both standards. For workers in oil & gas who also perform electrical work, look for dual-certified garments carrying both NFPA 2112 and an ATPV rating.

A breakaway vest is designed with velcro or snap attachments that release under a sustained pull, allowing the vest to be quickly removed if it becomes caught on equipment, a vehicle, or a moving object. This is a critical safety feature in environments where entanglement with machinery is a hazard.

The PIP Class 2 Two-Tone X-Back Breakaway Mesh Vest 302-0211 uses a 5-point breakaway design — specified for railway and metro workers, construction near equipment, and shipyards where vest entanglement risk is high. It meets CSA Z96-15 standards in addition to ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Class 2.

Most ANSI/ISEA 107-compliant hi-vis garments are machine washable in warm water with standard detergent. Avoid:

• Bleach — degrades retroreflective tape and fluorescent fabric
• Fabric softener — coats the microbeads in retroreflective tape, reducing reflectivity
• High-temperature dryer settings — can warp or delaminate retroreflective tape

ANSI/ISEA 107 requires that compliant garments maintain performance through a specified number of wash cycles (varies by garment construction). Check the care label for the specific garment's wash cycle limit. When retroreflective tape shows cracks, peeling, or significant reduced reflection when a light is shone on it, the garment should be retired and replaced.