High visibility workwear fabric with fluorescent material is effective for use in daytime conditions. However, as the light decreases so does the effectiveness of the material. Reflective high visibility fabric workwear is designed to be effective in all light conditions. Using an engineered tape that is designed to reflect light back to the source, this workwear can be visible in nighttime conditions to the illumination of headlights, floodlights, or other artificial low light conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding the science behind reflective tape is as important as choosing the right fabric colors for new workwear safety apparel brands and retailers. This article describes the science behind reflective tape, placement, and what buyers should be aware of when dealing with reflective high visibility workwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advancements in high visibility workwear outfit fabrics use a different technology for reflective effects than fluorescent fabrics. With respect to daylight, fluorescent fabrics appear brighter due to material absorption. In comparison, reflective fabrics contain thousands of glass beads or microprismatic lenses, and are designed to reflect light back to the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Genuine high visibility workwear incorporates both technologies.
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Reflective tape used in safety apparel can generally be classified as glass bead or microprismatic. Glass bead tape reflects light over a larger angle and is cost-effective and widespread for general use garments, while microprismatic tape reflects light accurately over larger distances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tape can be bonded to fabric via sewing or heat-sealing. Bonding methods impacts the durability of tape after repeated washings. When buying reflective high-visibility workwear in bulk, ask about the type of tape and the bonding method used. This may be the most important factor driving the garment’s long-term durability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflective tape is only effective in protecting a worker if it is properly placed. Workwear can be certified reflective high-visibility if it has tape across the torso, shoulders, and limbs and helps the driver’s line of site “see” a person rather than just a bright shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Standards like ANSI\/ISEA 107 and EN ISO 20471 help set minimum requirements about how much reflective tape is required on a garment and also dictate the placement. A safety vest or hi-vis jacket may be photographed looking reflective, but may totally lack the real visibility standard it claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Evaluating reflective performance involves a measurement of the coefficient of retroreflection. This determines the exact amount of light a reflective tape reflects. ANSI\/ISEA 107 and EN ISO 20471 have set minimum values for this measurement, and a safety certification can be granted for a product if the garments satisfy these requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When sourcing reflective high visibility workwear, brands should ask for the actual test report that contains the coefficient of retroreflection instead of taking the supplier’s word for having \u201ccertified reflective tape.\u201d As performance of retroreflective tape deteriorates over time due to multiple washes, exposure to ultraviolet light, and general wear, some certifications also address how many washes a garment should withstand before losing its effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n