Confused about the differences between ANSI class 1, class 2 and class 3?

     The American National Standards Institute standard for High-Visibility Apparel (ANSI/ISEA 107-2004) specifies the minimum number of square inches of background and retroreflective material required for each class of garment. Employers are ultimately responsible for determining the class of garment required per work environment. To help in this determination, the ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 standard defines "Conspicuity Class Levels." These are provided for information only.

ANSI Class Minimums Working Environment Activities Uses and Application

Class 1

Background:
217 square-inches

Reflective:
155 square-inches

Environments where traffic does not exceed 25 mph, worker has full attention to approaching traffic and environment is less complex.

These garments are to be used during activities that permit the wearer's full and undivided attention to approaching traffic. There should be ample separation of the worker from traffic, which should be traveling no faster than 25 mph.
  • Parking lot attendants
  • People retrieving shopping carts from parking lots
  • Workers exposed to warehouse equipment traffic
  • Roadside or sidewalk maintenance workers

Class 2

Background:
775 square-inches

Reflective:
201 square-inches

Inclement weather conditions that require greater visibility, a complex background is present, worker's attention is diverted from approaching traffic and the worker performs tasks near vehicles traveling at more than 25 mph.

These garments are to be used during activities where greater visibility is necessary during inclement weather conditions or in work environments with risks that exceed those for Class 1. Garments in this class also cover workers who perform tasks that divert their attention from approaching traffic, or that put in close proximity to passing vehicles traveling at more than 25 mph.
  • Forestry operations
  • Ship cargo-loading operations
  • Roadway construction, utility and railway workers
  • Survey crews
  • School crossing guards
  • High-volume parking and toll gate personnel
  • Airport baggage handlers/ground crew
  • Emergency response and law enforcement personnel
  • Trash collection and recycling operations
  • Accident site investigators
  • Railroad inspection and maintenance crews

Class 3

Background:
1240 square-inches

Reflective:
310 square-inches

High task loads are performed where traffic exceeds 50 mph, and worker must be easily identifiable as a person throughout a full range of body motions at a minimum of 1,280 feet.

Provide the highest level of visibility, and are intended for workers who face serious hazards and often have high task loads that require attention away from their work. Garments for these workers should provide enhanced visibility to more of the body such as the arms and legs.
  • roadway construction personnel
  • Utility workers
  • Survey crews
  • Emergency response personnel

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