Since 2020, EN 17353, informally the standard for visibility clothing for medium-risk situations - test methods and requirements, has been available. This norm specifies the design requirements for clothing and accessories intended to make the wearer visible in medium-risk situations under daylight and/or under illumination from vehicle headlights and searchlights in the dark.
This standard is the successor to EN 1150, which was mainly used for clothing and accessories for non-professional use.
The standard is not applicable in a high-risk situation (this is the purpose of EN ISO 20471).
It also does not apply to visibility components for the head, hands and feet, such as helmets, gloves and shoes. Furthermore, components with integrated active lighting are not covered by this standard, nor are visibility components for low-risk situations.
Type A, B and AB
Type A products are intended for daytime use.
Type B products are intended for use in the dark. Within this type, there are three further levels: B1 for loose retroreflective accessories intended to recognise movement, B2 for use around the limbs and B3 for use around the torso and limbs.
Finally, there is a type AB intended for use both during the day and in the dark. Here we therefore distinguish between AB2 and AB3 similar to B2 and B3.
Depending on the type, requirements are set for the surface of the fluorescent material and the retroreflective material. Unlike EN ISO 20471, not only the fluorescent colours yellow, orange and red are allowed but also fluorescent yellow-green, yellow-orange, orange-red and pink.
For certification of this type of clothing, contact Vaassen Textile Consultancy.
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