ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Hi-Vis Standards Guide

Safety Standards

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020: The Complete Buyer's Guide to Hi-Vis Classification

June 2026 8 min read By WX Reflective Editorial Team

If you're sourcing high-visibility safety apparel for your team or customers, understanding ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 is non-negotiable. This standard governs nearly all hi-vis workwear sold in the United States — and getting the classification wrong can put workers at risk and expose buyers to liability.

This guide covers everything you need to know: performance classes, types, background material requirements, retroreflective tape specifications, and what changed in the 2020 update.

What Is ANSI/ISEA 107?

ANSI/ISEA 107 is the American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear, published by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). The current version — updated in 2020 — defines minimum performance requirements for garments designed to be conspicuous under a wide range of conditions.

Key point: ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 replaced the 2015 version. The 2020 update introduced new performance levels for retroreflective materials and refined the definition of combined-performance materials.

Performance Classes: 1, 2, and 3

The standard defines three performance classes based on the amount of background (fluorescent) and retroreflective material required:

Class	Background Material	Retroreflective Tape	Typical Use
Class 1	217 in² (0.14 m²)	155 in² (0.10 m²)	Off-road, low-speed environments (parking lots, warehouses)
Class 2	775 in² (0.50 m²)	201 in² (0.13 m²)	Road work, construction, airport ground crews
Class 3	1,240 in² (0.80 m²)	310 in² (0.20 m²)	Highway work, flagging operations, high-speed traffic zones

Types: R, O, and P

The 2020 standard also introduced garment "Types" that clarify intended use:

Type R (Roadway): Designed for workers on or near public roads. Most common for construction and traffic control.
Type O (Off-Road): For non-roadway environments such as warehouses, mining, and rail.
Type P (Public Safety): For emergency responders, police, and firefighters.

Background Material Colors

ANSI 107 permits three fluorescent background colors:

Fluorescent Yellow-Green — highest daytime visibility, especially in natural light conditions
Fluorescent Orange-Red — better against green backgrounds (forests, parks)
Fluorescent Red — used primarily in Type P public safety garments

Retroreflective Material Performance Levels

The 2020 update introduced three performance levels for retroreflective materials, measured by their coefficient of retroreflection (RA):

Performance Level 1: RA ≥ 100 cd/lux/m² — entry level, suitable for lower-risk environments
Performance Level 2: RA ≥ 330 cd/lux/m² — standard for most Class 2 and Class 3 garments
Performance Level 3: RA ≥ 700 cd/lux/m² — high-performance, required for premium Class 3 applications

What to Specify When Ordering

When placing a bulk order, specify the following to your supplier:

Performance class (1, 2, or 3)
Garment type (R, O, or P)
Background color (fluorescent yellow-green or orange-red)
Retroreflective performance level (1, 2, or 3)
Certification documentation required (test reports, certificates)

Pro tip: Always request a copy of the test report from an accredited third-party laboratory. Reputable manufacturers like WX Reflective maintain up-to-date ANSI test documentation for all certified products.

Summary: Quick Reference

If your workers are...	You need at minimum...
In warehouses, parking lots, low-speed areas	Class 1, Type O
On construction sites near road traffic	Class 2, Type R
Flagging on highways or high-speed roads	Class 3, Type R
Emergency response / police	Class 2 or 3, Type P

Need ANSI-Certified Hi-Vis Apparel?

WX Reflective manufactures Class 1, 2 & 3 certified garments with full test documentation. MOQ 100 pcs, custom logo available.

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