In recent years, the occupational safety and health of employees in China has gained significant attention from leaders and authorities at all levels. The National Standardization Management Committee and the State Administration of Work Safety have taken a more active role in revising personal protective equipment standards, leading to the approval and implementation of several new regulations. Among these, the introduction of the warning clothing standard marks a major step forward. This standard is based on the widely recognized European EN471 standard, "Professional Use of High Visibility Warning Clothing - Testing and Methods," while also being adapted to meet China's specific needs. As a result, the content is more comprehensive and detailed, making it suitable for various occupational environments. With this standard, China has become one of the first countries in Asia to establish a unified guideline for high-visibility warning uniforms.
The standard outlines the classification of professional high-visibility warning clothing, specifies the performance and testing methods for both fluorescent and reflective materials, defines where reflective materials should be placed, and includes requirements for labeling and design. Fluorescent materials are known for their ability to absorb short-wavelength light—especially ultraviolet rays—and re-emit longer wavelength visible light. This gives them a higher brightness and color contrast compared to non-fluorescent materials, making them highly visible. The standard specifies three colors: fluorescent yellow, fluorescent orange, and fluorescent red, with the first two being most commonly used.
Fluorescent materials only become visible when exposed to sunlight during the day, as they rely on UV light to emit visible light. They do not function effectively in the dark, meaning they lack visibility at night. In contrast, reflective materials, also known as retroreflective materials, work by reflecting light back toward its source. This makes them especially effective in low-light conditions or at night, when illuminated by car headlights or other artificial light sources. By combining fluorescent and reflective properties, certain materials can offer both daytime and nighttime visibility, enhancing overall safety.
The retroreflection coefficient is a key measure of how well a material reflects light back to its source. It is expressed in units of cd/(lx·m²) and depends on the angles of incidence and observation. The standard defines different levels of reflective materials based on their retroreflection coefficients. For high-risk environments, higher-grade reflective materials are recommended. The standard also sets strict physical performance requirements, including resistance to wear, bending, temperature changes, washing, and dry cleaning. After these tests, the retroreflectivity of single-performance materials must be above 100 cd/(lx·m²), while composite materials must exceed 30 cd/(lx·m²). These technical specifications ensure that warning clothing remains effective and safe under various working conditions.
This article is a reprint from online media and reflects the author’s views. It does not necessarily represent the opinions of this website. If any content infringes on your rights, please contact us, and we will address the issue promptly.
Segmented Dies,Screw Punch Die,Tungsten Carbide Segmented Die,Carbide Segmented Hexagon Die
Hebei Yuanyue Trading Co.,Ltd , https://www.hbyuanyue.com