The European Union (EU) has published a new standard for protective clothing designed to give the wearers enhanced visibility in medium risk situations.
The new standard – EN 17353:2020 – Protective clothing – Enhanced visibility equipment for medium risk situations – Test methods and requirements – replaces two standards:
- EN 1150:1999 – Protective clothing – Visibility clothing for non-professional use – Test methods and requirements
- EN 13356:2001 – Visibility accessories for non-professional use – Test methods and requirements
EN 17353:2020 contains elements from both standards.
The principal difference is that products within the scope of the standard are no longer considered from the aspect of use. Instead, the standard considers their suitability in terms of providing protection in medium risk situations.
Examples of medium risk situations include:
- Working with slow-moving vehicles
- Jogging/cycling on roads with lower traffic speeds
The standard applies to all visibility clothing and devices worn in these situations.
The standard includes:
- Minimum amounts of materials required to enhance visibility
- Design requirements for products based on foreseeable conditions of use, per product type:
- Type A – where risk of not being seen only exists in daylight conditions; uses only fluorescent materials
- Type B – where risk of not being seen only exist in dark conditions; uses only retroreflective materials:
- Type B1 – free hanging retroreflective devices
- Type B2 – retroreflective devices temporarily or permanently placed on limbs only
- Type B3 – retroreflective material placed on torso or torso and limbs
- Type AB – where risk of not being seen exists in daylight, twilight and dark conditions; uses fluorescent and retroreflective materials or combined performance materials
The standard does not apply to:
- High visibility equipment in high-risk situations (covered in EN ISO 20471)
- Visibility equipment specifically intended for the head, hands and feet
- Equipment integrating active lighting, e.g., LEDs
- Visibility for low-risk situations
Products covered under the scope of EN 17353:2020 are considered as Category II Personal Protective Equipment according to (EU) 2016/425 and therefore must carry the CE Mark. This requires an EU Notified Body to undertake CE compliance assessment.
SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories, including 10 in China, specializing in testing of apparel, footwear, and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical, chemical, and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance, and compliance with international, industrial, and regulatory standards worldwide. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services.
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