A new American National Standard from ISEA will help protect
emergency responders by providing increased visibility. ANSI/ISEA
207-2006, the American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety
Vests, establishes design, performance specifications, and use criteria for
highly visible vests that are used by public safety industries.
“Vests that meet this standard give users enhanced visibility in all lighting
conditions, through the combined use of fluorescent and retro-reflective
materials,” said ISEA Technical Director Janice Comer Bradley.
The standard includes basic requirements such as vest dimensions, color and
materials performance, but also incorporates criteria for special features for
users in fire, emergency medical and law enforcement services. The vest design
criteria reflect the specific needs of public safety workers such as the need to
access belt mounted equipment (gun, CPR barrier) and the ability for vests to
tear away from the body.
The standard recognizes the need for some public safety entities to identify
with a specific color. The standard includes the means to identify public safety
entities through the use of specific color markings.
Forms included in the standard to report testing for background material,
combined-performance material and retroreflective material, as well as a
compliance certificate format, are available online.
