FHWA Accepts Revised ANSI/ISEA 107 Standard For High-Visibility Safety Apparel in Workzones

High-visibility safety garments that conform to the newly revised American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Accessories, ANSI/ISEA 107-2015, will be in compliance with the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced today.

The MUTCD requires that highway workers, flaggers and adult crossing guards wear high-visibility apparel that meets Performance Class 2 or 3 of ANSI/ISEA 107.  Law enforcement officers, firefighters and other emergency responders exposed to highway traffic are required to wear high-visibility apparel conforming to ANSI/ISEA 207, the American National Standard for public safety vests.

The 2015 edition of the ANSI/ISEA 107 combines the requirements of these two documents into a single comprehensive standard with new designations for intended use conditions.  Type R (roadway) garments are intended to roadway workers who are exposed to traffic, and align with the requirements for Performance Class 2 or 3.  Type P (public safety) apparel is equivalent to garments that met the ANSI/ISEA 207 standard.

In response to a request from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), the FHWA acknowledged that high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA) labeled as meeting the revised standard will satisfy the MUTCD mandates.

“High-visibility safety apparel is a lifesaver,” said ISEA President Dan Shipp.  “Roadway workers and emergency responders who are exposed to vehicle traffic and moving equipment are better protected when they can be seen.  And by recognizing the use of garments labeled to the current standard, the FHWA eliminates uncertainty about MUTCD compliance for suppliers, purchasers, users and regulators.”

The 2009 MUTCD, the standard for the nation’s roadways, was published by the FHWA as 23 CFR Part 655, Subpart F, with an effective date of January 15, 2010.  All states have adopted the MUTCD or a substantially equivalent regulation.

ANSI/ISEA 107, first published in 1999 and now in its third revision, was developed by the ISEA High-Visibility Products Group and approved as an American National Standard.  It includes performance and design requirements for apparel incorporating background and retroreflective material that provides enhanced daytime and nighttime visibility to workers exposed to traffic hazards.

Click here for more information about ANSI/ISEA 107-2015, including Frequently Asked Questions and a copy of the official interpretation letter from FHWA.

 

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