Requirement

Class 1 Garments

Class 2 Garments

Class 3 Garments

Background Material minimum area

217-inches2 (0.14 m2)

775 inches2 (0.50 m2)

1240 inches2 (0.80 m2)

Retroreflective or combined performance - material used with background material

155 inches2 (0.10 m2)

201 inches2 (0.13 m2)

310 inches2 (0.20 m2)

Combined - performance material used without background material

310 inches2 (0.14 m2)

NA

NA

Minimum width of retro reflective bands

1 in (25mm) or 2 in (50mm) combined - performance material (without background material)

1.375 in (35mm)
 

2 in (50mm)

Minimum number of yards per retroreflective band width

4.3 yds of 1-inch (25mm) wide bands
3.1 yds of 1.375-inch (35mm) wide bands
2.15 yds of 2-inch (50mm) wide bands

4 yds of 1.375-inch (35mm) wide bands
2.8 yds of 2-inch (50mm) wide bands

4.3 yds of 2-inch (50mm) wide bands

Retroreflective Photometric Performance

(refer to ANSI 107-1999)
Level 2 (Table 5) or Level 1 (Table 6)

(refer to ANSI 107-1999) Level 2 (Table 5) or Level 1 (Table 6)

(refer to ANSI 107-1999) Level 2 (Table 5) or Level 1 (Table 6)

What the Classes Mean:

Class 1 garments are intended for use in activities that permit the wearer’s full and undivided attention to approaching traffic. There should be ample separation of the worker from traffic, which should be travelling no faster than 25 miles per hour.

Examples of workers who use Class 1 garments:

	Parking lot attendants
	People retrieving shopping carts from parking lots
	Workers exposed to warehouse equipment traffic
	Roadside "right of way" or sidewalk maintenance worker

Class 2 garments are intended for use in activities where greater visibility is necessary during inclement weather conditions or in work environments with risks that exceed those for Class 1. Garments in this class also cover workers who perform tasks that put them in close proximity to passing vehicles travelling at 25 miles per hour or higher.

Examples of workers who use Class 2 garments include:

	Forestry operations
	Ship cargo loading operations
	Roadway construction, utility and railway workers
	School crossing guards
	Delivery vehicle drivers
	High-volume parking and toll gate personnel
	Airport baggage handlers/ground crew
	Emergency response and law enforcement personnel
	Trash collection and recycling operations

Class 3 garments provide the highest level of visibility, and are intended for workers who face serious hazards and often have high task loads that require attention away from their work. Garments in this class also cover workers who perform tasks that put them in close proximity to passing vehicles travelling at 50 miles per hour or higher.

Examples of workers who use Class 3 garments include:

	Roadway construction personnel and flaggers
	Utility workers
	Survey crews
	Emergency response personnel

UPF Rating

All about Sun Protection Ratings

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. UPF is a measure of total ultraviolet radiation (UV) blocked, both UVA and UVB. Exposure to UV rays can cause not only sunburn, but also lasting skin damage, such as premature skin aging and skin cancer. Additionally, UV rays can also cause eye disorders, such as cataracts.

Testing

While sunscreen is a trusted precaution against sun-related illness, sun protective apparel offers an even more effective shield from harmful UV rays. Because some apparel is better at blocking more of these UV rays than others, a rating system was established (see history below) so that conscious consumers can more easily make purchases based on the amount of sun protection a garment provides.

For a garment to achieve a UPF rating, it must undergo a series of tests based on the standards set forth by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colourists (AATCC) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Within these tests, each garment is tested for its initial UV protection and then for the UV protection it offers after two years of consumer use (to achieve this evaluation, the garment is laundered 40 times and exposed to 100 fading units of UV radiation to simulate the wear and use of over a two-year period). The latter test determines the UPF rating for the product.

UPF rated garments often display a hangtag with the designated rating for that garment. The following chart offers an explanation of what these ratings mean:

History

In 1996, the Australian Radiation Agency developed a UPF rating system to proactively reduce the astounding percentage of Australians who were being diagnosed with skin cancer and other sun-related illnesses each year. This UPF rating system was then adopted and enhanced for the US by the American Association of Textiles, Chemists, and Colorists (AATCC; 2000) and ASTM International (ASTM; 2003) organizations. These Standards are the most stringent UV protection standards for fabrics in the world.

UVA rays are long rays that penetrate deep into the skin. UVA damages the skin causing wrinkling, sagging, and premature aging. It may also have a role in causing skin cancer.