High-visibility waistcoat: class, size and when it must be replaced

“I've got the gilet, it's in the car.” When I hear that, I already know where it has been for the last six months: on the back seat, in the sun, crushed. And when it comes out it's faded, with cracked bands. The hi-vis gilet is the simplest PPE there is, but that is exactly why it gets neglected.

What the class means

Hi-vis gilets follow EN ISO 20471, and the class is on the label. The higher it is, the more fluorescent fabric and retroreflective bands there are. A gilet on its own, by its design, covers only the torso: to reach a higher class it is usually combined with certified trousers or a certified jacket. Which class you need is dictated by the risk assessment for your job, not by taste: someone working on a road open to traffic has different requirements from someone moving around a yard.

One detail: the one-size gilet is fine for occasional use, for visitors and drivers. For anyone wearing it all day, the right size is needed.

Choose the size to fit over what you wear

The gilet goes over everything. If you buy it in summer to fit over a T-shirt, in January it won't fasten over a padded jacket, and an open gilet flaps about, snags and covers less. Buy it with winter in mind, with an adjustable fastening, and always fasten it: the bands must go all the way round the body, not stay at the sides.

When it needs replacing

High visibility wears out. The fluorescent colour fades with sun and washing, the bands crack, site dirt makes them dull. Look at the label: there is often a maximum number of washes beyond which performance is no longer guaranteed. If next to a new gilet yours looks like a different colour, it's time to replace it. And don't keep it in the car under the windscreen: the sun ages it in very little time.

Work gilets: a different product

In this collection you will also find gilets that are not PPE: light padded ones, softshell, multi-pocket, designed to keep the torso warm while leaving the arms free. For electricians, fitters, or anyone in a warehouse who goes from the cold of the yard to the warmth of the office, they are very convenient. But a navy blue padded gilet is not a high-visibility garment, even if it has a reflective insert. If you need both, there are certified padded models, or you wear the hi-vis gilet over the top.

I should also point out that the collection includes a pair of trousers, which has nothing to do with gilets: if you're interested, I'll point you to them separately.

What I need to know

Tell me where your people work (road, building site, yard, warehouse), whether a high-visibility class is required, how many gilets and in what sizes, bearing in mind what goes underneath in winter, and whether you prefer a padded or a light model. If you want your logo, tell me straight away: on some certified garments it can only be placed in certain areas.

We have these in store

A selection from the range we hold. If you can't find the size or model you need, just ask: what you see online is only part of what we can source for you.

Hi-vis gilet EN ISO 20471 orange one size VigorVigor DX4 softshell hi-vis gilet Portwest DX479Portwest Executive high-visibility gilet with tablet pocket Portwest C357Portwest Classic gilet Portwest S415Portwest Tool gilet Class 1 PW3 Portwest PW308Portwest Softshell gilet (3L) Portwest TK51Portwest

See the whole category: Work and Hi-Vis Vests