Technical article: High-visibility clothing (HiVis) – standards, pitfalls and best practices from real-world experience

Why is tested high-visibility clothing so important?

Safety, visibility and reliability are the cornerstones of all professional workwear. High-visibility clothing is required by law, particularly in transport, construction, logistics and service industries, and is crucial for the safety of every individual.

In practice, however, it has been shown time and again that many products meet the formal requirements but lose their protective effect after only a short period of use. Recent tests of children's high-visibility vests (ÖAMTC/ADAC) highlighted the problem – more than half of the models tested did not achieve the required reflection values.

For professional applications, therefore, only certified, tested and durable materials guarantee genuine protection throughout their entire life cycle.

What makes Ötscher workwear different when it comes to high-visibility clothing?

As an Austrian manufacturer with almost 80 years of experience, we know that high-visibility clothing is more than just bright colours. Our HiVis models are manufactured in accordance with EN ISO 20471 and meet all requirements for material, surface area and reflectivity. We develop clothing that is designed for heavy use, hot washing and drying processes, and durability – a must in industrial applications.

What is the difference between EN ISO 20471 and EN 17353?

EN ISO 20471 is the standard for high-risk workplaces – e.g. in road traffic, on construction sites or in railway areas. It defines three classes depending on the visible area of the fluorescent material and the reflective strips:

· Class 1: Basic visibility – for internal use, for example

· Class 2: Increased visibility in road traffic

· Class 3: Maximum visibility when working in flowing traffic or in poor visibility conditions

EN 17353, on the other hand, applies to medium-risk activities. It is not mandatory, but offers design freedom: fluorescent colours and reflective elements can be used specifically as design or CI elements.

Many companies use this option to combine corporate identity and visibility – for example, on trousers, softshell jackets or waistcoats. At Ötscher, such models can be produced in small quantities – with warehousing on request.

Why is choosing the right material crucial?

Fabrics with ‘long HiVis’ properties retain their luminosity even after many washes. This is ensured by UV stability, colour fastness and dirt repellency. Many of the fabrics used are tested for industrial washability in accordance with ISO 15797 – an essential aspect for rental and leasing laundry.

We also use high-quality, industrial washable materials for the reflective strips, which retain their reflective performance over 50 to 100 wash cycles.

The HiVis fabric is available in 10 different colours.

What happens if reflective strips are damaged?

Reflective elements are safety-relevant – and should not simply be removed if damaged, but replaced professionally. Ötscher offers a repair service for this purpose, in which reflective strips or worn areas are replaced with tested materials. This ensures that the clothing remains compliant with standards and fit for use, instead of having to be replaced prematurely – contributing to sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

What role does finishing play?

When it comes to finishing – for example, with logos, prints or embroidery – the location where these are applied is crucial. If fluorescent or reflective areas are covered too heavily, compliance with standards may be lost.

For existing items, the positioning should therefore be checked before finishing. In new product developments, Ötscher takes this into account as early as the design phase – so that CI elements, colours and safety zones are perfectly coordinated.

How does Ötscher support companies in implementation?

We accompany our customers from planning to long-term use:

· Coordination with relevant standards and requirements

· Design development with a focus on standard-compliant surfaces and functional details

· Test reports and certificates for tenders

· Repair service and spare parts maintenance

· CI collections from small quantities with warehousing

This ensures that every garment not only looks good, but also meets practical and normative requirements.

Conclusion

Visibility cannot be taken for granted – it is the result of material quality, standard-compliant design and experience. Ötscher-Berufskleidung stands for sustainable, durable and tested HiVis clothing that makes professionals reliably visible – day and night, at work and in the wash.

EN 17353 also opens up the possibility of intelligently combining safety and brand image – an approach that makes modern workwear fit for the future.