How to Spot a Non-Conforming Hi-Visibility Garment
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
A practical guide to protecting your workforce
Thousands of non-compliant high-visibility garments are sold every year.
On the surface, they may look the part, some fluorescent colours, reflective tape, familiar designs, but beneath that, many fail to meet the requirements of ISO 20471.
The result is that workers are put at unnecessary risk.
So how can you tell if a garment is doing its job, or just pretending to?
Why this matters
High-visibility clothing isn’t a branding exercise. It’s a safety-critical product.
When a garment doesn’t conform:
Visibility is reduced
Detection distances are shorter
The human form becomes harder to recognise
And in environments with moving vehicles or machinery, that margin matters.
What to look out for
Here are some of the most common signs of a non-conforming garment:
1. Not enough fluorescent fabric
Fluorescent material is what makes the wearer visible in daylight.
If there isn’t enough of it:
The garment may not meet the minimum area required by ISO 20471
Daytime conspicuity is reduced
Watch for: Excessive use of contrast panels replacing fluorescent areas.
(Marketed as ISO 20471 class 3)
2. Not enough reflective tape
Reflective tape is critical in low light and darkness.
A common issue is insufficient tape coverage, especially on sleeves.
For example:
Full-length sleeves should always include two bands of reflective tape
If they don’t, visibility from certain angles is compromised.
(Marketed as ISO 20471 Class 3)
3. Too much contrast fabric or branding
Design features like:
Dark contrast panels
Large logos or badges
…will reduce the amount of compliant material on the garment.
If overused, they will push a product below the minimum requirements.
Marketed as conforming to ISO 20471
4. Reflective tape positioned too close together
ISO 20471 defines minimum spacing requirements between bands of tape.
If tape is too close:
It will not count as separate bands
The garment will fail compliance
This is a subtle one, but it matters.
5. Narrow reflective tape
Not all reflective tape conforms.
If the tape is less than 50mm wide:
It won’t meet the minimum width required by the standard
Overall reflective performance is reduced
Visually, this can be hard to spot, but it’s a common failure point.
6. Blocked out shoulder braces
As discussed in our Better with Braces article, shoulder braces are key to:
Defining the human form
Providing visibility from multiple angles
If braces are:
Interrupted
Covered by panels or branding
…they cannot be counted as a conforming component of the product at all.
7. No encircling background material
High-visibility garments should provide 360° visibility.
If the fluorescent background material:
Doesn’t wrap fully around the body
Is heavily broken up by contrast panels
…then visibility from certain angles is reduced.
A simple rule: If in doubt, question it
If you’re unsure whether a garment conforms:
Ask your supplier for an ISO 20471 test certificate for the whole garment
Not just:
The fabric
The reflective tape
But the finished product as a whole.
Because compliance is assessed on the garment, not its individual components.
Why who you buy from matters
At Leo Workwear, we’ve spent over 45 years specialising in high-visibility clothing.
We are also members of the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) and hold Registered Safety Supplier status.
This means we have signed a binding declaration that:
Our products meet the appropriate standards
They fully comply with PPE regulations
They are correctly UKCA/CE marked
In a market where non-compliant products are widely available, that level of accountability matters.
Final thought
Thousands of non-compliant garments are still being sold every year.
Why risk accidents by buying from businesses that don’t understand safety?
Work with a company that is dedicated, that cares, and has the knowledge and experience to get it right, because when it comes to protecting your workforce, there’s no room for compromise.
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