Hi-vis workwear compliance is not static. Standards evolve, enforcement increases, and the consequences of non-compliance — for workers and employers — are serious. Here is what has changed in 2026 and what every B2B buyer of safety workwear needs to know.

EN ISO 20471:2013+A1:2016 — Still the Benchmark in Europe

The EN ISO 20471 standard remains the primary reference for high-visibility clothing in Europe. Class 1, 2, and 3 classifications are based on the minimum areas of background material and retroreflective tape. Class 3 provides the highest level of visibility and is required for workers on motorways and high-speed roads in most European jurisdictions.

What has changed is enforcement. Following several high-profile incidents involving non-compliant hi-vis garments, regulatory bodies in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands have increased market surveillance. Non-compliant products are being withdrawn from the market and suppliers are facing penalties.

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 — The North American Standard

In North America, ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 governs high-visibility safety apparel. The standard was updated in 2020 to include enhanced requirements for combined-performance garments and to align more closely with the ISO standard. Buyers sourcing for US and Canadian markets should ensure their suppliers are testing to the 2020 version, not the superseded 2015 standard.

The Certification Verification Problem

As noted in our certification article, the market for fraudulent EN ISO 20471 certificates is real. Buyers should request laboratory test reports — not just certificates — from accredited testing bodies. The test report will show the actual measured values for background material area, retroreflective tape area, and colour coordinates.

Washing Performance Requirements

A frequently overlooked aspect of hi-vis compliance is washing performance. EN ISO 20471 requires that garments maintain their performance characteristics after a specified number of wash cycles. Cheap hi-vis garments often fail washing performance tests even if they pass initial measurements. Request washing performance data from your supplier.

UNIWORKWEAR’s hi-vis range is tested to EN ISO 20471 Class 2 and Class 3 standards, with full laboratory test reports available. All garments are tested for washing performance to the required cycle counts.