According to the new EN ISO 20471 standard, there are three classes of high-visibility clothing, which differ from each other according to the level of protection they provide to the user:
Class 1 garments are those that provide the minimum level of protection required for those who work on private roads or who use them in conjunction with garments of higher level of protection. According to the existing regulation, this type of garments must incorporate a minimum of 0.142 m² of background material and 0.10 m² of retroreflective material.
Class 2 garments provide an intermediate level of protection. This level is required for people working on or near regional and local roads, and also delivery vehicle drivers. It must incorporate a minimum of 0.50 m² of background material and 0.13 m² of retroreflective material.
Class 3 garments are those that provide the highest level of protection. The use of garments of this type is mandatory for people working on two-way roads or motorways, or at or near airports. They must incorporate a minimum of 0.82 m² of background material and 0.20 m² of retroreflective material.