EN ISO 20471, Classes & UK Regulations

What is EN ISO 20471?

EN ISO 20471 is the current UK and international standard for high-visibility safety clothing. It specifies the minimum amount of fluorescent background material and retroreflective tape a garment must have to make the wearer clearly visible in hazardous environments. It replaced the older EN 471 standard. Every piece of hi vis workwear at Toro Activa is certified to EN ISO 20471.

What is the difference between Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 hi vis?

The classes are based on the total area of fluorescent fabric and reflective tape on the garment. Class 1 provides the lowest level of visibility and is suitable for low-risk environments. Class 2 covers the torso with fluorescent material and has reflective tape around the body and over the shoulders — this is the minimum required on most UK construction sites and warehouses. Class 3 extends reflective tape to the sleeves for 360-degree visibility and is typically required for highway, roadside and rail-adjacent work. Read our full Class 1 vs Class 2 vs Class 3 guide for the complete breakdown.

Is hi vis workwear a legal requirement in the UK?

There is no single law that says every worker must wear hi-vis. Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (amended 2022), employers must carry out a risk assessment. If that assessment identifies that workers need to be visible to reduce the risk of injury from vehicles, machinery, poor lighting or adverse weather, then the employer must provide suitable high-visibility clothing free of charge. In practice, most UK construction sites, warehouses, logistics operations and roadside environments require hi-vis as standard.

Who is responsible for providing hi vis workwear — the employer or the worker?

If a risk assessment identifies the need for hi-vis clothing, the employer must provide it at no cost to the employee. Self-employed workers are responsible for sourcing their own compliant PPE. Employees are responsible for wearing it correctly and reporting any damage or fading that could affect compliance.

What is combined classification?

Combined classification means wearing two separately certified garments together — such as a Class 2 hi-vis hoodie with Class 2 hi-vis trousers — to achieve a higher overall class (typically Class 3). This is a recognised route to compliance, not a loophole. However, the specific fluorescent area and tape coverage of each piece must add up to meet the Class 3 minimums. Always check the product pages for the individual garments rather than assuming any two Class 2 pieces automatically combine to Class 3.

What is RIS-3279-TOM?

RIS-3279-TOM is the Railway Industry Standard for high-visibility clothing used in rail environments. It sets additional requirements beyond EN ISO 20471, including mandatory orange colourways (yellow is not permitted for rail work). If you work in or near a rail environment, check with your employer whether RIS-3279-TOM compliance is required in addition to EN ISO 20471.

Yellow, Orange, Pink & Black Hi-Vis

Should I choose yellow or orange hi vis workwear?

Yellow is the standard for most UK construction sites, warehouses, logistics depots and facilities management environments. Orange is typically specified for highway maintenance, roadside work, utilities and rail-adjacent environments — it stands out more clearly against yellow road markings. Check your site PPE requirements for the specified colour before ordering.

Is pink hi vis workwear compliant?

Pink hi-vis garments with retroreflective tape provide genuine visibility in both daylight and low-light conditions. However, only yellow, orange and red are the approved fluorescent colours under EN ISO 20471. Whether pink is accepted on your site depends on your site-specific PPE policy — some contractors accept any garment with reflective tape and fluorescent fabric, while others specify yellow or orange only. Pink is popular for charity events, fundraising and volunteering where formal EN ISO 20471 compliance is not required.

Is black hi vis workwear a real thing?

Yes. Black hi-vis garments use fluorescent colour panels and retroreflective tape on a black base fabric. The black areas do not contribute to the fluorescent background material area measured for EN ISO 20471 classification, so the fluorescent panels must be large enough on their own to meet the standard. Black hi-vis is practical for roles where fully fluorescent garments pick up visible dirt quickly.

Which Hi-Vis Garment Do You Need?

What hi vis workwear do you stock?

We stock hi-vis hoodies and sweatshirts, hi-vis tracksuits, hi-vis polo shirts (short and long sleeve), hi-vis workwear shirts, hi-vis shorts, hi-vis trousers, hi-vis jumpsuits and onesies, and hi-vis rainsuits. All EN ISO 20471 certified. Available for men, women and kids.

What is the difference between a hi vis hoodie and a hi vis sweatshirt?

A hi vis hoodie has an attached hood with a drawcord. A hi vis sweatshirt is a crew-neck design with no hood. Both carry fluorescent fabric and retroreflective tape and both can achieve EN ISO 20471 compliance. Hoodies suit exposed outdoor sites in cold or windy conditions. Sweatshirts are preferred in warehouses, depots and covered environments where a hood creates a snag risk on racking or conveyor systems.

When should I choose a hi vis polo shirt instead of a hoodie?

Hi vis polo shirts are the right choice for warmer months, indoor warehouse work, and client-facing site roles where a smart collar and button placket give a more professional appearance. They are lighter and more breathable than a fleece hoodie, making them practical from April through September. For colder months, switch to a hi-vis hoodie or layer a polo under a hi-vis jacket.

Why buy a hi vis tracksuit instead of separate top and trousers?

A hi vis tracksuit gives you matched top and bottom coverage in one purchase — the fluorescent fabric matches shade for shade, the reflective tape lines up at the waist, and the fabric weight is consistent. Sets are often better value than buying two separate garments individually. They are particularly practical for early-morning cold starts, groundwork and kneeling tasks, and teams wanting a uniform coordinated appearance on site.

Do you stock hi vis workwear for women?

Yes. Our womens hi vis workwear is cut to womens proportions — narrower shoulders, shaped through the chest, shorter torso and adjusted sleeve length. This keeps the reflective tape in the correct EN ISO 20471 positions during physical work, unlike unisex garments which are typically scaled-down mens patterns.

Do you stock hi vis workwear for kids?

Yes. Our kids hi vis workwear range covers ages 7 to 13 in six colourways. Sizes are made specifically for children rather than scaled-down adult garments. Popular for farm work, school work experience, outdoor events, volunteering and family businesses on construction and landscaping sites.

Washing, Drying & Replacing Hi-Vis

How do I wash hi vis workwear?

Machine wash at 40°C maximum. Use a non-biological detergent without optical brighteners — brightening agents found in many household detergents interfere with fluorescent dyes and reduce visibility over time. Do not tumble dry. Air dry on a hanger or flat. Avoid fabric softener, which coats fibres and dulls both the fluorescent brightness and reflective tape adhesion. Full detail in our guide to washing hi-vis clothing.

How long does hi vis workwear last?

With proper care, our hi vis workwear holds its fluorescent brightness and tape performance through 50-plus wash cycles. In practice, lifespan depends on how often the garment is worn and washed, the working environment, and whether it is exposed to UV light between shifts. Heavy daily use typically means replacement every 6 to 12 months. Lighter use can extend this to 12 to 18 months.

When should I replace my hi vis workwear?

Replace hi vis workwear when the fluorescent colour has visibly faded, the reflective tape has cracked, peeled or lifted at the edges, the garment is torn or heavily soiled in a way that reduces the visible fluorescent area, or the garment no longer fits correctly (causing the tape to shift out of position during movement). A faded or damaged hi-vis garment may no longer meet EN ISO 20471 requirements even if it still looks bright to the naked eye.

What is the difference between sewn and heat-bonded reflective tape?

Sewn tape is stitched directly onto the fabric. Heat-bonded tape is glued on using heat and pressure. Sewn tape stays anchored through repeated wash cycles and is far more durable for daily-use workwear. Heat-bonded tape is cheaper to apply but lifts at the edges after a relatively small number of washes, eventually peeling off or catching on tools and equipment. All Toro Activa hi vis workwear uses sewn tape.

Sizes, Fit & Team Ordering

What sizes do you stock?

Our mens hi vis workwear covers sizes Small through to 6XL across the range. Womens hi vis is sized to womens proportions. Kids hi vis covers ages 7 to 13. Exact size availability varies by product — check individual product pages for sizes currently in stock.

Can I order hi vis workwear for a full team?

Yes. If you are kitting out a team across multiple sizes and product types, contact us before placing your order. We can confirm stock availability across all the sizes you need and coordinate delivery to a single site or multiple UK locations.

Does fit affect compliance?

Yes. EN ISO 20471 specifies minimum areas and placement positions for fluorescent fabric and reflective tape. When a garment is too large or too small, the tape shifts during physical movement and can fall outside the zones the standard requires. A correctly-fitting garment keeps the tape where it needs to be. This is why we stock womens-specific and kids-specific sizing rather than relying on unisex scaling.

Delivery, Returns & Payment

How much does delivery cost?

Standard UK delivery is free on all orders over £50. For orders under £50, delivery is £5.99. Next-day delivery is available to all UK mainland postcodes for £7.99. Orders are dispatched from our warehouse in Manchester Monday to Friday. See our delivery policy for full details.

How fast will my order arrive?

Standard delivery takes 3 to 5 business days. Next-day delivery is available on orders placed before 2pm Monday to Friday. We deliver to all UK postcodes including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What is your returns policy?

We offer 30-day returns on all orders. Items must be unused and in their original condition. See our return and exchange policy for full details on how to return an item.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express and Apple Pay. All transactions are processed securely through Shopify Payments. See our payment information page for full details.

How do I contact Toro Activa?

Email us at Support@toroactiva.com or visit our contact page. We are based at 18 Sadler Street, Middleton, Manchester, M24 5UJ. Our operating hours are Sunday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.