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DOT Striped Safety Vests

ANSI Class 2 Safety Vests and ANSI Class 3 Safety Vests

In order to receive a rating of a class 2 or class 3 safety apparel, it must achieve preset requirements set by the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI. These requirements include the amount of necessary reflective material, the amount of background material, and whether or not the garment has sleeves.

Safety classifications were designed to help regulate the required apparel needed by state workers. ANSI clothing is necessary in areas of high speed traffic and when workers are near heavy machinery. If you are purchasing one for yourself personally, there is no law requiring you to wear a certain class. It is always a good idea, however, to consider purchasing one with a rating of class 2 or class 3, as it will provide more visibility than one with an economy rating.

ANSI Class 2 Safety Vests

This reflective clothing is required for workers who are near heavy machinery or near traffic between the speeds of 25-50 mph. ANSI designates that all class 2 garments must have 201 square inches of retro-reflective material, with 1.375 inch reflective striping. They must also have 775 square inches of background material and are sleeveless.

ANSI Class 3 Safety Vests

This reflective clothing gives the user higher visibility than that of class 2. They have sleeves, 310 square inches of reflective material with 2 inch striping, and 1240 square inches of background material. Those rated Class 3 are required for workers near traffic in excess of 50 mph.

Economy Class Safety Vests

Some companies use this term economy to denote a vest as cheap or inexpensive, while some others use the term to describe one that does not meet the ANSI requirements of a class 2 or class 3 vest. It is important to check the description for clarification.