Reflective fabric found in high visibility clothing

Reflective Material in History Reflective tape was introduced to professional works back in the late 1960's and 1970's where it was sewn on vests to create reflective vests. As the population began to increase in both rural towns and metropolitan areas, regulators concentrated on creating mandates for reflective vest use to help decrease injuries and the potential for death in environments with visibility problems. The United States alone has many regulations on both the federal and state level that requires workers in certain professions to wear vests that are graded by specific measurements before allowing them to work on federal and state funded highways. Types of Vests using Reflective Material The sleeveless vest worn over clothing is perhaps the most common type of vest that uses reflective material. The reflective materials can be found and displayed on many areas of the vest such as over the shoulders and around the torso to provide 360 degrees of visibility. The amount of fabric can be increased so there is more room to sew on more reflective tape to increase the visibility at greater distances. In high traffic situations, the additional reflective material is required in addition to the class 3 vest. Reflective safety vests are generally manufactured using a fluorescent backing material that is a mesh blend of polyester and nylon. Over the backing material, sew on reflective tape made from PVC with either glass bead or microprism technology is strategically placed to optimize visibility. The fluorescent material is designed to enhance daytime visibility, as it can't be seen in low-light or dark conditions. The retroreflective tape handles reflecting light back to the source for low light conditions. This design ensures that workers stay safe and visible no matter the condition or time of day. Classifications of Reflective Materials In order to classify reflective vests for professional use, ANSI standards dictate how much reflective material, by the yard, must be used in order to meet requirements for Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 safety vests. Class 1 offers the least protection while Class 3 offers the most visibility and is required for professions such as highway construction workers and road crews, law enforcement and rescue personnel working around high-speed traffic. There are no regulations in place for recreational or personal clothing that uses reflective materials.