Hi-viz "approved" colors
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Hi-viz "approved" colors
(Serious question - serious answers only please - at least initially. I know this question may invite ridicule at certain places. So feel free to start the ridicule, but only once a few serious and helpful answers have been given, and we're on page 2.)
Does anybody know if there's a list of "approved"/"recommended"/whatnot colors or designs for hi-viz vests, somewhere, for use at airfields?
(Reason I'm asking is we're organizing charity events at airfields where hi-viz is mandatory. We want the organizers to comply with the requirements to wear hi-viz, AND make the organizers stand out of the hi-viz wearing crowd for easy identification. So I guess the question really is: How do I make someone stand out in a crowd full of people wearing hi-viz clothing?)
Does anybody know if there's a list of "approved"/"recommended"/whatnot colors or designs for hi-viz vests, somewhere, for use at airfields?
(Reason I'm asking is we're organizing charity events at airfields where hi-viz is mandatory. We want the organizers to comply with the requirements to wear hi-viz, AND make the organizers stand out of the hi-viz wearing crowd for easy identification. So I guess the question really is: How do I make someone stand out in a crowd full of people wearing hi-viz clothing?)
IIRC there is a certain %age that has to be reflective in the UK.
[Note. If stopped for insufficient reflective material you just rip the bottom coupla inches of non reflective off!]
[Note. If stopped for insufficient reflective material you just rip the bottom coupla inches of non reflective off!]
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From memory there is a specification which I think I have seen in CAP 168 (Airfields). This is of course for the UK.
Apologies for not having the time or patience to dig out a link as you always seem to be able to do.
D.O.
Apologies for not having the time or patience to dig out a link as you always seem to be able to do.
D.O.
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Haha!
Two years ago I bought in Germany, a really nice hi vis winter jacket, Lots of useful pockets, very warm, and of course the lime green and reflective that European airport operators seem to like. The airports I frequent in Canada apparently could care less, in my experience.
I do like to wear it for my winter flying though, simply because both my planes are white, and if I end up in the snow somewhere, I would like to be visible myself (as well as warm).
I also wear it in my capacity as a volunteer firefighter, as (I presume) it meets the requirements for roadside visibility. The Chief says it's good enough for him.
The other night, I was flagging traffic for a roadside accident. There am I, with my super bright jacket, and super bright LED Lenser flashlight, and motorists were near running into me. After the call, one of our Captains came to me, and commented that several motorists complained that I was too difficult to see!
Therefore, I now refer to the super bright jacket as my "cloak of invisibility"...
Two years ago I bought in Germany, a really nice hi vis winter jacket, Lots of useful pockets, very warm, and of course the lime green and reflective that European airport operators seem to like. The airports I frequent in Canada apparently could care less, in my experience.
I do like to wear it for my winter flying though, simply because both my planes are white, and if I end up in the snow somewhere, I would like to be visible myself (as well as warm).
I also wear it in my capacity as a volunteer firefighter, as (I presume) it meets the requirements for roadside visibility. The Chief says it's good enough for him.
The other night, I was flagging traffic for a roadside accident. There am I, with my super bright jacket, and super bright LED Lenser flashlight, and motorists were near running into me. After the call, one of our Captains came to me, and commented that several motorists complained that I was too difficult to see!
Therefore, I now refer to the super bright jacket as my "cloak of invisibility"...
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Hello BackPacker
It is worth looking at local regulations about the requirements for wearing hi-viz clothing at airports. If you meet a jobs worth that insists that everybody must wear hi-viz then point out why do passengers not wear hi-viz when walking to an aircraft. To me a good and comprehensive brief is more important for protecting people from hazards.
It is worth looking at local regulations about the requirements for wearing hi-viz clothing at airports. If you meet a jobs worth that insists that everybody must wear hi-viz then point out why do passengers not wear hi-viz when walking to an aircraft. To me a good and comprehensive brief is more important for protecting people from hazards.
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In the EU its "class based"
Vehicles at work - High visibility clothing
Are there any standards which the clothing should meet?
HV clothing should be manufactured to a recognised standard. The new British Standard for high visibility warning clothing is BS EN 471. This is a harmonised European standard produced with the legal requirements for PPE in mind. Clothing which conforms to the standard is marked with a pictogram like this:
The first number (X) indicates the class of conspicuity, this depends on the minimum area of conspicuous materials that are incorporated into the clothing, with Class 3 being the best and Class 1 the lowest; the second number (Y) indicates the retroreflection performance with Class 2 being more visible than Class 1 when seen in headlights during darkness. The standard gives specifications for coveralls, jackets, waistcoats, tabards, trousers and harnesses.
From July 1995, new clothing must be 'CE' marked to show it meets the new European rules on the manufacture of PPE. Remember: the CE mark only means that the clothing meets the standard. It does not mean it can be used in all situations. HV clothing must be suitable for the actual conditions of use
Vehicles at work - High visibility clothing
Are there any standards which the clothing should meet?
HV clothing should be manufactured to a recognised standard. The new British Standard for high visibility warning clothing is BS EN 471. This is a harmonised European standard produced with the legal requirements for PPE in mind. Clothing which conforms to the standard is marked with a pictogram like this:
The first number (X) indicates the class of conspicuity, this depends on the minimum area of conspicuous materials that are incorporated into the clothing, with Class 3 being the best and Class 1 the lowest; the second number (Y) indicates the retroreflection performance with Class 2 being more visible than Class 1 when seen in headlights during darkness. The standard gives specifications for coveralls, jackets, waistcoats, tabards, trousers and harnesses.
From July 1995, new clothing must be 'CE' marked to show it meets the new European rules on the manufacture of PPE. Remember: the CE mark only means that the clothing meets the standard. It does not mean it can be used in all situations. HV clothing must be suitable for the actual conditions of use
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I don't think there are approved colours as such. However you can get vests with reflective strips on them which might work, although these don't meet the Hi-Viz standard:
Last edited by riverrock83; 4th Feb 2013 at 17:33. Reason: add link to image
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I'm wrong: The approved colours are:
Fluorescent Yellow
Fluorescent Orange-Red
Fluorescent Red
All of which have Chromaticity Coordinates (whatever those are...)
http://chpt.co.uk/BS_EN_471-2003.pdf
Anything else aren't standard.
Fluorescent Yellow
Fluorescent Orange-Red
Fluorescent Red
All of which have Chromaticity Coordinates (whatever those are...)
http://chpt.co.uk/BS_EN_471-2003.pdf
Anything else aren't standard.
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Backpacker - I'd probably ask your airfield what they mean by Hi-Viz jackets. If they need to meet a European Class then you're stuck with some sort of silly hat. However they may be happy with anything with a reflective stripe on them (lets ignore the fact you aren't doing it at night so they have no headlamps to reflect) so you can pick any colour you like (I'm impressed that some websites still call ones with black backgrounds Hi-vis jackets 
)
)
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At some airfields I see instructors and students, both dressed in bright hi-viz vests, flying in a french trainer type of aircraft, with the hi-viz colours reflecting all over the large plexiglass canopy. With the sun on the cockpit it must be difficult to see beyond the hi-viz glare.
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Okay, thanks for the information and the links, people. I think I have enough to come up with a proposal or not.
Turboprop, Riverrock, this charity operates over 15 events annually, each on a different airfield. A mix of controlled and uncontrolled, and airfields with and without the hi-viz requirement. Between 25 and 125 sick and handicapped children per event, plus their family. We're trying to find a solution that covers all situations.
Obviously the high-viz is not the only safety measure we have. The passenger brief is standard, there's a strict limitation on who is allowed airside, we have dedicated people who know the airside dangers and they are the only ones bringing passengers to and from aircraft, we have extra fencing to separate airside with landside, and so on and so forth.
In fact our safety measures are such that we are essentially writing the rulebook. We don't have to negotiate with each field, we just follow our own rules as they typically are better suited, more consistent and more uniformly adhered to than the airfield rules. And deliver higher safety.
----------------------------------------------------------------
So, let the ridicule of the hi-viz vests begin. Dirkdj and Purple Pitot have already started. Bonus points for the first to post that picture of the guy in the Freddy Mercury-style day glo swimsuit (or what is it?)
(Although with a name like Purple Pitot I think you've just disqualified yourself from ridiculing high-viz vests...
)
Turboprop, Riverrock, this charity operates over 15 events annually, each on a different airfield. A mix of controlled and uncontrolled, and airfields with and without the hi-viz requirement. Between 25 and 125 sick and handicapped children per event, plus their family. We're trying to find a solution that covers all situations.
Obviously the high-viz is not the only safety measure we have. The passenger brief is standard, there's a strict limitation on who is allowed airside, we have dedicated people who know the airside dangers and they are the only ones bringing passengers to and from aircraft, we have extra fencing to separate airside with landside, and so on and so forth.
In fact our safety measures are such that we are essentially writing the rulebook. We don't have to negotiate with each field, we just follow our own rules as they typically are better suited, more consistent and more uniformly adhered to than the airfield rules. And deliver higher safety.
----------------------------------------------------------------
So, let the ridicule of the hi-viz vests begin. Dirkdj and Purple Pitot have already started. Bonus points for the first to post that picture of the guy in the Freddy Mercury-style day glo swimsuit (or what is it?)
(Although with a name like Purple Pitot I think you've just disqualified yourself from ridiculing high-viz vests...
)
Last edited by BackPacker; 4th Feb 2013 at 21:03.
Some years ago just after we were made to wear the hi viz stuff...I was out on the line at an airfield 'somewhere in surrey' (without a hiviz vest on LOL)...I got called to the line hut to talk to ATC on the blower...They asked ''why you not wearing Hiviz ??''...I of course replied ''well you can obviously see me ok '' 
(from other side of rwy )...
Closely followed by another 'chat' with the boss
(from other side of rwy )...Closely followed by another 'chat' with the boss
