ANSI 107 Explained

Header image: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District

Quick Answer

ANSI/ISEA 107 is the American National Standard for high-visibility safety apparel. It sorts garments into three Types by work environment (Type O off-road, Type R roadway, Type P public safety) and Performance Classes 1, 2, and 3 by how much visible material they carry. The current edition is ANSI/ISEA 107-2020, and federal roadway rules require Class 2 or 3.

What ANSI 107 Covers And Who Writes It

ANSI/ISEA 107 sets requirements for the materials, design, test procedures, labeling, and care instructions of high-visibility safety apparel (HVSA). It is developed by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and approved through the American National Standards Institute process. Like ANSI Z89.1 for helmets, it is a voluntary consensus standard that becomes mandatory when a regulation or contract points to it.

The standard has evolved since 1999. The Radians white paper on the 2020 revision traces the editions: 1999, 2004, 2010, 2015, and 2020. The 2015 edition merged the old public safety standard (ANSI/ISEA 207) into 107 and introduced the Type system. The 2020 edition is the current one. ISEA has opened public review on a proposed revision, so watch for a new edition, but until one is published, 107-2020 is the standard to buy to.

ANSI 107 Garment Types: O, R, And P

Type describes where the garment is meant to be worn:

• Type O (Off-road). For workers exposed to moving vehicles, equipment, and machinery, but not to traffic on public roads or in temporary traffic control (TTC) zones. Think warehouses, mining, oil and gas, and parking areas. Type O is available only as Performance Class 1.
• Type R (Roadway). For workers exposed to traffic on public rights-of-way, in roadway TTC zones, or to construction equipment inside a TTC zone. Road construction crews, municipal workers, and flaggers wear Type R. Available as Class 2 or Class 3.
• Type P (Public safety). For police, fire, EMS, and incident responders who face traffic but have competing needs, such as access to duty belts or special equipment. Available as Class 2 or Class 3.

ANSI 107 Performance Classes 1, 2, And 3

Performance Class describes how much background (fluorescent) material, retroreflective material, and combined-performance material a garment carries, and where:

• Class 1 provides the minimum amount of high-visibility material, for non-complex environments where struck-by hazards will not approach at roadway speeds.
• Class 2 adds more high-visibility material, which also lets designers define the human form more effectively. This is the most common roadway vest.
• Class 3 requires background, retroreflective, and combined-performance material on the sleeves and pant legs (if present), so the wearer is recognizable as a person through a full range of movement. A sleeveless garment or vest alone is never Class 3.

There is also Supplementary Class E for pants, bib overalls, shorts, and gaiters. Class E items cannot be worn alone to meet a requirement, but a Class E bottom worn with a Class 2 or Class 3 top makes the ensemble Class 3.

What Changed In ANSI/ISEA 107-2020

The 2020 revision was mostly about categorization and labeling, not protection. Radians notes that garments certified to 107-2015 still provide protection and visibility at least equal to 107-2020 garments, so existing inventory remains acceptable. The key 2020 updates:

• Criteria for high-visibility single-use disposable coveralls were added.
• The requirement for a contiguous horizontal band of background material was more clearly defined.
• Tear resistance and burst strength testing were aligned with other national standards, and an optional nighttime luminescence test was added.
• The maximum number of cleaning cycles moved from the care label to the instructions for use.
• Accessories such as hats, gloves, and armbands were removed from the standard.

That last change connects to helmets. When ISEA released ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 in September 2026, it renamed the helmet "HV" marking to "EV" (Enhanced Visibility), because helmets fall outside ANSI/ISEA 107.

How ANSI 107 Connects To OSHA And The MUTCD

The federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices requires workers in the right-of-way within a TTC zone to wear ANSI/ISEA 107 Performance Class 2 or 3 apparel. FHWA's current edition is the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025. OSHA's flagger standard, 29 CFR 1926.201, requires flagger warning garments to conform to Part 6 of the MUTCD, and 29 CFR 1926.651(d) requires high-visibility garments for excavation workers exposed to public traffic. See when high-visibility clothing is required for the full picture.

How To Read An ANSI 107 Garment Label

Every compliant garment carries a label. Look for:

• The standard designation, such as "ANSI/ISEA 107-2020" (2015 labels are still acceptable)
• The Type (O, R, or P) and Performance Class (1, 2, 3, or E)
• The manufacturer and size
• Care instructions, with the maximum number of cleaning cycles in the instructions for use
• Any flame-resistant (FR) claim, which must reference its own FR standard

Color matters too. Background material must be fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent orange-red, or fluorescent red. Pick the color that contrasts best with your site's background and meets your project spec.

ANSI 107 And Hi-Vis Key Statistics

• 2020: year of the current ANSI/ISEA 107 edition, the fifth since 1999 (Radians white paper, November 23, 2020).
• 3 Types, 3 Performance Classes plus Supplementary Class E (Radians).
• 38.2 percent of U.S. workplace deaths in 2024 were transportation incidents (BLS CFOI, February 19, 2026).
• 891 work zone traffic fatalities in 2022 (FHWA, FARS data as of April 2024).

ANSI 107 Type R Class 2 Safety Vests

Pyramex Type R Class 2. RVZ46B Series mesh vest | RCA27SE Series (ANSI and CSA) | RVHL50FR Series FR, ASTM F1506 / NFPA 70E | RVZF61 Series women's fit

Supplier lines: Pyramex, Radians hi-vis, and Kishigo.

Browse all safety vests

Related ANSI And Hi-Vis Resources

When is high-visibility clothing required?. OSHA and MUTCD rules.

When to replace a high-vis vest. Keeping garments compliant.

Understanding ANSI standards. How ANSI standards work across PPE.

Frequently Asked Questions About ANSI 107

Q: Are my 107-2015 vests still compliant?

A: Yes for most purposes. The 2020 changes were mainly labeling and categorization, and 2015 garments perform at least as well. Follow any contract that names a specific edition.

Q: Can a vest be Class 3?

A: No. Class 3 requires high-visibility material on sleeves. Pair a Class 2 vest with Class E pants, or wear a Class 3 shirt or jacket.

Q: Is yellow-green or orange better?

A: Both are allowed. Choose the color with the strongest contrast against your work environment and any color your agency specifies.

Q: Does an FR vest meet ANSI 107?

A: Only if it is labeled to ANSI/ISEA 107. Flame resistance is a separate claim tested to its own standard.

Spec ANSI 107 Hi-Vis Apparel With BDG Safety

BDG Safety helps crews and contracting officers turn ANSI 107 language into the right vest, shirt, or jacket for the job. Call (619) 992-7621 or email info@bulldoggroup.net. BDG Safety is a Navy-veteran-founded, certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that supplies Type II safety helmets and PPE to contractors, agencies, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Real people who know the gear, no phone menus. Open a B2B account or see how to buy.

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