The current high visibility standard EN 471:2003 + A1: 2007 (High visibility warning clothing for professional use – Test methods and requirements) is going to be modified by means of the variation of design and materials requirements. These changes and the whole methods and requirements are detailed within EN ISO 20471.
From the final draft of this new standard, it is detailed as one of the main differences between both standards, regarding background material characterization, the chromaticity coordinates and the luminance factor after a higher number of ageing.
Besides these coordinates on original fabric and on after its exposure to ultraviolet radiation on Xenon, the evaluation of coordinates and luminance factor should be measure after at least 5 washing cycles.
| REQUIREMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| PARAMETER | EN 471 | pr EN ISO 20471 |
|
Complying with chromaticity coordinates |
On original |
On original After Xenon After 5 washing cycles |
| Fastness to perspiration |
4 |
4 |
| Tensile strength (N) | 400 | 100 |
| Bursting strength (kPa) | 800 | 100 |
Besides these changes on background materials, other parameters modified are: tensile strength and tear resistance (in case of coated fabrics and laminates) will be evaluated only on the outer layer and the requirements will be 100N and 20N respectively.
There is a new requirement, in the high visibility standard, the water vapour permeability index (not present on EN 471). If the water vapour resistance is higher than 5m2Pa/W, thermal resistance has to be evaluated and water vapour permeability index shall be at least 0,15.
