344
Coverguard
®
Hi-Viz high visibility material types (EN 471:2003)
The background material, made in highly visible, fluorescent yellow, orange or red, owes its reflective properties to its ability
to emit light of a higher wavelength than that absorbed (making even some ultraviolet wavelengths visible) The fluorescent
colors are brighter than usual making the wearer more visible in daylight conditions. The proportion of luminescent,
background material on the garment should be at least 50% with the minimum area as indicated in the table.
The crystals within the retroreflective band material cause it to act like a reflector, resending light to its source and making
the wearer more visible in weak or poor light conditions. The bands encircle the body, are at least 50mm wide, are more
than 50mm from the hem of the garment and from each other, at an inclination of ± 20 degrees and of a minimum area as
indicated in the table.
Protective clothing can be divided into three different classes on the basis of the proportion of these two types of material
in them.
The minimum required area for high-visibility materials
Visibility levels
Class 3 (high)
Class 2 (intermediate)
Class 1 (low)
High visibility fluorescent
background material
0.80 m
2
0.50 m
2
0.14 m
2
Retroreflective material,
bands
0.20 m
2
0.13 m
2
0.10 m
2
Examples of Coverguard
®
Hi-Viz protective clothing
coats, jackets and
coveralls
waistcoats, t-shirts and
pullovers
pants, braces and caps
Background material
requirements
the minimum brightness for the respective colors at the angle measured
ß
min
= 0.70 (yellow), 040 (orange), 0.25 (red)
Retroreflective material
requirements
with an entrance angle (5°) and observation angle (12’) the retroreflectivity coefficient
after use R’ > 100 cd (lx.m
2
)
The pictogram on the high visibility clothing provides information as to the level of protection. The
first/upper number indicates the class of the background material and the second/lower number the
retroreflective material’s reflectivity level classification according to EU standard EN 471:2003.
Non-woven fabric protective coveralls
Non-woven fabrics are not made from thread but from randomly organized fibers bonded together by mechanical, chemical,
mechanical or heat treatment Three types of these are typically used in the manufacture of protective clothing:
SPP (Spunbond Polypropylene) protective coveralls are made using the “spunbond” process in which granules of the raw
material polymer are melted and spun into continuous fibers by high-pressure, air-blowing extruders, solidified by cooling
and strengthened and thinned by pressing.
SMS (Spunbond+Meltbown+Spunbond) protective coveralls are made using a hybrid “meltblown” technique containing
an extra process during which the fibers are heated to 250-500°C and injected with high-velocity air, stretching the polymer.
Both types are essentially polypropylene fabrics with all its associated benefits (low density and high durability, ease of use
and good chemical properties). For improved chemical resistance the coveralls may be coated with a micro porous film.
TYVEK
®
non-woven fabrics are registered products invented by DuPont
®
made from millions of continuous, fine fibers
extruded from high density polyethylene which are bonded by heat and pressure to form a fabric which is permeable to air
and water vapor but repels water-based liquids and sprays and impermeable to solid particles larger in size than one micron.
The tensile strength and protective properties of Tychem
®
C, with an extra polymer coating and Tychem
®
F with an extra
dual-polymer film coating are exceptionally high.
Non-woven fabric protective coveralls are limited-use; the manufacturer does not recommend washing them as this may
impact on their protective properties.
Resistance of protective clothing to penetration by liquid chemicals (EN ISO 6530:2005)
Performance levels
Liquid penetration index (P%)
Liquid repellant index (R%)
3
< 1%
> 95%
2
< 5%
> 90%
1
< 10%
> 80%
Resistance of protective clothing to permeation by liquid chemicals (EN ISO 6529:2005)
Performance levels
Transmission time
0
continuous
1
< 10 min
2
< 30 min
3
< 60 min
4
< 120 min
5
< 240 min
6
< 480 min
2
2
COVERGUARD
®
• SPECIAL CLOTHING
