Updated ANSI 207 Public Safety Vest Standard Published
ISEA has published an updated standard for high-visibility public safety vests to enhance the protection to law enforcement and emergency responders. ( **10/27/2011)
*The *American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests(ANSI/ISEA 207-2011) is the authoritative document for the design, performance specifications, and use of high-visibility vests specifically worn by public safety employees including law enforcement, firefighters and incident command personnel.
The revised standard represents an update to the initial 2006 publication developed by ISEA’s High Visibility Products Group and was approved by key stakeholders representing municipal fire and police departments, testing laboratories, product suppliers and government agencies. Though the update does not change the well-established requirements for compliant vests with respect to materials used in their configuration, it does provide direction with respect to recognition of the wearer in terms of logos, lettering or other identification means.
“ISEA members are aware of the need for emergency personnel to be recognized during a situation where multiple responders may be present and where their identification is critical to mitigating the crisis at hand,” noted Jim Teigen, chairman of the ISEA High-Visibility Products Group and chief operating officer of OK-1 Manufacturing, Altus, Okla. ”The standard serves to meet the desires of the wearers through identification means on the vest, while ensuring that they are visible to vehicle operators at the same time.”
In addition, the update calls attention to the service-life guidelines for high-visibility apparel that have been established by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). “It is important that wearers understand that a public safety vest’s ongoing visibility properties can be influenced by environmental and use conditions,” stated Teigen. “For these reasons, they should become familiar with FHWA and manufacturers’ guidelines to ensure that they are wearing items that provide the necessary protection from a visibility standpoint.”
The 29-page American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests (ANSI/ISEA 207-2011) includes examples of apparel configurations known to meet the standard. The standard can be purchased from ISEA for $60 a copy; discounts are available on bulk orders. For more information, contact Cristine Z. Fargo, ISEA director of member and technical services.
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