AS/NZS 4602.1:2011- Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes Part 4: High-visibility materials for safety garments

AS/NZS 1906.4:2010: High-visibility materials for safety garments

The AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 specifies high visibility safety garment requirements for people who may be exposed to high-risk situations. It defines the design of the garments, including the pattern options for the reflective tape, and the area for fluorescent materials.

 The garments specified in this standard are classified as:

(a) Class D— for daytime use.

(b) Class N— for night use utilizing retroreflected light.

(c) Class D/N— for day and night use.

 To comply with the AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 all outer fabrics used also need to adhere to AS/NZS 1906.4:2010 High-visibility materials for safety garments. The AS/NZS 1906.4:2010 standard specifies: test methods and the minimum luminance factor for retroreflective and fluorescent colour material (before and after washes).

AS/NZS 1020:1995: Methods of test for textiles Physical tests - Determination of resistance of fabrics to water penetration

Australian Standard AS/NZS 2001.2.18:1987 requires that fabrics, under set conditions, will
not permit water to pass through it over an 18 hour period.

EN343: Protective clothing - Protection against rain

EN 343 is a European Standard for protective clothing that outlines a minimum level of protection against wet weather, considering the whole garment construction, not only the fabrics.

Items are tested and classified into two categories. ‘X’ for precipitation, fog and humidity, and ‘Y’ for breathability in those specific conditions. They are then rated in different classes for each category:

(X) Water Penetration Resistance

1 - Minimum level of rain protection
2 - Intermediate rain protection
3 - High level of rain protection

(Y) Breathability

1 - Not classified as breathable under EN343
2 - Intermediate level of breathability
3 - High level of breathability

AS/NZS 1906.4:2010: High-visibility materials for safety garments

The AS/NZS 1020:1995 sets out the recommendations for controlling static electricity that may be generated incidentally by processes or activities you may have to perform, therefore protecting you from a potential shock. At the clothing apparel section, you will find suitable garments manufactured in 100% cotton, 50% cotton / 50% polyester blended, and 65% polyester / 35% viscose blended.

Most Workit garments are created from fabrics based on cotton, resulting in antistatic materials; however, always check the composition of the workwear!

AS/NZS 4399: 1999: Sun protective clothing - Evaluation and classification

The AS/NZS 4399:1999 defines the methodology to test fabric, and classifies how protective a fabric is against the ultraviolet radiation transmitted through it.

All Workit fabrics are rated 50+ UPF Sun Protection, the highest protection in the range defined by this standard. 

NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

This standard defines the guidelines for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. It addresses the electrical safety requirements for employees in the workplace, such as safe work practices and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), which includes arc rated clothing based upon the incident energy associated with the specific task. An arc flash heat can achieve high temperatures, so the standard's categories of hazard (rank 1 to 4) are directly related to the level of protection.
 

To define the level of protection that an FR fabric provides, the material needs to be tested following the ASTM F 1959 Standard. This test defines the ATPV (Arc thermal performance value) which indicates the level of protection provided by the FR fabric. The higher the number, the greater the protection.

ENA NENS 09-2014

This is a guideline for the selection and maintenance of PPE for electric arc hazards. While not a standard, this has been set up by The Energy Networks Association (ENA) to provide a comprehensive guide to minimum levels of PPE required to protect workers against electrical hazards in Australia.

NFPA 2112: Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire

This standard defines the guidelines for Flame Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire. It specifies the minimum performance requirements, test methods for flame-resistant fabrics and components, designs, and certification requirements.