by Brianna Crandall — January 29, 2016—BSI, the U.K.-based business standards company, recently published PAS 10412, Intelligent clothing — LED active high visibility clothing — Specification, sponsored by the Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI).
When workers operate in areas where there is no light, they must be visible to each other and their environment. In the absence of light, high-visibility clothing may not be seen, or available light may not be sufficient to reflect or charge the luminescent parts of the clothing, says BSI. In this instance the use of active lighting such as LED (light-emitting diode) technology is essential; however, BSI says currently there is no existing specification to standardize the quality of LED technology that is used in conjunction with high-visibility workwear.
PAS 10412 standardizes the quality of LED technology used in conjunction with high-visibility clothing for construction, security, maintenance, etc.
PAS 10412 was developed using a consensus-based approach with international stakeholders from academia and the textiles, lighting, PPE (personal protective equipment), high-visibility clothing and safety wear industries. The Taiwan Textile Research Institute was particularly concerned for the safety of Taiwan’s traffic police, and it has been recognized that such a specification would be of global benefit to others in a similar role.
Anne Hayes, head of market development for Governance and Risk at BSI, commented:
The workplace is not the only environment in which individuals should be kept safe. Anybody who is operating in dim or dark situations where they might face a hazard should feel confident that the clothing they are wearing will make them visible. Having a specification that shows that the LED technology in high visibility clothing is working and meets standard requirements goes a long way towards building confidence.
PAS 10412 is therefore relevant to construction, security, maintenance, rescue teams, cyclists or any individuals who need to be outside at night and for whom high-visibility clothing could be useful.
What PAS 10412 covers:
- Requirements for high-visibility clothing conforming to EN ISO 20471 incorporating active lighting via LEDs;
- LED modules that are permanently attached to high-visibility clothing;
- LED lighting fixtures with a removable battery-controller set and LEDs measuring between 2 mm and 20 mm in diameter;
- Clothing designed for temperatures falling between -30°C and 50°C that is applicable to use in professional or civil situations; and
- Requirements for the luminous intensity of the LED lighting fixture.
Annex A covers requirements for test specimens and test conditions. Annex B covers a test method for an LED lighting fixture photometric measurement.
What PAS 10412 does not cover:
- Requirements of the wiring, e.g. electrically conductive material that is woven into the fabric itself, or fabric made of electrically conductive material;
- LED active high-visibility clothing designed for use in fire-fighting, or for protecting against chemical, bio-nuclear, or radioactive situations;
- The placement or configuration of LED lighting sets on high-visibility clothing; or
- Other active lighting technologies attached to high-visibility clothing that are not LED-based.
