Workwear is more than just something to be worn. It plays a vital role in protecting the health and safety of wearers, providing crucial protection and visibility.
That’s why compromising on quality isn’t an option — and why certifications are essential. To be certified, clothes go through a thorough, multi-step process, with materials passing strict quality requirements.
If you need more information about our clothing standards, our sales team will be happy to help.
Our products adhere to the following safety and quality benchmarks:
1. Fabric certification
The international standard EN ISO 20471 establishes clear criteria for high-visibility workwear intended for employees working in high-risk environments. Fabric certification by the supplier is the first step, with the material passing the EN standard.
2. Contrast color test
Some high-visibility clothing includes darker sections where dirt is more likely to build up, such as laps and sleeves. These darker colours resist grime better than the bright fluorescent material and help to extend the life of a garment. However, there are strict rules about colour bleeding between reflective strips and the fluorescent contrast material.
3. Product design
To be certified, a garment must include a specific amount of reflective or fluorescent/high visibility fabric in set places. For example, there must be the same amount of reflective fabric on the front and back (with a 10% margin of difference). There are different regulations for different types of garments, all of which require deep knowledge and attention to detail to meet certification standards.
4. Garment certification
The garment is type-checked by independent SGS Fimko Ltd, which issues a certificate (notified body no. 0598).
5. Production
There are three categories of high-visible standards; High-Vis Class 1 (lowest level of visibility), High-Vis Class 2 (intermediate level), and High-Vis Class 3 (highest level).
The second class is the most common class required. Dimex’s shirts and other upper-body garments usually have second-class visibility, and our trousers and shorts have first-class visibility. Combined, our full workwear outfits offer High-Vis Class 3.
To ensure garments maintain their protective and visibility qualities, certificates also indicate the maximum number of washing times before these properties decrease.
However, common sense should always be followed — for example, if the reflective surface is permanently stained, then the product will no longer comply with the certificate, even if there are washing times left.
In demanding environments where safety is paramount, protective clothing plays a pivotal role in safeguarding individuals from the hazards of heat and flame.
Our products meet various heat and fire standards, with fire protection rendering fabric self-extinguishing and enabling it to suppress sparks. It’s important to note that this doesn’t guarantee complete non-combustibility. Holes or discolouration can still appear in a fire-resistant fabric.
Fire protection can be achieved through three methods: post-treatment, fabric absorption, or inherent technology. Post-treatment involves chemical finishing, such as applying a fire-resistant liquid. This method means that the fire protection qualities are less durable and can fade with washing.
That’s why we use fabric absorption and inherent technology to embed fire protection within the fibre itself. With these techniques, fire protection remains integral — always — no matter how many times your garment is washed.
