ANSI hi-vis classes and where your logo can go
A Safety Green cotton tee is bright. It is not hi-vis. If your crew works near traffic or equipment, the shirt has to meet ANSI/ISEA 107, and where you put the logo matters. Battle Born Clothing decorates Class 2 and Class 3 garments and places the logo so the rating survives.
The three classes
| Class | Background material (min.) | Reflective tape (min.) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 217 sq in | 155 sq in | Parking lots, warehouses, low-speed traffic under 25 mph |
| Class 2 | 775 sq in | 201 sq in | Road crews, utilities, surveyors, sites near traffic over 25 mph |
| Class 3 | 1,240 sq in | 310 sq in | Highway work, night work, flaggers, high-speed traffic |
Class 2 is the most common requirement for trade crews. A Class 2 tee like the CornerStone CS401 has 2-inch tape around the torso and over the shoulders. Class 3 requires sleeves with tape, so it is a long-sleeve shirt or a jacket. Class 1 is rarely specified anymore.
Bright is not hi-vis
A Port & Company PC61 in Safety Green has no reflective tape and is not certified to any class. It is fine for a landscaping crew that wants to be seen in a yard. It does not satisfy a GC, DOT or utility that specifies ANSI Class 2. Ask the site what it requires before you order.
Where the logo can go
- Left chest, above the pocket: a 3-4 inch logo fits between the pocket and the horizontal tape on most Class 2 tees.
- Upper back, above the tape: company name, 8-10 inches wide, one color.
- Not over the tape. Covering reflective material reduces the certified area. We will not do it.
- Keep the logo small. Large prints on the background material can also reduce the certified area. We keep logos within the sizes above.
- Dark ink only, usually. Black prints cleanly on safety yellow and safety orange. Light inks need an underbase and are quoted per job.
Class E and vests
Class E covers pants and shorts with reflective tape; worn with a Class 2 top it makes a Class 3 ensemble. Most crews get to Class 3 with a vest over a long-sleeve shirt rather than a dedicated Class 3 shirt. A printed vest is a common add: the logo goes on the back above the tape or on the left chest. Vests are quoted per job like every other ANSI garment.
Who requires what
| Situation | Usual requirement |
|---|---|
| Federal-aid highway right-of-way (FHWA rule) | Class 2 minimum; Class 3 at night |
| Utility and telecom work near roads | Class 2 |
| Commercial jobsite with site-wide hi-vis policy | Class 2 tee or vest |
| Landscaping and yard work, no traffic | No class required; bright tee is fine |
| Delivery and warehouse yard with forklifts | Class 1 or 2 by employer policy |
Embroidery on hi-vis
Works on the left chest. We use a light backing and keep the stitch count modest so the polyester mesh does not pucker. Same placement rules apply.
Pricing
Hi-vis garments are quoted per job; we do not list a blank price for ANSI shirts. The decoration rate is the published one: one-color print per the screen print schedule or left-chest embroidery per the embroidery schedule.
The longer guide
Battle Born Clothing keeps a detailed hi-vis compliance guide with photos on the main site: https://battlebornclothing.com/blogs/custom-apparel-guides-screen-printing-embroidery-dtf-tips/ansi-hi-vis-classes-logo-compliance. The hi-vis product page is at https://battlebornclothing.com/pages/custom-hi-vis-safety-shirts-nevada.
Questions
Which class does my crew need?
Ask the GC, DOT or site safety officer. Most contractors near traffic are told Class 2; highway and night work is Class 3.
Does adding a logo void the ANSI rating?
Not if it is placed on the background material clear of the tape and kept small. Printing over the tape does.
Can I get hi-vis polos instead of tees?
Yes. Class 2 polos exist in the CornerStone line. Quoted per job.