How to design your hi-vis vest
- Determine the class — Class 1, 2 or 3 depending on use case (details below)
- Choose the model — Korntex KX200 (Class 2 standard), Result Safe-Guard, Regatta Pro Hi-Vis. Colours fluorescent yellow, fluorescent orange. Sizes S–4XL.
- Upload logo or design text — chest left or right; back print with company name or function (max size, see FAQ)
- Choose technique — screen printing (for reflector-preserving standard compliance from 25 pieces) or transfer printing (small runs 10–25 pieces)
- Specify quantity — from 10 pieces standard, from 25 pieces 10% volume discount
- Order and have it finished — file check, print release, batch certificate issuance, production. 5–8 working days DE.
Which hi-vis class for which use case?
EN ISO 20471 defines three classes of high-visibility clothing, by visibility requirement and risk area. The choice is normatively prescribed.
- Class 1 — lowest visibility. Minimum background area 0.14 m², reflector strips 0.10 m². Use: warehouse logistics in halls, enclosed industrial areas, school bus accompaniment in 30 km/h zones, recycling-yard visitors.
- Class 2 — medium visibility. Minimum background area 0.50 m², reflector strips 0.13 m². Use: public roads in daytime (civil engineering, landscaping, road service daytime, delivery services in city centres, event traffic management day).
- Class 3 — highest visibility. Minimum background area 0.80 m², reflector strips 0.20 m². Use: motorway and expressway, night work, breakdown service, bridge construction, rail construction, fire brigade and THW operations. Often combined (vest + trousers or jacket).
For branch-specific classification with brand recommendations and range advice, see our Hi-Vis Workwear sub-page in the construction-and-industry hub. For outdoor workwear beyond vest class, see Print workwear.
Does EN ISO 20471 compliance survive logo printing?
Yes — if you position the logo correctly and respect the maximum logo size. The standard requires a minimum area of background colour (fluorescent yellow or orange) and a minimum area of reflector strips. Both must be preserved.
Rule of thumb for standard-compliant logo on Class-2 hi-vis vest:
- Maximum logo size chest left: 7 × 5 cm
- Maximum logo size chest right (function lettering): 7 × 5 cm
- Maximum logo size back: 20 × 12 cm (between the reflector strips)
- Minimum distance to reflector strips: 2 cm
- Minimum distance to seam edge: 3 cm
With correct logo positioning, the minimum background area (0.50 m² for Class 2) and reflector minimum area are preserved. We check this before print release and issue a batch certificate PDF that you can present as proof in BG inspections.
What violates the standard:
- Logo printed over the reflector strips (destroys reflector function)
- Logo too large so that the minimum background area falls below 0.50 m²
- Coloured/dark colours instead of prescribed fluorescent yellow/orange
- Print area on movement-relevant points (armpits, shoulder points)
Which finishing technique suits hi-vis vests?
- Screen printing — first recommendation for hi-vis vests. Reflector-friendly because no heat-press needed. Plastisol print durable, withstands industrial washing. Economical from 25 pieces.
- Transfer printing — economical for small runs (10–25 pieces) and for function lettering ("Site manager", "First aid officer"). Heat-pressing only outside reflector strips.
- Embroidery — rarely used due to point tension in standard fabric; possible on particularly high-quality event vests (marshal, security service), but with proper backing and no seams through reflector.
- DTF printing — possible but not preferred: DTF film reduces standard background area per cm² more than screen print. Useful only for small runs with detailed logos.
Standard recommendation: screen printing from 25 pieces, transfer printing for 10–25 pieces. Both techniques produce hi-vis vests delivered with batch certificate PDF to EN ISO 20471.
Recommended models
- Korntex KX200 standard vest (Class 2) — the industry standard. Front zipper, fluorescent yellow or orange, sizes S–4XL.
- Korntex KX226 multifunction vest (Class 2) — with chest pockets, zipper, for site management and foremen.
- Result Safe-Guard R200X (Class 2) — solid standard vest in fluorescent yellow, hook-and-loop closure, light wearing weight.
- Regatta Professional TRS180 — Class-2 vest with enhanced tear resistance, for industrial logistics and breakdown service.
- Korntex KX-CRZ children's hi-vis vest (Class 1) — for school, club and excursion use (school bus accompaniment, class trip, scouts).
- Hi-vis hoodie/T-shirt (Class 1–3) — as alternative to pure vest for summer outdoor work; see Hi-Vis Workwear.
Volume discount and pricing
Hi-vis vest orders are typically depot rollouts or event order quantities. We calculate transparently and apply the volume discount across model and class boundaries.
| Quantity | Discount | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| from 3 pieces | 3% | Small business, single crew |
| from 20 pieces | 10% | Depot, mid-size landscaping |
| from 50 pieces | 15% | Larger depot, civil engineering column |
| from 100 pieces | 25% | Municipal depot, state enterprise, large logistics |
| from 200 pieces | 30% | Event traffic management marathon/festival |
| from 500 pieces | 32% | Corporate rollout, federal authority, association rollout |
Hi-vis vests are counted together with other hi-vis workwear (jackets, trousers, T-shirts) in one order. For mixed orders (e.g. 30 hi-vis vests + 12 hi-vis jackets + 6 hi-vis trousers), the total quantity is the basis of the tier.
Batch certificate PDF per delivery
With every hi-vis vest delivery you receive a PDF certificate that you can use as proof for BG inspection, occupational safety audit or tender documentation. The certificate contains:
- EN ISO 20471 test date of the batch
- Batch number and production location
- Class specification (1, 2 or 3) with minimum background area and reflector strip dimensions
- Manufacturer conformity declaration (CE marking)
- Delivery date and order number for your tracking
The certificate is valid for two years and should be kept in your occupational safety documentation. For tenders with GPSR obligation (since December 2024), on request we additionally deliver data sheets with manufacturer address and EU authorised representative.
Real-world example orders
- Municipal depot in southern Germany — 80 Korntex KX200 in fluorescent yellow (Class 2) with screen-print city coat of arms chest and lettering back. Invoice payment, 9 working days delivery, batch certificate archived.
- Landscaping company — 24 Result Safe-Guard with logo chest and employee first-name as transfer print chest right. One-off logo punching setup.
- Event traffic management marathon — 200 Class-2 hi-vis vests with event logo (chest + back), sponsor logo (chest right) and function lettering ("Marshal", "Security", "Course post") via transfer print. Shipping before event start.
- Breakdown service fleet — 45 Class-3 vests Regatta Professional with logo, employee first-name and ADAC/breakdown function. Fast reorder 5 working days standardised.
- School escort action — 60 children's hi-vis vests Korntex KX-CRZ (Class 1) with school logo chest and "Class 3a" print on back. Original order plus data storage for annual class changes.
How reordering works
Hi-vis vests are safety-relevant consumables — worn reflector strips lose standard conformity. BG recommends replacement every 2 years or after 50 washes. We therefore have a simple reorder process:
- You signal need with quantity and size (S–4XL available for Korntex KX200)
- We access stored data — model, class, logo position, print file, batch certificate template
- Shipping in 5 working days for Korntex KX200 and Result Safe-Guard; for special Class-3 vests or rare models 7–10 working days
- New batch certificate with new batch number per delivery
- Invoice with reference to original order — no new standard check of logo layout, since layout already approved
What makes ShirtStore different
- EN ISO 20471 standard competence — we know minimum background areas, check logo layout before print release, document standard compliance in writing
- Batch certificate PDF with every delivery — proof-ready for BG inspection and tender
- GPSR-compliant data sheets on request
- Cross-model volume discount tier — vests + jackets + trousers + T-shirts in one order
- Invoice payment without drama for municipal depots, state enterprises, authorities, BG facilities
- Fast reordering in 5 working days for standard models
Ready for your hi-vis vests with logo?
Open configurator → · Request standard advice →
ShirtStore is your partner for hi-vis vests with logo printing to EN ISO 20471 in Germany. We print Korntex KX200 standard vests (Class 2), Result Safe-Guard, Regatta Professional Hi-Vis and Korntex KX226 multifunction vests for municipal depots, civil engineering columns, landscaping, road construction, warehouse logistics with forklift traffic, breakdown services, event traffic management, marathon and festival marshal crews, forestry, petrol-station staff, school-bus accompaniment and fire brigade helpers. Print techniques are screen printing (standard-compliant, plastisol-durable, economical from 25 pieces) and transfer printing (for small runs 10–25 pieces and function lettering). With every delivery you receive a batch certificate PDF with EN ISO 20471 test date, batch number, class specification and manufacturer conformity declaration — proof for BG inspection and tender documentation. Volume discounts start at 3 pieces with 3%, scaling to 15% from 50 pieces, 25% from 100 pieces and 32% from 500 pieces — staggered across all models and classes. Invoice payment is standard for municipal depots, state enterprises, federal authorities, BG facilities, fire brigade and THW. Delivery in 5–8 working days DE for standard models, GPSR-compliant data sheets on request.