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 50 pieces) or transfer printing (small runs under 50 pieces)
- Specify quantity — from 1 piece, volume discount on the goods from 3 pieces (3 %), from 20 pieces 10 %
- Order and have it finished — file check, print release, batch certificate issuance, production. Standard delivery 7–10 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. Available from 50 pieces; set-up (€20 per screen, net) is charged on every order.
- Transfer printing — economical for small runs (under 50 pieces, since screen printing is only offered from 50 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 50 pieces, transfer printing for smaller runs. 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: the tier applies to the goods — not to print or set-up — and is based on the quantity per model; all sizes and colours of one model count together.
| 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 can be ordered together with other hi-vis workwear (jackets, trousers, T-shirts) in one order; each model counts on its own. For a mixed order of 30 hi-vis vests, 12 hi-vis jackets and 6 hi-vis trousers (one model each), the vests get 10 %, the jackets and the trousers 3 % each on the goods.
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. Order number from the procurement office accepted, 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. Logo data archived for reorders.
- 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. Reorder standardised via stored print data.
- 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; a screen-print set-up (€20 per screen, net) is charged as on every order
- Delivery in 7–10 working days (standard) for Korntex KX200 and Result Safe-Guard as well as for special Class-3 vests or rare models
- 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
- One volume discount tier for all models — vests + jackets + trousers + T-shirts in one order; the tier applies to the goods, per model across all sizes
- Order and supplier numbers accepted for municipal depots, state enterprises, authorities, BG facilities
- Easy reordering via stored print data and logo position
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, from 50 pieces) and transfer printing (for small runs under 50 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 on the goods start at 3 pieces with 3%, scaling to 15% from 50 pieces, 25% from 100 pieces and 32% from 500 pieces — calculated per model across all sizes. Order and supplier numbers are accepted for municipal depots, state enterprises, federal authorities, BG facilities, fire brigade and THW; the invoice (VAT shown) is issued to the authority. Standard delivery in 7–10 working days DE, GPSR-compliant data sheets on request.