Tag: reflective stripes

Mandatory: reflective safety vest must!

Mandatory in each vehicle

From 1 July 2014, warning vest to be carried in passenger cars, trucks, train and truck tractors and buses and coaches mandatory. Already in many neighboring states motorists must carry a reflective vest. For commercial vehicles in Germany the appropriate regulatory bodies for years before a high visibility vest.

 

Federal Transport Minister Alexander:

“Better visibility improves safety. Safety vests can save lives. In addition to the first aid kit and warning triangle now includes the safety vest for prescribed equipment, of vehicles. To be recognized in time in dangerous situations, it is strongly recommended to carry the entrained safety vest. This is especially true when a breakdown or accident in the dark or in poor visibility. ”

 

Here are some hints to new regulation:

Why is the safety vest important?

Whether you place the warning triangle after a breakdown, change a tire or run for: there is a danger of being overlooked by other road users anytime, day or night. Who wears a safety vest, falling to – and is seen much earlier than without the gaudy garment. To detect motorists pedestrians without vest only about 80 meters away. Support a safety vest can be seen in the dim light hand already from a distance of about 150 meters.

 

For whom the high visibility vests compulsory?

So far was the requirement to carry a safety vest for drivers of commercial vehicles. The new regulation applies to all cars, trucks and buses registered in Germany.

 

How many vests I need to carry?

In Germany, although only a high visibility vest per vehicle is required. Nevertheless advises “Slow Down”, to have a vest for every passenger in the baggage – so can leave the car clearly visible in an emergency all passengers.

 

When should I wear a safety vest?

Important: Tighten the safety vest before getting out of the car! Where I store the safety vest? In order for the safety vest is always accessible in an emergency, stow it best under the driver’s seat, in the shelves of the door or in the glove compartment – but definitely not in the trunk. Also, do not mount the safety vest over a seat: The sun’s rays can be the signal color fade with time.

 

What should I consider when purchasing the vest?

The waistcoat in red, yellow or orange must conform to DIN EN 471 or EN ISO 20471: 2013 standard and comply with be provided with reflective stripes. The west audited there are, inter alia for technical testing and inspection services, in the offices of the Automobile Club, in an auto parts store and petrol stations. With prices starting around five Euros, the cost of life-saving emergency acquisition is manageable. Buyer pays attention to the quality. So are vests with additional “Suspenders Strip” more readily noticeable.

Flame retardant reflective clothing

The flame retardant reflective clothing according to EN 469 and HUPF part 1 and 4 serves the firefighters firefighting and protects the wearer from exposure to flames during his work. The construction of the fire protective clothing is a decisive factor for the safety of the wearer. What materials the Outerwear is exactly depends, among other economic factors and the question of the desired degree of protection against flame and resistance to chemicals. The structure of the clothing always consists of min. 3 layers (upper material, intermediate layer and inner lining), but may also consist of other materials.

 

The object of the fabric is to protect the wearer from flames, water and mechanical and chemical influences. The liner is to realize a thermal insulation against a hot environment. With high quality and expensive cladding insulation is installed directly into this position a membrane for breathability, while an air cushion by small dimpled “spacer” -to outer fabric layer departures generated. The lining has finally purpose, remove the sweat from the body. Along with 3-layer structure, there is also the possibility of the same basic principle of a 4 (or more) to achieve ply construction. Here are membranes and the thermal insulation separated. This reduces production costs and the costs considerably, but results in a higher weight, poorer mobility and often worse breathability of safety clothing, since the steam must penetrate more layers of clothing (higher resistance). Owns the more layers, the structure, the more negative this affects on the water absorption behavior of clothing and a longer drying time back.

 

In flame and temperatures just above 800 ° c the polyaramid hardens and discolored yellow / brown. The hardening of the material also is very fragile and crumbles / breaks as a very thin layer of ice at the slightest mechanical stress. High-quality protective clothing recurring thermal stresses or suddenly occurring high temperature has to withstand, so as PBI is prepared. This prevents the need to replace the clothing after each flame application. In addition, the material is retained even after exposure to fire permanently elastic and has a high resistance to acids and alkalis.

 

In protective clothing is used by HUPF part 1 and 4 of the Viking and Watex companies mainly. Usually this takes the art fiber are used. All garments are antistatic and can also in EX-zones (hazardous areas) are used. In addition to an outer jacket includes a diaper cover and for firefighters, a two-ply head guard and appropriate gloves to equip the personnel employed.

 

For the better visibility both day and night, the clothing is usually equipped with reflective material in yellow / silver / yellow and pure silver. If the complete set worn, eliminates the reflective vest obligation for the firefighter. These reflective stripes are particularly noticeable by their very noticeable yellowing and their reflective property. Simultaneously, the layer structure of the test Jacket is designed differently than the jackets regularly employed.