Hi-Vis Coveralls
Stay visible and protected on the job with hi-vis coveralls. Choose from a wide range of styles from bib & braces, combat coveralls and more from high-quality suppliers, like Pulsar®, Leo Workwear®, Portwest® and Goldfreeze®.
What are hi-vis coveralls?
Also referred to as boiler suits and overalls, hi-vis coveralls provide an all-in-one solution to workwear for employees who work close to traffic or alongside warehouse vehicles. Made with lightweight fluorescent material and adorned with reflective strips, this protective clothing ensures visibility in both daylight and at night.
Hi-vis coveralls can feature multiple colours depending on the industry. However, most hi-vis clothing must offer as much contrast as possible, and so most high visibility clothing in the UK is fluorescent yellow and orange.
Why use hi-vis coveralls?
Coveralls offer a convenient solution for active employees and provide protection and cover in cold and wet conditions where separates (trousers and jackets)may expose the back when bending and lifting. Typically, coveralls are designed with a generous cut to allow for freedom of movement, which is ideal when worn in construction and other movement-heavy operations. They're a quick and easy garment to get into and slip out of with a single zip closure.
When to use hi-vis coveralls?
Hi-vis coveralls are best used for visibility at night in the automotive, construction and maintenance industries.
Hi-vis overall types
Hi-vis overalls are available in a range of styles to suit different preferences and industries. They're typically made in fluorescent yellow and Rail Industry Standard orange to provide a high visible contrast in working environments. Hi-vis overalls should be CE marked and comply to EN 343 (Rail Industry hi-vis overalls should be RIS-3279-TOM compliant), while overalls intended for outerwear should comply to EN ISO 20471.
• Hi-vis bib & brace coveralls - These dungaree-style coveralls keep arms uncovered for wear with a t-shirt or polo shirt, and are ideal for warmer working environments or as an added layer for cold weather settings
• Hi-vis combat coveralls - This style of coverall is typically long-sleeved with multiple pockets for storage, including mid-thigh and chest pockets
• Hi-vis insulated coveralls - Designed for wear in colder climates, these coveralls can feature fleece-lined collars alongside a cotton-lined body
Considerations when choosing hi-vis coveralls
• Sizing - inclusive workwear sizing makes it easy to find the right fit for you. We recommend using your chest measurement, plus two inches alongside the required leg length.
• Environment - ensure the correct standards apply for your coveralls, i.e., RIS-3279-TOM for Rail Industry workers
Hi-vis overall jargon buster
To meet EN ISO 20471 safety standards, every aspect of high visibility clothing must be regulated down to the width and positioning of retro-reflective tape.
When testing a garment for compliance, the following dimensions and positioning must be adhered to for the clothing to receive its safety certification...
• Reflective strips must be a minimum of 50mm wide
• Reflective strips must be positioned at exactly 50mm apart
• The distance from the sleeve cuff, leg hem and jacket hem must be exactly 50mm
• Reflective strips must completely wrap around the body, arms, and legs for it to count toward the classification calculation, i.e., 3:1, 3:2 etc
• Any gaps in the tape as it wraps around the limbs and body (for seam stitching and closures) must be no more than 50mm wide. When added together, the gaps in all these bands must be no more than 100mm total around the body, and 50mm total around the limbs
• Overalls must have two reflective strips around the torso and two reflective strips around each leg
FAQs
Are all hi-vis coveralls waterproof?
Not all hi-vis coveralls are equal, and to ensure you get the protection you want for wet weather, check the coverall is compliant to EN 343. For the rain protection required, choose from levels 1 to 3 in penetration resistance (this is the first number in the classification, the second number shows levels of fabric breathability). The highest level of water resistance is Class 3, while Class 1 is the lowest.
What added features do hi-vis coveralls have?
Hi-vis coveralls aren't much different in design to normal workwear and can be purchased with features such as knee pad pockets, extra storage pockets, triple seams for strength, a foldaway or removable hood and insulating linings for cold weather work.
