Bisley APEX 160 taped hi-vis FR ripstop vented shirt

Bisley builds this work shirt around the APEX 160 ripstop fabric, and the flame resistance is inherent, meaning it comes from the fibre chemistry rather than a coating that sits on the surface. The shirt also carries a perforated FR reflective taped hoop pattern, so the day and night visibility is built to suit an FR garment rather than borrowed from a standard hi vis shirt.

Where this shirt earns its keep is ventilation. You get vertical mesh down the back and mesh under the arms, which is the kind of detail that matters when you are working in heat but cannot drop the FR layer. The closures are concealed plastic press snaps at the front and on the cuffs, which keeps metal away from the surface, and there are radio or gas monitor loops on both sides for crews who carry that gear.

If you want the full picture before deciding, the product page on Done Right Safety is the place to confirm sizing, colours and any ratings.

Choosing the right version

Start with the hazard. This shirt is an FR garment, so the first question is whether your site actually requires flame resistant clothing or just standard hi vis. If FR is the requirement, the inherent ripstop here is the relevant part, because inherent flame resistance does not wash out the way a treated finish can. The pack does not list a specific standard or arc rating for this shirt, so confirm the exact ratings on the product page or datasheet before you commit it to a job that has a defined FR requirement.

After that, think about climate and gear. The mesh back and underarm panels are aimed at hot work, so this version suits crews who run warm. If you carry a two way radio or a gas monitor, the loops on both sides are worth checking against where you normally clip those items.

Checking fit and details

When the shirt arrives, run the press snaps front and cuff to make sure they seat cleanly. Check the gusset cuff opens enough to clear gloves, and look over the perforated reflective tape for any lifting at the edges before first wear. The two piece structured collar should sit flat against the neck. Sizing and colour options should be confirmed on the listing rather than assumed.

Care and inspection

Treat an FR shirt as safety equipment rather than ordinary workwear. Inspect the reflective tape for cracking, peeling or missing sections, and check the fabric for tears, holes or heavy wear at stress points like the shoulders and cuffs. Because the flame resistance is inherent to the fibre, normal laundering should not remove it, but always follow the care guidance on the garment label and retire the shirt once the fabric or tape is compromised.

The alternatives in the table are like-for-like, same type work shirt options from the Done Right Safety range. The first two are very close relatives of this shirt, and the third is a non-FR cotton option included so you can see the difference between an FR ripstop shirt and a standard hi vis cotton shirt.

If you need an FR shirt, the real choice is between this one, the women's BL8339T and the BS8338T. BS8339T is the version with radio and gas monitor loops on both sides, so it suits crews who carry that gear in a hot environment. The women's BL8339T is the same shirt in a women's fit, so pick it on fit alone. BS8338T sits alongside as the closely related FR option when you want the standard cut.

The BTC6456 cotton drill shirt is the odd one out, and that is the point of including it. It carries listed AS/NZS standards on its page but it is not flame resistant, so it belongs in jobs where hi vis is the requirement and FR is not. Do not substitute it where an FR shirt is called for.

What is confirmed on the listing is a solid, sensible FR shirt. The inherent flame resistant ripstop, the perforated FR reflective tape and the back and underarm mesh together make this a shirt aimed squarely at hot FR work rather than a general hi vis top with FR bolted on. The radio and gas monitor loops on both sides and the pen division in the left pocket are the practical touches that crews actually use.

The press snap closures, front and cuff, are worth flagging as a genuine plus for FR work because they keep exposed metal to a minimum and stay quick to operate with gloves on. The two piece structured collar suggests it holds shape better than a soft collar over a long shift.

What you should verify on the product page or datasheet is anything to do with ratings. The pack does not list a specific FR standard, arc rating, hi vis class or fabric weight for this shirt, so do not assume it meets a particular standard until you have checked. Confirm the exact ratings, available colours and the size range before ordering for a job with a defined requirement.