Australian standard
AS/NZS 4602.1: high visibility safety garments
Standards Australia publishes AS/NZS 4602.1 as Part 1 of the high visibility safety garments series, covering garments for high risk applications. It is the standard a hi-vis garment listing names when it states a class for daytime, night time or combined day and night use.
What is AS/NZS 4602.1?
AS/NZS 4602.1 is the Australian and New Zealand standard for high visibility safety garments in high risk applications, published by Standards Australia. When a shirt, vest or jacket listing states Class D, Class N or Class D/N, that class marking is made against AS/NZS 4602.1.
AS/NZS 4602.1 is the Australian and New Zealand standard for high visibility safety garments used in high risk applications. It is the designation you see on a hi-vis shirt, vest or jacket, and it is what a class marking such as Class D, Class N or Class D/N refers to.
Which products does it apply to?
2 guides on this hub cite AS/NZS 4602.1, across hi-vis workwear, workwear, hi-vis cotton shirts, hi-vis vests, work polos, hi-vis t-shirts and polos, hi-vis jackets, hi-vis trousers and jeans, hi-vis jumpers and hoodies, hi-vis freezer wear, hi-vis overalls and coveralls, work headwear, cotton work shirts, hi-vis flame retardant and arc rated workwear, women's hi-vis workwear, work shorts, work t-shirts, hi-vis wet weather gear.
- Hi-vis workwear 73
- Workwear 102
- Hi-vis cotton shirts 13
- Hi-vis vests 8
- Work polos 9
- Hi-vis t-shirts and polos 8
- Hi-vis jackets 7
- Hi-vis trousers and jeans 6
- Hi-vis jumpers and hoodies 7
- Hi-vis freezer wear 3
- Hi-vis overalls and coveralls 6
- Work headwear 6
- Cotton work shirts 12
- Hi-vis flame retardant and arc rated workwear 4
- Women's hi-vis workwear 5
- Work shorts 11
- Work t-shirts 6
- Hi-vis wet weather gear 6
| Marking on the listing | What it indicates | How it appears in these guides |
|---|---|---|
| Class D | Daytime use | Fluorescent background material only |
| Class N | Night time use | Retroreflective material only |
| Class D/N | Day and night use | Both fluorescent and retroreflective material |
Guides that cite AS/NZS 4602.1
Frequently asked questions
What does Class D/N mean on a hi-vis shirt?
Class D/N means the garment is certified for both daytime and night time use under AS/NZS 4602.1. It carries fluorescent background material for daylight conspicuity and retroreflective tape that returns light from headlights after dark. Check the class on the swing tag and the garment label before you order for a crew.
Is Class D enough for night work?
Class D covers daytime use only, so it is not the marking to look for when work continues after dark. A garment certified Class D/N carries both the fluorescent material and the retroreflective tape. Which class your site requires comes from your own risk assessment, not from a product page.
Does AS/NZS 4602.1 cover the reflective tape itself?
No. AS/NZS 4602.1 covers the finished garment. The performance of the fluorescent and retroreflective materials sewn into it is covered by AS/NZS 1906.4, which is why many hi-vis listings name both designations together.
How do I check a garment really meets AS/NZS 4602.1?
Look for the class marking on the garment label and on the supplier listing, and keep the supplier documentation. If a listing does not name a class, treat the garment as unclassed rather than assuming one from how bright it looks.
What this page is not
This page explains how AS/NZS 4602.1 is used in product listings. It is not the standard, and it does not reproduce its text. Compliance decisions should reference the published standard and your own workplace risk assessment.
- Standards Australia, AS/NZS 4602.1
- The product listings on donerightsafety.com.au that name this designation