High-Visibility Clothing: Why Two Colors Are Better Than One

The two-tone innovation in fluorescent yellow and orange is revolutionizing the safety of exposed workers. Discover why this combination offers superior protection 24/7.

High Visibility Clothing, a revolution born from an alarming observation

In 1994, the EN 471 standard marked a major turning point in the prevention of workplace accidents. At the time, the figures were striking:

A paradox that led authorities to completely rethink the visibility of roadside workers.

The solution? Three universally perceptible fluorescent colors, even for people with color blindness: yellow, orange, and fluorescent red.A true visual revolution that radically transforms the dress codes of exposed professions.

The first yellow outfits on the roadsides do not go unnoticed. The DDE quickly adopts orange, Veolia opts for high-visibility red. Three decades later, these colors have become an integral part of our daily landscape – to the point that our eyes have grown accustomed to them, especially with the widespread use of the mandatory safety vest in all vehicles.

How does a High Visibility garment actually work?

Luminance: The Key to Daytime Visibility

Imagine the HV color as a pyramid of light: on a colored base, an additional dimension is projected – luminance. The higher this peak, the brighter and therefore more visible the color.

Fluorescent yellow, for example, is obtained by greatly increasing the brightness of a green until a light wave tending towards yellow is achieved. These so-called highly azure shades emit a luminous intensity that instantly catches the eye, regardless of weather conditions.

Orange and red work on the same principle, with different chromatic bases and slightly lower luminance for red.

Retro-Reflective Strips: Guardians of the Night

Composed of an aluminum base embedded with glass beads oriented at a precise angle, the retro-reflective strips reflect the headlights' light directly back to the driver's eyes. This principle allows the wearer to be outlined in the dark and ensures their visibility when, as the saying goes, "all cats are grey."

Although active both day and night, their regulatory usefulness applies mainly in darkness, thus perfectly complementing the effect of fluorescent colors.

Bicolor Innovation: a Response to the Limits of Monochrome

While monochrome high-visibility clothing has proven its effectiveness, it nevertheless has limitations depending on the environment and conditions of use.

Why Combine Fluorescent Yellow and Orange?

Optimal Background Coverage

Each fluorescent color excels in specific environments:

• Fluorescent yellow stands out particularly well in urban and grayish environments (asphalt, concrete, fog)
• Fluorescent orange contrasts remarkably with green vegetation and rural landscapes

By combining both on the same garment, you maximize the chances of being visible in all environments, including when moving between different work areas.

Increased Cognitive Stimulation

Ergonomic studies show it: the human eye detects changes in hue and contrast better than uniform surfaces.A two-tone garment attracts more attention, especially when a single color might blend into the background.

Furthermore, this two-tone design forces the brain to process multiple pieces of information simultaneously, thereby increasing the amount of attention given to the wearer. This is a crucial advantage when garments become soiled through daily use: where a dirty monochrome outfit loses visibility, the two-tone outfit retains its visual appeal thanks to the contrast in color.

Performance According to Conditions: The Comparison That Makes the Difference

Conditions	Plain Fluorescent Garment + Retro Bands	Two-Tone Yellow/Orange Garment + Retro Bands
Daylight	Visible, but may blend in depending on the environment	✅ Enhanced contrast → better detection in all environments
Dusk	Reduced effectiveness, a single color is less noticeable	✅ Yellow + orange combination maintains visibility + retro bands already active
Night	Only the retro bands ensure visibility	✅ Retroreflective bands + two-tone silhouette → maximum detection
Fog	Yellow is more effective than orange, but partially absorbed	✅ Yellow + orange duo = optimal conspicuity + retro bands with headlights
Rain	Fluorescent color diminished by light diffusion	✅ Bicolor maintains contrast + retro bands work under headlights
Green environment	Yellow sometimes drowned out, orange more visible but variable effectiveness	✅ Bicolor covers both → maximum attention
Urban environment	Orange blends in with bricks, yellow is limited	✅ Yellow + orange = perfect complementarity

What the Studies Say

The relevance of high-visibility bicoloration is not just a theory.It is based on solid references:

• 📋 The EN ISO 20471 standard does not prohibit bicoloration; several manufacturers use it specifically to improve visibility
• 🔬 Studies by INRS (ED 6070) show that multicoloration combined with retro bands allows for faster detection than a single-color garment
• 🚗 The British Transport Research Laboratory has proven that pedestrians, cyclists, and workers wearing bicolored suits were detected significantly earlier than those in single-color outfits

Fluo Nova: the New Generation of High Visibility clothing by Cepovett Safety

Based on these scientific findings and our commitment to worker safety, we are proud to present Fluo Nova, our new collection that is revolutionizing the standards of high visibility.

Fluo Nova intelligently combines fluorescent yellow and orange with high-performance retroreflective bands to provide maximum visibility 24/7, whatever the weather conditions or work environment.

The Advantages of Fluo Nova High-Visibility Clothing:

• Enhanced visibility in all environments thanks to the complementary yellow/orange
• Early detection by drivers, even with clothing soiled by use
• Performance maintained from sunrise to sunset and in all weather conditions
• EN ISO 20471 compliance with a safety level exceeding regulatory requirements
• Comfort and durability to withstand the most demanding working conditions

Because the safety of your teams is non-negotiable, because work environments are constantly evolving, because visibility must be guaranteed in all circumstances: Fluo Nova is redefining high-visibility standards.