Public Safety Vests - ANSI 207 Vest Requirements

About the Standard: ANSI 207 Public Safety Vest standard was created in response to public safety user group's demand for high visibility safety vests that differentiate Police, Fire, EMS and EMS personnel from other non-related personnel: Red is for Fire Officials, Blue is for Law Enforcement, Green is for Emergency Responders, and Orange is for DOT Officials. 207 public safety vests are designed shorter to allow quick access to belts and tools. Many of these safety vests feature (but are not mandatory to the standard) loops, pockets, badge holders, mic tabs and ID panels to meet the user's need for functionality while still offering an effective high visibility garment. Unlike the ANSI 107, Public Safety Vests have no classifications - It's just the Public Safety Vest Standard (PSV). ANSI 207 requires 450 square inches of background material and 201 square inches of reflective material. Please note ANSI 207 vests do not meet the requirements of ANSI 107 and therefore do not currently meet the requirements of 23 CFR 634. For more information about ANSI 107 click here. The DOT/FHWA has proposed a number of changes that will affect 23 CFR 634. Of the most immediate concern is that they propose allowing ANSI 207 vests for emergency responders. This change did not go into effect in time for the November 24 deadline and is not likely to go into effect until the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2009.