Overview
EN ISO 20471:2013/A1:2016 is Amendment 1 to the international standard ISO 20471:2013, adopted by CEN as EN ISO 20471:2013/A1. This amendment was approved by CEN on 24 September 2016 and published to update the test methods and requirements for high visibility clothing. The amendment clarifies procedural details for abrasion testing and provides guidance intended to improve repeatability and practical evaluation of high-visibility materials used in PPE.
The amendment was prepared by ISO/TC 94 (Personal safety - Protective clothing and equipment), Subcommittee SC 13 (Protective clothing), and is published in the three official CEN languages (English, French, German). It supports the essential requirements of the relevant EU Directive (see informative Annex ZA in the full standard) and was to be implemented as a national standard by May 2017.
Key Topics
- Scope of amendment: EN ISO 20471:2013/A1 modifies the original 2013 standard without changing the technical intent, by clarifying procedural steps in the abrasion test subclause (7.4.1).
- Abrasion test clarification: The amendment inserts a procedural sentence to specify specimen and abradant placement: "The specimen shall be placed on the abradant table and the abradant shall be mounted in the test piece holder."
- Inverted mode note: A note is added referencing ISO 12947-2, noting that an inverted mode (specimen on abradant table and abradant in test piece holder) can produce an abraded area suitable for post-abrasion testing or evaluation.
- Compliance and adoption: CEN members are required to adopt the amendment as a national standard (identical text or endorsement) and withdraw conflicting standards by the specified deadline.
Applications
This amendment has direct practical value for professionals involved in the specification, production and certification of high-visibility garments:
- PPE manufacturers: Clearer abrasion test procedure helps ensure consistent quality control and material selection for garments intended to meet high-visibility requirements.
- Test laboratories and assessors: The procedural clarification reduces ambiguity in sample mounting and supports reproducible abrasion testing and post-abrasion evaluation.
- Specifiers and purchasers: Improved test method clarity aids procurement decisions where abrasion resistance and retained conspicuity after wear are relevant.
Related Standards
- ISO 20471:2013 - Base standard for test methods and requirements for high-visibility clothing (this amendment modifies specific clauses of that document).
- ISO 12947-2 - Reference for abrasion testing methodology and modes (the amendment explicitly references the inverted mode of ISO 12947-2).
For full implementation details, normative text and Annex ZA relationship to EU Directives, consult the official EN ISO 20471:2013/A1:2016 document published by CEN/ISO and the national standards body.
