Month: May 2019

Not all reflective elements are equally practical

Employees of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Kazan conducted an experiment for journalists, they showed how far in the dark a driver might notice a pedestrian. The inspectors also told which light-reflecting elements are most effective in the dark.

 

“These are cute reflective face stickers, which children and adults really like, unfortunately, quickly come off. Bracelets seem to be comfortable, but they tend to get lost. Plus, in order to designate a child on the roadway, at least 4 bracelets are needed – on each hand and on legs, so that the driver from afar can determine that a person is moving in front of him, and not some mysterious luminous object. The best thing is the reflective vest,” said Oksana Kononenko, senior inspector for the promotion of OGIBDD of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Kazan.

 

The vest covers most of the child’s body and is very visible in the dark. It contains wide reflective tapes. Inspectors recommend combining reflective elements – wear a vest, along with bracelets, for example. Then the child will be very noticeable in the dark.

 

“This year, 166 road traffic accidents involving children were registered in Kazan. Unfortunately, 2 people died as a result of an accident. One of them – a 15-year-old teenager, who crossed the roadway in the dark, unfortunately, he was not marked by reflective elements. The driver did not have the opportunity to notice him in time and avoid a collision,” said Oksana Kononenko.

 

In order for children not to refuse to wear light-reflecting elements, inspectors recommend holding various games with them. For example, to convince a child that he will be the brightest and most noticeable. Manufacturers go to meet the buyer and put on the market “funny” reflective elements.

 

At the beginning of the experiment, DPS inspectors placed children with reflective stripes and adults without such stripes at a distance of 50, 100 and 150 meters. Turn on the main beam headlights of the car. An adult on 50 meters was not visible at all, which cannot be said about children.

 

Reflective materials glittered and 150 meters. The vests were clearly visible, but the child with the bracelets and stickers could not be noticed.

 

“In both cases, the vest was visibly better. Here, apparently, well, well, from afar. And if it’s just a small sticker – even it is not clear what it is,” said driver Sergey Novoseltsev.

 

“The vest is visible from afar and the person is immediately noticeable. Bracelets do not immediately catch the eye. When my children grow up, I will buy them such. In the suburban areas of the road it is very useful,” the driver Ilfat Islamov said.

 

“The experiment is timed to the ‘Safety Week’, which is held throughout Russia as part of the VI International Congress ‘Road Safety – for the Safety of Life’. And one of the key issues that experts around the world are discussing is the safety of pedestrians on the roadway. For large cities, a pedestrian hit has become a very common type of accident, especially at night. And now, when autumn has come, the early twilight, dark time in the day more. And children go to different circles, sections. And one of the most effective ways to protect children, proven in many countries, is the retro-reflective elements,” said Oksana Kononenko, senior inspector for the propaganda of OGIBDD of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Kazan.

 

Results of the experiment – stickers justified themselves. Bracelets cope more or less but do not give a hundred percent picture. Best of all – a safety vest. However, the most noticeable child is the one on whose clothes there are several light-reflecting elements at once. Such a child will definitely be noticed on the road.

 

It should be noted that the wearing of reflective elements outside the settlements is mandatory for both adults and children. For their absence, DPS inspectors may issue a fine.

Where can I buy reflective clothing

Buy a reflective vest or jacket, the driver of the vehicle can in almost any auto parts store or workwear. The minimum price for a vest is only one hundred rubles. At the moment, recent legislative innovations have not played a role in raising the prices of such products. Therefore, for the time being, the price for them is quite acceptable, and there is no shortage in retail outlets. Some try to make vests or jackets on their own, stitching reflective fabrics on ordinary clothing. For pedestrians, this will be quite enough, but hardly for drivers.

 

Firstly, it is not very convenient. After all, have to spoil the clothes.

 

Secondly, in the case of independent production, neither a vest nor a jacket with reflective elements will in any way correspond to accepted state standards. Namely, the relevant paragraph of the Rules of the Road is based on them. Therefore, only the reflective clothing that is manufactured by an industrial method and complies with accepted GOST is applicable for drivers. Experts predict that in the near future, prices for reflective vests and jackets will soar, increasing by several times.

 

After all, before the entry into force of the law is still almost three months. Therefore, some drivers still save money until such time as wearing such accessories will not become the legislative norm. Presumably, it will be in mid-March. Added to this is the fact that many Russian car owners simply do not use their vehicles in the winter. This is especially true for the northern regions of Russia. Yes, and the celebration of the New Year does not contribute to the acquisition of driver’s gear, better prepare for the holiday table. Therefore, a surge in demand for reflective clothing is still ahead and is projected in the early spring of the next, 2018. The most pragmatic drivers buy it today, explaining that they do not want to subsequently pay two or even three current prices. And the most-most practical Russian car owners have long been acquired and at the same time using reflective vests and jackets. Virtually every trucker has similar clothing that hangs in the driver’s seat or lies in the glove compartment of his truck. Incidentally, the SDA does not establish a clear storage location for a reflective vest or jacket. They can be put under the seat, in the glove compartment or in the trunk.

 

Legally, such moments are not considered. The main thing is that everything is used for its intended purpose and meets the established requirements. But, leaving the car, the driver will have to walk a few meters to the trunk, which can be fatal for him. A reflective vest should set off a person against the surrounding dark background in the headlights of a car. One of the requirements that apply to light-protective elements on such clothing, is their visibility from a distance of about 600 meters. Naturally, each car lights are different. In this case, we are talking, of course, about modern high-beam headlamps. The weaker the headlights of a car, the lower the distance you can see a person in reflective clothing. The minimum distance from which a person in such equipment should be noticeable must be at least 150 meters. Much also depends on weather conditions. For example, fog, snow or rain significantly reduce the visibility range for drivers. This should be considered. Experts advise, in addition to light-reflecting clothing, to have in their hands or on themselves a source of electric light, while it is very desirable that it be red. After all, it is the red light that automatically increases the attention of the driver.

Requirements that any workwear must meet

The purpose of workwear is to protect the worker from the external factors that are harmful and dangerous to his health, with which his professional work is associated. Therefore, when choosing it, it is necessary to ensure that the product meets the following basic requirements:

 

Free cut. Jackets, pants, and overalls cannot limit the movement of a person. In carrying out their duties, the worker should not feel discomfort.

 

Functionality. To increase comfort and convenience, special protective safety clothing of an insulating type can be equipped with patch pockets, built-in pockets, webbing, snap hooks, snap-on insulation, reflective tapes, etc.

 

Physical properties. Special clothes should not get wet in the rain, have dirt-repellent properties, easy to wear off.

Thermal conductivity. In the cold period, the fabric protects the person from heat loss, in the summer it absorbs and removes excess moisture, and also ensures sufficient air exchange.

 

Wear resistance. Regardless of the types of special clothing, durable material should be used to make it. It will serve as protection from external influences and minor injuries.

 

Only by complying with all safety requirements, an employer can create a comfortable and safe working environment for his employees, as well as legally protect himself from possible legal consequences in case of possible accidents and injuries at work.

What and where reflectors sell

The proposed range can be divided into two parts. The first – ready-made flickers in the form of icons under the original name “Reflective”. Various options are offered: a green man figurine, a soccer ball, butterfly. Restless children hooligans may be interested in products in the form of a skull. Little is issued from the total number of non-child version of the “four heels in one bed”. Probably for high school students.

 

A small minus of the light reflectors – fastening in the form of a chain. It can be attached to the backpack strap, bag handle. But to find a place for mounting on clothes is more difficult, you have to show a little imagination.

 

“Light reflectors” sold in Pskov hypermarkets. True, for some reason, at different prices. For example, in Imperial, the flicker cost is 57 rubles 40 kopecks, and in Trolley it is 50 rubles 80 kopecks. Interestingly, in different stores, the goods are distributed to different departments. In the “Imperial” and “Trolley” flickers should be sought in electrical goods and lanterns, and in the “Ribbon” – in children’s clothing. Here you can find and reflective vests, but this is a topic for another conversation.

 

In a word, light reflectors are sold in hypermarkets for time-saving people. Bought, attached and went further on the shelves to scour.

 

For more thoughtful and visionary consumers, there is a second option. More economical, but requires the application of their own efforts in the form of scissors, threads, and needles.

 

In any department for needlework among the threads and beads, there are reflective materials. The assumption was confirmed in the first two departments.

 

In the shopping center on J. Fabricius, 5-a, reflective tapes of different widths are sold. Cost from 25 to 40 rubles per square meter. In the department for sewing trading house-shed “Timokhin” gray tape 25 mm wide costs 15 rubles a meter.

 

The last store also showed a wide selection of reflective stripes on clothes for children and for adults. Variations from football and road signs to doggies. The patch for the price is comparable to the hypermarket flicker or more expensive, but it can be sewn to the clothes.

 

The variant with stripes and ribbons seems to us more effective. The flicker on the bag handle can be closed from the driver’s view. For example, if you cross the road with a bag in your left hand, and transport is approaching on the right. Manufacturers recommend placing light reflectors in such a way that they are visible both from behind and from the front.

 

“Pachem not wearing?”

 

One small problem remains – how to put pedestrians in reflectors. Remember the joke about the female breast? “Do you have it?” Pachem do not wear? In the Pskov region in the fall for school children purchased reflective elements. Only kids for some reason continue to wander in the dark.

 

There are several opinions on the topic of mandatory wearing flicker.

 

The first. The most common and wrong is to leave everything as it is.

 

Cons – almost daily incidents on the roads of the Pskov region.

 

The second. The ban on movement without a flicker in the dark.

 

Advantages: improved visibility of pedestrians and, as a consequence, a decrease in accidents, additional profit for manufacturers of reflectors, budget revenues from fines. Cons: negative public opinion by the dense part of the population. They say that there is nothing to pay for the apartments, but there are still some reflectors to wear. To change the legal awareness of the grandmothers and aunts brought up in the village, who crawl along the road inconvenient places, cannot easily be achieved with fines. The state will have to invest a little in social advertising. Tipo, chest in reflective crosses or head in the bushes. Youth can be stimulated by showing fashionable clothes with light reflectors.

 

Finally, the third option. Violent people flicker is not necessary, we go our own way. We introduce a new standard for clothing, at least for children. The offer is certainly reasonable. Anyone used to wearing stripes from childhood will teach their children to do so.

 

In any case, it’s not worth waiting until the state thinks about you and forces manufacturers to produce clothes only with reflective fabrics. Everyone should think about their own security.

How to check the quality of the material of reflective elements?

Not all materials have the required quality. Many of the stripes after a short operation and washing dramatically lose their protective properties. Some badges or pendants initially have such a low coefficient of light return that they serve as an adornment, but in no way provide their owner with the necessary security.

 

  1. Evaluate the look of the patch. The surface of the material should be smooth, flexible and smooth to the touch; it should not have cracks, scratches, abrasions, creases, and bends.

 

  1. Check how the ribbon is sewn when it comes to clothing/backpack. Stitches should be located at a distance of 2-3 mm from the edge of the tape. This allows you to protect the patch from damage to the edges when washing or dry cleaning.

 

  1. The high-quality retro-reflective tape has only a fabric base. You can check the base by slightly tilting the edge of the attached stripes. The largest manufacturers of retro-reflective materials usually label the fabric base to confirm the quality standard of the tape. Also, quality certification can be labeled with the logo of the manufacturer, which are attached to clothing, shoes, briefcases. If there is a pattern on the retro-reflector, it should not be smeared and/or erased.

 

  1. At home, you can check the quality of the already purchased “reflector” like this. Direct the beam to the badge or patch – if you have a high-quality retro-reflector in your hands, it will glow brightly in the beam. It is important that the retro-reflector works at any angle, for this it is necessary to turn the icon or suspension in different directions, continuing to shine on them. Glow retro-reflective material should not deteriorate or fade.

 

How to use?

Retro-reflective fabrics on clothing should ensure that the object is visible from both sides so that a person can be visible to both streams of movement.

Retro-reflective badges or key rings should be attached to outerwear, backpacks, bags, bicycles, rollers or baby carriages, so that when moving or driving on the roadway, the headlights of cars hit them.

Manufacturers may be required to sew reflective elements into clothing

Moscow, March 16. State Duma Deputy Vyacheslav Lysakov intends to send a letter to the government with a request to oblige manufacturers to place reflective materials on children’s, school and sports clothing. Reports about it “Parliamentary newspaper”.

 

The parliamentarian recalled that pedestrians on unlit roads are required to wear reflective vests in Russia. Jackets with reflective stripes should also be in possession of motorists going outside the settlements. Light-returning items on clothing may save a pedestrian’s life, but liability for violating the rules on wearing them makes it difficult to monitor their performance.

 

According to the author of the initiative, government agencies will be much more efficient in controlling enterprises than citizens. In this case, the rules should apply to both domestic products and goods from abroad.

 

“The state is obliged to protect the life and health of citizens not only by increasing fines for violating traffic rules or introducing new punitive measures against offenders but also by regulating the activities of industrialists in the interests of people’s safety,” said Lysakov.

 

According to preliminary calculations, the introduction of new rules can lead to a price increase of clothing by 10 – 15%.

Newly placed planters will temporarily be removed again

They were there for about six days. Two planters in the Kapelstraat in Beek and Donk. Now they are gone again. The municipality assures temporary. The two bins will probably be replaced on Wednesday.

 

Last Wednesday the municipality of Laarbeek placed the two planters in the Kapelstraat. The bins, put down as a test, came at the insistence of local residents and the village council of Beek and Donk. They are intended to limit speed and, at the same time, to discourage covert traffic. Kapelstraat residents have been concerned about road safety for years. Their street is officially a 30-kilometer zone. But by no means, all drivers adhere to it. The road also attracts a lot of stealth traffic.

 

Now the containers have been removed by the municipality and are on the municipal yard. Reason: they must be weighted and are also provided with more reflective material. The bins are then put back as quickly as possible.

Accessories and clothes for dogs: open it this winter

Fighting the cold in winter is not just about humans. Dogs are also affected and wrapping them in clothes can help them to have a better time this season. When being at home, the heating and the fact of indoors allowing them to be acclimated, but when leaving the street, the change of temperature can affect them. Especially the small ones, the puppies, the elderly and the coolest. And if your dog is the one that prefers to be near the stove at home, you may need some clothes to walk around.

 

If you want to know how to shelter dogs in winter and what clothes to wear, in Showroom we tell you what clothes can help them not to be cold: coats, raincoats, pullovers.

 

COATS FOR DOGS

Reversible English-style coat by Think Pet

The British paintings give this coat an elegant touch for those who want their dog to look more when walking. It is a reversible garment with a waterproof outer side that looks more like an anorak and a soft and flexible interior with English frames. Each one to adapt to the climatic conditions of the different moments of autumn and winter. You choose which side you prefer to take your pet depending on the time it takes or the style you want to wear. In addition, it is elastic and with Velcro closure to make it easy to place.

 

Waterproof jacket with the reflective tape

To protect the water, this Petilleur garment is made with a waterproof outer layer, resistant to wear and with a fleece interior composed to be warm. It has a design with a reflective band so you can always see your dog when it runs freely and not lose sight of it. And also protects the wind at the top with a retractable neck.

 

Jacket Black by Scamper

This padded coat protects from the cold in the coldest days of winter, has a sober but functional design and can be folded easily as equivalent human garments to store it when you do not want to use it without occupying too much space.

 

Hoodie

Do you want your dog to be warm and with an informal and sporty style? For this, this polyester hoodie is ideal. This garment allows to protect from the cold to pets of all sizes and made with an elastic material allows it to be placed very easily without being squeezed or bothered. And it is ideal for the days when it is colder since the hood allows you to protect your head from low temperatures.

 

Sports velvet tracksuit

A sweatshirt-jumpsuit with a sporty design reminiscent of the branded tracksuits of humans. It stands out for being made with velvet so that it is warm and soft while it is worn by our pet while it is waterproof so that it can be worn on rainy days as well. It has a hood so that the head and ears are protected from cold and wind. A perfect garment for the winter that allows our dog to wear other styles as well as sweaters and coats.

The fireman’s jacket is the big must-have this winter

For some seasons now the “workwear” has found a prominent place in the male wardrobe. For the autumn/winter 2018-2019 the trend is further strengthened and takes on an even more precise and decisive identity. Just think of the collections by Craig Green, the talent also enlisted by Moncler for the Genius project, which has always been linked to the world of uniforms for its collections, to realize that the phenomenon is no longer just wearing raw jeans or a chore coat, but it’s much more. To demonstrate the fashion shows of Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, Junya Watanabe in short, high-sounding names in the fashion universe who have chosen the fireman’s uniform, in particular, as a key to the winter wardrobe. Thus the bright details and the important constructions that we usually see on policemen or firefighters become the new codes of fashion, from the yellow neon strips to the reflective tape. The same collection by Kanye West, sales say, is focusing everything on a jacket that not by chance seems stolen from that of the firemen. And to think of it, who as a child did not dream, even if only for a short time, of becoming a firefighter?

High visibility clothing with fairtrade cotton

More and more companies, cities or institutions are focusing on sustainable procurement. Now boco also offers a high visibility clothing with fairtrade cotton. The clothing impresses with many strategically placed reflectors.

 

“Reusable instead of disposable” is the philosophy of the rental service for workwear. The goal is the long use of clothing. In addition to high-quality materials, boco relies on a controlled supply chain. “Sustainable procurement is playing an increasingly important role in businesses and cities and is being expanded to as many areas as possible. Sustainable workwear is also becoming increasingly important, “explains Egon Dalponte, boco Product Manager at CWS-boco Germany. Municipalities often have special requirements, especially in the public sector. That’s why the new boco High Visibility Fairtrade cotton collection now also includes protective clothing with a sustainability factor.

 

Fairtrade cotton

The 50% cotton portion of the high visibility collection is made from fair trade cotton. Each garment in the collection contains a label with a code. According to CWS-boco, the cooperatives receive a fixed minimum price and an additional premium for their cotton, which they can use for joint projects. The environment is also protected because the use of genetically modified cotton is just as prohibited as that of chemical fertilizers or high amounts of water.

 

Safety thanks to the visibility

In many sectors, such as road construction or waste management companies, good visibility when working is important for the safety of employees. When choosing the right high-visibility clothing, not only in compliance with the current standard important but care for clothing and checking the reflectors should also be taken into account. The boco high visibility collection complies with the safety standard DIN EN ISO 20471 and offers the wearer long-term protection. The service provider regularly checks the protective functions of the clothing and ensures their safe maintenance. Many reflective tapes on the legs, sleeves and shoulder area ensure high visibility. The high visibility collection also includes a work jacket, trousers, dungarees, and a safety vest. The collection is available in the color combinations warning orange / gray and warning yellow/gray.