The use of clothing for emergency medical personnel plays a big role for their own protection. You must provide sufficient optical warning effect not last. End of September 2013, with the EN ISO 20471: effect in 2013 is a new standard. You should make safety vest even more effective and is the current EN replace 471st
Existing clothing according to EN 471 may be carried on according to the company 3M, however. Emergency services so do not stock up until the end of September with new turnout gear itself.
Important change is but for future new acquisitions. Then it should be ensured, if the belonging to the clothing certificate is still valid. As long as may be clothing 471 still placed on the market even after the (old) EN.
Background: High visibility clothing is subjected to examination. The then issued certificate is limited to five years. The expiration date is apparent from the certificate. At the latest at the expiry of the certificate, the manufacturer should therefore have converted to the new ISO 20,471th
Horizontal reflective tape, fluorescent material
With regard to the design, the clothes should continue to exist on all sides of striking material – in terms of the 360-degree visibility, as 3M. Horizontal reflective stripes and fluorescent material to the hull and the trouser legs and sleeves enclose. The minimum width of the circulating material must be even with the fluorescent background material at least 5 cm.
Some manufacturers of EMS gear, such as the company dealing for some time with the new standard. You attempted to transfer the putative requirements of ISO 20471 already on their products.
Due to the new standard also is GUV rule “use of personal protective equipment in the emergency service” revised (GUV-R 2106). Expected to be available by the end of 2013 the new version. Certificates, in which both the new ISO 20471 as well as the new GUV referenced, are to be expected until the GUV is adopted. Emergency services should especially so currently do not rush and wait until the new GUV has been published. Presumably, this will then also get a slightly different name or number.