Did you know, that in Finland, October 1st marks National Reflector Day. The day was launched by the Finnish Road Safety Council (Liikenneturva) and has been celebrated annually since 2013. Its purpose is to remind everyone that it's time to start using reflectors.
According to the local Road Traffic Act, pedestrians must wear an appropriate reflector when walking on roads during dark hours. As autumn brings darker mornings and evenings, it's indeed time to dig out those reflectors from summer storage. But not all reflectors are created equal. So, what should you know about them? Expert Erja Tammela from the Personal Protective Equipment team at SGS Fimko Oy explains.
A typical reflector is retroreflective, meaning it increases the visibility of the wearer in the dark when illuminated by a light source. As the name suggests, it reflects light back toward its source.
A reflector is personal protective equipment
Reflectors are considered personal protective equipment (PPE) and therefore must undergo type approval. They are subject to technical requirements defined in standards, which must be met before they can be sold. A certified reflector carries the CE mark and usually also the standard number. For reflectors, the applicable standard is EN 17353:2020 + A1:2025.
SGS Fimko Oy is one of the authorities granting approval for reflectors in Europe. To bring a reflector to market, the manufacturer submits an application along with a sample and the necessary documentation. Based on these, the testing requirements are determined, depending on the type of reflector, its material, and the applicable standard. Most commonly, the surface area of the reflective part, the reflectivity of the material, and the total luminous intensity are tested under various lighting and observation angle combinations. SGS has a laboratory for reflector testing located in Helsinki, Finland.
A knitted hat made of reflective yarn is not enough
The legislation only applies to commercially sold reflectors, not to homemade products. Tammela reminds us that items made from reflective yarn do not provide sufficient reflectivity to be safely used as the only reflector. A homemade hat can be worn in addition to a proper reflector, but it should never replace one.
Commercially manufactured clothing made from reflective fabric can be classified as personal protective equipment, if the garment is marketed as a reflector. These can be tested and approved according to the EN 17353:2020 standard. The standard specifies requirements for the surface area, placement, and reflectivity of the material. However, it is not enough for just the material to be approved or tested—the type approval always applies to the product as a whole, not just the material. In addition to technical requirements, the PPE regulation and standards also specify requirements for labeling and user instructions, which are part of the approval process.
Contact us today for more information about reflector testing and certification.
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