Standard explainer · RIS-3279-TOM
"Rail spec" gets stamped on a lot of orange garments. What it refers to is a specific railway industry standard — RIS-3279-TOM — that governs high-visibility clothing for anyone working on or near the line. Here's what it requires, and what to check before you're stood at an induction.
What it is
RIS-3279-TOM is a Railway Industry Standard for high-visibility clothing worn by people working on or about the track. It doesn't replace EN ISO 20471 — garments still certify to that — it narrows it for the rail environment. The headline requirements:
In practice, most rail workers wear more than the minimum: many principal contractors and possessions require Class 3 upper garments and orange hi-vis trousers as standard, so two-piece orange is the safe default for regular trackside work.
Checklist
Five things that get kit rejected at the gate.
| Check | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Fluorescent orange background | Yellow is non-compliant trackside, whatever its class |
| Certification | EN ISO 20471 marking on the label | Rail spec builds on it — no base certification, no entry |
| Class | Class 2 minimum; many sites demand Class 3 + trousers | The PC's rules, not the minimum, decide what you wear |
| Condition | Bright fluoro, intact tape, inside its wash count | Rail inductions inspect; faded kit gets turned away |
| Logos & badging | Kept clear of background and tape areas | Overprinting can void the certified visible area |
Buying
Questions
A Railway Industry Standard governing high-visibility clothing for people working on or near the UK railway. It requires fluorescent orange garments certified to EN ISO 20471, worn on the upper body whenever on or about the track — with principal contractors often adding stricter requirements like Class 3 and orange trousers.
Not on or near the line — rail-spec clothing must be orange. Yellow remains fine for rail-adjacent premises away from the operational railway, but if your work takes you trackside, orange certified kit is the requirement.
No — rail-spec garments are EN ISO 20471-certified garments that additionally meet the rail industry's requirements, chiefly the specified orange colour. Check the label for the EN ISO 20471 marking and class as you would with any hi-vis.
The upper-body orange garment is the baseline, but many principal contractors and possessions mandate orange trousers and Class 3 uppers as site policy. Check your induction or task brief — for regular trackside work, two-piece orange is the practical default.
EN ISO 20471 hi-vis in both colours, including rail-spec orange, with embroidery or print and trade-account ordering.