More Visibility & UV Protection: The New BP Shirts According to EN 17353
A New Chapter in Occupational Safety
As one of the first manufacturers, BP – Bierbaum-Proenen is now launching shirts certified according to Type A of EN 17353. These models rely exclusively on fluorescent materials, making the wearer significantly more visible in daylight or poor weather conditions. Unlike traditional high-visibility clothing, no reflective stripes are required. This ensures greater comfort, more freedom of movement, and a clear advantage in everyday work, especially for physically demanding tasks.
The new EN 17353 collection from BP offers a wide range: classic T-shirts, sporty polo shirts, long-sleeved polos for cooler days, as well as functional shirts for particularly active applications. Available in the typical high-visibility colors yellow and orange, they also come in combinations with anthracite for a modern look. To ensure that everyone feels comfortable, the models are offered in both women’s and men’s fits.
In addition to increased visibility, the shirts offer another important benefit: an integrated UV protection according to EN 13758-2. Those who work outdoors on a regular basis are reliably protected against the risks of sun exposure – without the need for additional layers of clothing. This makes the shirts especially attractive for summer and for long outdoor assignments.
Suitable for employees in construction, logistics or industry
Under the new EN 17353, we are no longer in the private domain. This is personal protective equipment for professional use. The clothing is intended for occupational groups with a medium level of risk – for example, employees in construction, logistics or industry. Highly exposed groups, such as road construction workers who operate in flowing traffic, must still wear high-visibility clothing in accordance with EN ISO 20471. Whether there is a medium or high level of risk is determined by the risk assessment that each company must carry out in the relevant work areas of its employees. EN 17353 distinguishes three types: Type A products are suitable for daylight, Type B for darkness, and Type AB for all light conditions, including twilight.
EN 17353 Type B2 – an upgrade for better visibility and safety
With immediate effect, BP® is offering standard-compliant enhancement to EN 17353 Type B2 for selected workwear and HACCP clothing.
More safety, improved visibility and a noticeable workwear upgrade for wearers: there are many reasons why more and more employers want to equip their teams with garments certified to EN 17353 Type B2.
BP® is responding to this demand and, as one of the first manufacturers, is now offering workwear and HACCP clothing that is enhanced in accordance with EN 17353 Type B2 and equipped with reflective strips. What makes this special: all enhanced products are tested to ISO 15797 and are suitable for industrial laundering.
“Upgrading workwear and making people’s working day even safer is a project we pursue together with our customers. That’s why we’re delighted by the strong demand,” says Alexander Slotnikow, workwear expert at BP.
Depending on the design, workwear and HACCP-compliant garments certified to EN 17353 Type B2 are equipped with different numbers and widths of reflective strips on arms and legs.
This provides additional visibility in darkness and in poorly lit indoor areas – without having to use high-visibility clothing to EN ISO 20471. This makes it an economically attractive solution for medium-risk situations.
Easy to integrate into existing clothing systems
The clothing is suitable, for example, for anyone who works mainly indoors but regularly also outdoors and may run the risk of not being seen. The reflective elements improve safety on internal traffic routes – for example in industry, logistics, warehouses, building cleaning services or municipal service providers. In HACCP environments – i.e. wherever very strict hygiene regulations apply – the reflectors can be positioned in a way that hygiene requirements are met while also adding an extra safety benefit.
“Another major advantage is that existing clothing systems in the workwear or HACCP sector can be expanded with Type B2 elements without changing colour or hygiene concepts,” says BP expert Slotnikow. The discreet reflectors are visually unobtrusive and can therefore be integrated easily into clean, minimalist work environments. This increases wearer acceptance.
BP is now offering standard-compliant enhancement according to EN 17353 Type B2 and is upgrading selected collections with reflective strips on sleeves and trouser legs.
The complete BP product portfolio can be found in the new catalogue “The world of BP. Collection Book”. The catalogue is an invitation to immerse yourself in the world of BP. Far more than a collection of products, it is designed as a guide that leads users through BP’s clothing solutions and addresses specific industries, requirements and needs. Added value is also provided by the PPE glossary, which presents the legal basics and different PPE standards in a clear, user-friendly way.
Source: BP press release 2025 – An upgrade for better visibility and safety.
