Ergodyne GloWear 8294BK Class 2 Hi-Vis Performance Shirt Black Bottom

The Ergodyne GloWear 8294BK Performance Hi-Vis Safety Shirt provides ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R Class 2 certified high-visibility protection with performance moisture-wicking fabric and a black bottom design — delivering Class 2 certification in a performance-fabric shirt with black lower-body panels for road maintenance, construction, utility, and infrastructure workers who require Class 2 compliance with the professional two-tone appearance that black-accent designs provide, supported by performance fabric construction that manages perspiration during active work in warm conditions. The 8294BK is Ergodyne's Class 2 performance hi-vis shirt with black bottom accent — the Class 2 counterpart to the Class 3 8371BK, providing Type R Class 2 certification in a performance moisture-wicking shirt with black panel accents that differentiate it from the all-lime Class 2 performance models. ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R Class 2 certification requires 775 square inches of fluorescent background material and 201 square inches of retroreflective tape — providing the conspicuity level appropriate for workers in environments with traffic traveling at speeds up to 50 mph and in work zones with supplementary traffic control measures in place. Class 2 Type R applies to a broad range of construction and maintenance environments: parking lot crews, urban road maintenance, utility work adjacent to lower-speed streets, warehouse and distribution facility traffic exposure, and site preparation work where the work zone speed environment is controlled below the Class 3 threshold. The black bottom design places non-fluorescent black material on the lower portion of the shirt while maintaining lime fluorescent panels on the upper torso, chest, and back where the Class 2 background material measurement and retroreflective tape placement requirements are satisfied — creating a professional two-tone appearance with the compliant lime and reflective elements appropriately positioned for vehicle-driver detection. Performance fabric provides moisture-wicking sweat management for workers in active roles across the range of Class 2 environments, maintaining wearing comfort during sustained physical labor in warm conditions.

Ergodyne GloWear 8294BK Class 2 Hi-Vis Performance Shirt Black Bottom — Key Features

• ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R Class 2 certified — conspicuity for lower-speed traffic and controlled work zones
• Black bottom design — professional two-tone appearance with compliant lime upper panels
• Performance moisture-wicking fabric — sweat management for active physical labor
• Retroreflective tape — low-light and nighttime vehicle-driver conspicuity
• Type R classification — roadway and highway work zone application

Specifications

Class 2 Performance Hi-Vis: Professional Appearance for Urban and Lower-Speed Environments

Class 2 hi-vis programs serve the largest segment of workers who wear hi-vis as PPE — the broader population of construction workers, utility personnel, maintenance crews, and infrastructure workers who are exposed to vehicle traffic in controlled environments at speeds below the Class 3 threshold. Urban construction sites, parking structure maintenance, utility trenching in city streets, warehouse yard operations, and site preparation work all generate vehicle-worker proximity hazards that Class 2 hi-vis addresses without requiring the maximum Class 3 coverage appropriate for high-speed highway environments. The 8294BK's performance fabric extends the sweat management benefits of moisture-wicking construction to Class 2 programs: utility workers performing trench excavation and pavement repair in urban environments, construction laborers on site preparation, and maintenance crews performing outdoor tasks in summer conditions all benefit from the same moisture transport that performance fabric provides for Class 3 highway workers. Black bottom accent design serves the appearance standards that urban and municipal programs frequently emphasize: city maintenance crews, utility workers in residential neighborhoods, and construction personnel on visible urban projects represent the contracting organization in public-facing environments where neat, professional appearance communicates quality and competence alongside regulatory compliance. The lime upper panels and retroreflective tape meet Class 2 requirements in the torso area where background material measurement and tape placement satisfy the standard — drivers approaching from any direction can detect the worker through the visible lime and reflective panels that Class 2 requires, while the black lower panels create the cleaner, more professional appearance that distinguishes crews in high-visibility public urban work.

Compliance and Certifications

• ANSI/ISEA 107 — Type R Class 2 certified
• MUTCD compliance — meets hi-vis requirements for applicable work zone speeds

Real-World Benefits

Black bottom design provides a professional two-tone appearance for Class 2 programs in urban and public-facing work environments — satisfying both the ANSI 107 Class 2 compliance requirement and the organizational appearance standards that urban infrastructure programs apply to public-facing crews working in residential and commercial areas. Municipal maintenance contractors and urban utility crews who have adopted black-accent Class 2 shirts report improved crew appearance perception from the public and client organizations, with consistent compliance maintained through the lime upper panels' Class 2 certification.

Performance moisture-wicking fabric supports sustained wearing compliance during warm-weather active work in Class 2 environments — reducing the heat and sweat discomfort that drives informal compliance modifications in standard fabric hi-vis shirts during summer urban construction and maintenance operations. Utility and construction foremen who have issued performance fabric Class 2 shirts to crews find better shirt-on compliance during hot afternoons compared to standard fabric alternatives, reducing the supervision overhead required for garment compliance monitoring during peak heat periods.

Applications and Use Cases

• Urban construction and utility — Class 2 performance hi-vis for city environment crews — 8294BK for urban construction workers and utility crews in lower-speed work zones where Class 2 compliance satisfies the traffic speed requirement and black bottom accent provides professional appearance in public-facing urban environments
• Municipal maintenance programs — professional Class 2 for public-facing infrastructure — black bottom performance Class 2 for municipal road, utility, and parks maintenance crews in public environments where professional crew appearance is a program requirement alongside ANSI 107 compliance
• Construction site and warehouse — Class 2 hi-vis for vehicle-pedestrian environments — 8294BK for construction site workers and warehouse yard personnel in vehicle-traffic environments requiring Class 2 hi-vis where performance fabric supports physical labor and black accent maintains professional program appearance

Related Products

For GloWear 8292 Class 2 performance short sleeve, see Ergodyne GloWear 8292 Class 2 Performance Short Sleeve. For GloWear 8371BK Class 3 performance shirt with black front, see Ergodyne GloWear 8371BK Class 3 Performance Shirt Black Front. For GloWear 8284 Class 2 standard fabric long sleeve, see Ergodyne GloWear 8284 Class 2 Hi-Vis Long Sleeve Shirt. Browse the complete Hi-Vis Safety Apparel collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Class 2 appropriate versus Class 3 for construction and utility workers?

ANSI/ISEA 107 and MUTCD provide guidance for class selection based on traffic speed and work zone conditions. Class 2 is appropriate for workers exposed to traffic traveling under 50 mph in controlled work zones with flagging or traffic control devices in place — urban construction sites, lower-speed road maintenance, parking lots, and warehouse yards where vehicle speeds are controlled. Class 3 is required for workers in high-speed environments (over 50 mph), complex traffic zones, night work, and environments with reduced visibility. For projects with both Class 2 and Class 3 areas (urban arterial with Class 2, adjacent highway ramp with Class 3), different zones may require different classes — verify the applicable class with your traffic control plan and project specifications.

Can the 8294BK be upgraded to Class 3 for workers who may enter both zones?

The 8294BK is certified only to Class 2 — it cannot be "upgraded" to Class 3 by adding vest layers, because ANSI 107 compliance requires the complete garment system to meet Class requirements, not combinations of Class 2 garments. For workers who regularly move between Class 2 and Class 3 environments, specifying a Class 3 garment provides compliance in both zones — a Class 3 garment satisfies Class 2 requirements as well. Workers who occasionally enter Class 3 zones can wear the 8294BK with a Class 3 compliant vest over it, but the total visible system must meet Class 3 requirements when the vest is worn.

How does moisture-wicking performance differ between the 8294BK and non-performance Class 2 shirts like the 8284?

The 8294BK's performance polyester fabric uses fiber and weave engineering that creates a moisture gradient — the inner surface stays drier by moving liquid outward faster than standard weaves. The 8284 and other non-performance models use standard hi-vis fabric that absorbs and holds moisture without the active transport function. The practical difference is most apparent during sustained physical activity in warm conditions: performance fabric wearers maintain a drier skin contact interface throughout active work periods, while standard fabric becomes progressively wetter and heavier as perspiration accumulates. For roles with moderate physical activity or cooler conditions, the performance difference is less meaningful — the cost premium for performance fabric is best justified for physically active work in warm environments.