And then there was light

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One time nightclub boss Andy Kimitri was so frustrated with not being able to see his security teams properly in the event of an incident he decided to do something about it. Four years later he launched Fhoss, a global technology company dedicated to improving the visibility of those working in dimly lit conditions and the dark. Georgina Bisby reports from the company's inaugural product launch in Tunbridge Wells

On a March evening (before the clocks went forward) I joined Fhoss Technology and a number of safety industry stakeholders to take a train from Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells to deepest darkest Groombridge.

When we disembarked the train at Groombridge Station, the station lights were switched off and we were asked to look down the track and guess how many people were standing on the line. Despite the fact that the people in question were wearing high visibility clothing, because there was no surrounding light source we couldn't see any of them. High visibility reflective tapes work on the principle that they actively collect light and then reflect it back towards the light source so, as in this case, when there's no light, there's no visibility. It wasn't until the volunteers switched on their Fhoss garments that they could be seen and they could themselves see.

Fhoss's clothing system comprises a light emitting reflective tape which combines traditional reflective tape with an electroluminescent core. This sits behind the semi-transparent tape and actively emits light. Therefore when light is not available the tape emits light as if it were reflecting it.

The tape is powered by a specially developed, mini rechargeable powercell, which is located in a small pocket on the garment and will run for 12 hours constantly.

As Fhoss tape does not rely on an external light source, it can be seen from over 300m away so a vehicle travelling at 70mph for example (110km/h or 30m/sec) has ample warning to slow down making the product particularly suitable for railway and highway workers, emergency services and construction personnel.

The idea of supplementing high visibility clothing with an electroluminescent device isn't revolutionary. Protective equipment such as head torches are popular and there are cord devices on the market which can be worn over clothing, but according to Fhoss existing options have their limitations and their design is the only comprehensive clothing system which meets En/BS standards and incorporates an intrinsically safe power cell.

What is also a unique and patented part of the Fhoss offering is the antientanglement system: "The system allows workers to remove their safety vests if the garments become tangled or trapped in machinery, meaning they have a better chance of avoiding injury," says Fhoss CEO, Andy Kimitri.

Andy is also keen to emphasise that the Fhoss clothing system is not just designed for use at night but also for when there is poor visibility during daylight hours when Fhoss is hopeful that the workwear could significantly reduce accidents.

Andy points to the successful introduction of daytime running car lights as an indicator of its potential success.

Studies into the effect of daytime running lights on the car accident rate of an individual car suggest that the use of these headlamps reduce crashes by around 15% which is a significant accident reduction for a very simple change.

The simplicity of the Fhoss concept raises questions about why anyone hasn't produced a similar product before. Andy suggests that while it's a simple idea, it's execution has been far from straight forward and it has been a lengthy and costly process to develop a product which is of a high enough quality to make it suitable and feasible for the industries which would benefit from it most: "This is the next generation of personal protective equipment (PPE) and much more advanced than the high visibility jackets, trousers and vests workers wear that have been around for more than 50 years and have hardly changed. This isn't just reflective clothing. It is one step ahead, or even a giant leap forward," suggests Andy.

Further regional launches of the product are planned across the UK throughout the year so if you are interested in seeing the range for yourself keep an eye on www.Fhoss.com for more details.