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  • Basics
    • Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Reflective Tape
    • 41 Kinds of Reflective Tape That We Stock – Which One is Right for Your Application?
    • What is Retro Reflective Tape?
    • How Does Reflective Tape Work?
    • How Micro Prismatic Retro Reflective Tape Is Made
    • The Invention and History of Reflective Tape
    • The History of Reflective Traffic Signs
    • What is the Brightest Reflective Tape?
    • Reflective Versus Retro Reflective Tape – What’s the Difference?
    • Glass Bead Versus Micro Prismatic Retro Reflective Tapes
    • Understanding Distinctions Between Fluorescent and Retroreflective Materials
    • Which Reflective Tape is Best for Your Application?
    • Is Applying Reflective Tape on Your Vehicle Legal?
    • Reflective Tape – Five Adhesive Backing Classes
    • Studies - Safety Benefits of Reflective Tape
    • Mistakes Made Applying DOT C2 Truck Tape That Cause Accidents, Injuries and Fatalities
    • ORALITE® P82 vs. D96 vs. AC1000 Metalized – Photo Electric Reflective Tape Comparison
  • Science
    • Air Backed Non Metallized versus Metallized Reflective Tapes
    • Reflective Tape (Sheeting) Entrance and Observation Angles
    • Chromaticity (Color) of Retro Reflective Tape
    • Scattered, Specular, and Retro Reflective – Different Types of Reflectivity
    • Definition of Conspicuity – Elements of Visibility
    • Difference – Reflectivity, Refraction and Diffraction of Light
    • Types of Luminescense – Fluorescence, Photoluminescence, Bioluminescence, Phosphorescence, Etc..
    • What is Fluorescent Reflective Tape?
  • Regulations
    • MUTCD Minimum Reflectivity Standards for Signs – 2022 Revisions
    • NFPA 1901 – Reflective Chevron Striping for Fire Trucks and Apparatus
    • Ambulance Reflective Chevron Marking Regulation – NFPA 1917
    • FRA 224 – R99 Rail Car Marking Regulation
    • DOT C2 Conspicuity Marking for Tractor Trailers – Federal FMCSA NHTSA DOT Regulation
    • DOT C2 Tape – FMCSA Requirements to be Certified
    • FMCSA 393.11 DOT C2 Tape Regulation – (Exact Text)
    • Clarifying Conspicuity Tape Requirements for Straight Box Trucks
    • Airport Vehicle Reflective Tape Requirements – FAA Circular
    • FHWA Regulation for Reflective Tape on Rail Road Crossings (Crossbucks)
    • FMVSS 131 / FMVSS 217 Reflective Markings on School Buses
    • SOLAS Reflective Tape – USCG 46 CFR, section 164.018 and IMO Resolution A.658(16)
    • Channelizing Devices, Barricades, Drums, Cones, MUTCD Regulations (Reflective Tape)
    • Traffic Cone Reflective Collars (Bands) – MUTCD 6F.64 Regulation
    • Traffic Control Gate Arms & Railroad Crossings – Reflective Tape Requirements – MUTCD
    • Trailer Lighting & Reflective Tape Marking Requirements Poster – DOT / NHTSA
    • USACE (Army Corp of Engineers) Gate Marking Requirements
    • Inland Waterways – Retro Reflective Tape Requirement for Buoys and Navigational Aids
    • New York City Restaurant Street Seating Regulations – Reflective Sheeting Requirements
  • ASTM Types
    • Quick Reference – Reflective Tape Types & Backing Classes
    • Non Typed Films : FRA-RGA-SOLAS-DOT C2-V92-V98-P82-V99 (non sign applications)
    • ASTM D4956 Type 1 – Engineer Grade Reflective Tape
    • ASTM D4956 Type 2 – Super Engineer Grade Reflective Tape
    • ASTM D4956 Type 3 – High Intensity Reflective Tape
    • ASTM D4956 Type 4 – High Intensity Prismatic Reflective Tape
    • ASTM D4956 Type 5 – Traffic Delineator & Channelizer Reflective Tape
    • ASTM D4956 Type 6 – Roll Up / Temporary Retro Reflective Signs
    • ASTM D4956 Type 7 – Highway Signs, Construction Zones, Delineators (discontinued)
    • ASTM D4956 Type 8 – Traffic Sheeting , Construction Zone Devices, Delineators
    • ASTM D4956 Type 9 – Wide Observation Angle Retro Reflective Sheeting
    • ASTM D4956 Type 10 – Highway Signage, Construction Zone, Delineators (discontinued)
    • ASTM D4956 Type 11 – Super High Intensity Wide Observation Angle Highway Signage
  • Applications
    • Best Uses for Reflective Safety Tapes
    • NFPA Chevron Panels & Striping for Fire Trucks & Apparatus
    • Reflective Tape and Sheeting for Work Zones (Temporary Traffic Control)
    • Reflective Tape For Marking School Buses – FMVSS 571.131 & 571.217 Regulations
    • Reflective Word and Message Panels for Trucks and Utility Vehicles
    • Reflective Tape for Roll Off Containers, Dumpsters, and Trash Cans
    • Making Fire Hydrants More Visible With Colored Reflective Tape
    • Using Reflective Tape to Mark Cattle and Livestock Ear Tags
    • Reflective Tape for Horse & Livestock Trailers
  • Other Products
    • Reflective Glass Beads (Spheres) and the Part They Play in Safety
    • What is Reflective Paint?
  • Colors
    • Nikkalite EG – Colors
    • Nikkalite ELG – Colors
    • Nikkalite SEG – Colors
    • Nikkalite ULG – Colors
    • Nikkalite HIM – Colors
    • Nikkalite CRG – Colors
    • Oralite V82 – Colors
    • Oralite V92 – Colors
    • Oralite V98 – Colors
    • Oralite 5650 RA – Colors
    • Oralite 5700 – Colors
    • Oralite 5900 – Colors
    • Oralite 5930 – Colors
    • Oralite 5934 Colors – Solid
    • Oralite 7900 – Colors
    • Oralite 9900 – Colors
    • Striped Barricade (EG-ULG-HIM-5934) – Colors
    • Oralite V98 Striped – Colors
    • Oralite DOT C2 Tapes – Colors
    • Oralite School Bus Tape – Colors
    • Oralite Rail Gate Arm – Colors
    • Oralite FRA 224 – Colors
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    • Oralite P82 Photo Electric – Colors
    • Oralite Roll Up Banner Material – Colors
    • Oralite GP020 – Colors
    • Oralite GP025 – Color
    • Oralite GP330 – Colors
    • Oralite GP440 – Colors
    • Oralite GP801 – Colors
    • FTP2500 Diamond Colors
    • Oralite Cone Collars – Colors
  • Spec Sheets
    • Type 1 – Engineer Grade (Nikkalite) Spec Sheet
    • Type 1 – “Flexible” Engineer Grade (Nikkalite) Spec Sheet
    • Type 1 – “Fleet” Engineer Grade (Oralite 5600 Rapid Air Repositionable) Spec Sheet
    • Type 1 “Fleet” Engineer Grade (Oralite 5650 Rapid Air) Specifications Sheet
    • Type 1 – “Fleet” Engineer Grade (Oralite 5700) Spec Sheet
    • Type 2 Super Engineer Grade (Nikkalite) Specifications Sheet
    • Type 3 High Intensity Grade (Nikkalite) Specifications Sheet
    • Type 4 High Intensity Prismatic (Nikkalite HIM & Oralite 5930 5934) Spec Sheet
    • Type 5 Ultra Bright Metallized Prismatic (Oralite V82) Specifications Sheet
    • Type 6 Roll Up Work Zone Signs (Oralite) Specifications Sheet
    • Type 7 Permanent Highway Signs (discontinued)
    • Type 8 Permanent Highway Sign Sheeting (Nikkalite CRG) Specifications Sheet
    • Type 9 – Wide Observation (Oralite 7900) Spec Sheet
    • Type 10 Permanent Highway Signage (discontinued)
    • Type 11 – Ultra Bright Wide Observation (Oralite 9900) Spec Sheet
    • V98 Pre-Striped Chevron Marking Tape (Oralite) Specifications Sheet
    • DOT C2 Conspicuity Tape (Oralite V52-V82-V92) Specifications Sheet
    • FRA 224 Rail Car Reflective Tape (Oralite R99) Spec Sheet
    • Rail Gate Arm Reflective Tape (Oralite – RGA) Specifications Sheet
    • School Bus Reflective Tape (Oralite V59-V82-V99) Specifications Sheet
    • SOLAS Marine Grade Reflective (Oralite) Specifications Sheet
    • V92 Daybright Prismatic Graphics Film (Oralite) Specifications Sheet
    • V98 Conformable Graphics Film (Oralite) Specifications Sheet
    • 3M™ 983 Chevron Striping Reflective Tape – Spec Sheet
    • Photo Electric Tape / Sheeting Specifications Sheet P82-P66-AC1000-5900
    • Oralite Super Bright & Marathon Reflective Banner Specs
    • Oralite GP020 Garment Trim – Spec Sheet
    • Oralite GP025 Heat Applied Garment Trim – Spec Sheet
    • Oralite GP330 Garment Trim – Spec Sheet
    • Oralite GP440 Garment Trim – Spec Sheet
    • Oralite GP801 Garment Trim – Spec Sheet
    • Oralite FTP2550 2575 Fire Trim Spec Sheet
  • Product Catalogs
    • Oralite Case Wholesale Prices
    • Oralite Fleet Reflective Films : V98-V92-V82-5650
    • Oralite Conspicuity : DOT-Rail-School-AGR-V98
    • Oralite Work Zone : 5930-5934-5935-Roll Up-AR
    • Oralite Marine (SOLAS) Tapes : M82
    • Oralite Garment Trims : GP-UFR-FTP-M82-Shapes
    • Oralite Glass Bead Trims – GP020 GP025 GP027 GP030
    • Oralite Sign Sheeting : 5700-5900-7900-9900
    • PreMark Preformed Thermoplastic Prices
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Category: Science

How Micro Prismatic Retro Reflective Tape Is Made

Posted on January 6, 2024January 27, 2024 by Steve Cole

Prismatic retro-reflective tapes are extremely bright, extending visibility to thousands of feet, surpassing the few hundred feet that older glass bead reflective films are capable of. They were invented by Reflexite in the 1960s by incorporating a cube corner prismatic array with sheeting made of polyester or acrylic. The result was an ultra-bright retro-reflective tape…

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metallized versus non metallized reflective tape

Air Backed Non Metallized versus Metallized Reflective Tapes

Posted on December 23, 2022December 23, 2023 by Steve Cole

In the realm of reflective sheeting, the term metallize means to apply a mirror backing. Specifically, to the bottom of a glass bead or to the back of a prism. This is done to increase its return of light and the overall retro reflectivity of a tape.  When you look in a mirror every morning,…

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entrance observation angle reflective tape

Reflective Tape (Sheeting) Entrance and Observation Angles

Posted on December 23, 2022December 23, 2023 by Steve Cole

Specification sheets on reflective material often reference the terms “Observation Angle” and “Entrance Angle”.  You often see metrics like the following – (Observation Angle : .20 / Entrance Angle : -4) or (Observation Angle – .50 / Entrance Angle : 30), where the observation metric is normally very small, and the entrance metric is much…

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chromaticity of reflective tape

Chromaticity (Color) of Retro Reflective Tape

Posted on December 24, 2022December 23, 2023 by Steve Cole

An explanation of chromaticity and its value in relation to reflective tapes. Chromaticity is defined as an objective, numerical indicator of the quality of a color that stays consistent without regard to the light that is illuminating it.  It is the quality of color of an object, independent of brightness.  A universal language is something…

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different types of reflectivity

Scattered, Specular, and Retro Reflective – Different Types of Reflectivity

Posted on December 25, 2022December 23, 2023 by Steve Cole

Most objects in the universe are capable of reflecting light in some way, which is why we can see them. Light that is reflected is also why we see colors. Objects absorb some colors or wavelengths of light, and reflect others. Even a black surface that is glossy reflects. To reflect simply means that light…

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elements characteristics conspicuity visibility

Definition of Conspicuity – Elements of Visibility

Posted on December 28, 2022December 23, 2023 by Steve Cole

Accidents from collisions often result in property damage, personal injury, and fatalities, and whether an accident from a collision is minor or severe, the fact is, they are almost always avoidable.  The key is visibility, conspicuity, and driver alertness. Conspicuity is defined as the property of being clearly discernible. The state or quality of being clear…

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light reflection refraction diffraction

Difference – Reflectivity, Refraction and Diffraction of Light

Posted on December 27, 2022December 23, 2023 by Steve Cole

The difference between light reflection, light refraction, and light diffraction is simple. With reflection, the light rays striking a surface return towards the originating source of light as the waves spring or bounce off the surface. In refraction, the waves go through a clear medium, and as they travel through it, their speed and direction are altered. In other words, refraction…

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luminous versus fluorescence versus phosphorescence

Types of Luminescense – Fluorescence, Photoluminescence, Bioluminescence, Phosphorescence, Etc..

Posted on December 3, 2023December 22, 2023 by Steve Cole

Types of Luminescence Luminescence manifests itself in various forms, each defined by distinct mechanisms and characteristics. The key types of luminescence include fluorescence, bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, phosphorescence, crystalloluminescence, photoluminescence, electroluminescence, mechanoluminescence, radioluminescence, and thermoluminescence. Chemiluminescence Chemiluminescence involves the emission of light resulting from a chemical reaction. This phenomenon is observable by bending and shaking a light…

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What is Fluorescent Reflective Tape?

Posted on December 17, 2023December 23, 2023 by Steve Cole

Fluorescent reflective tape is a type of retroreflective sheeting designed to enhance visibility in both standard and low-light conditions by combining fluorescent colors with reflective properties. This type of reflective tape typically features a fluorescent base layer created using special inks that emit a specific kind of light. The fluorescent effect is akin to glow-in-the-dark…

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