Quick Guide to ASTM D-4956 Sign Sheeting Types and Adhesive Backing Classes – There are nine types and five classes of retroreflective sheeting. Types are determined by conformance to the retro-reflectance, color, and durability requirements (as listed in the standard) and may be of any construction providing that those requirements are met. Common references for each type of retro-reflective…
Retro reflective films that are typed by ASTM D4956 Standards are specified that way because they are used as sign sheeting. (backgrounds for highway and road signs) These include ASTM D4956 Type I – XI. There are some crossovers such as V82 School Bus tape that can be used as Type 5 sign sheeting, or…
Type 1 (Engineer Grade) – Highway Signage, Construction Zone Devices, Traffic Delineators Type 1 (Flexible Engineer Grade) – Vehicle and Other Graphics (Enclosed Lens – Glass Bead Type) D4956 Type I Retro Reflective Sheeting – Available in both standard and flexible versions. Medium intensity retro reflective sheeting is normally referred to as an “engineering grade”….
Type 2 (Super Engineer Grade) – Highway Signage, Construction Zone Devices, Graphics and Traffic Delineators (Enclosed Lens – Glass Bead Type) ASTM D4956 Type 2 Retro Reflective Sheeting – Medium High Intensity retro-reflective sheeting is designated as “super engineer grade”. This film is double the brightness of type 1 engineer grade. Common commercial applications for this…
Type 3 High Intensity – Highway Signage, Construction Zone Devices, and Traffic Delineators Type 3 Flexible High Intensity – Reboundable applications like Traffic Cones, Zodiac Boats, Banners. (Encapsulated Lens – Glass Bead Type) ASTM D4956 Type 3 Retro Reflective Sheeting – A high-intensity glass bead reflective film used for permanent highway signage, construction zone devices, bollards,…
Type 4 (High Intensity Prismatic) – Highway Signage, Construction Zone devices, and Traffic Delineators Type 4 Sheeting —A high intensity prismatic retro-reflective sheeting. This sheeting is an Unmetallized Microprismatic retro-reflective element (also known as Air Backed) material. This means that the prisms in the film are not given a mirror finish on the back. Instead,…
Type 5 (Metallized Micro Prismatic) – Traffic Delineators and Channelizer Retro Reflective Tape (Enclosed Lens Prismatic) Type 5 Retro Reflective Prismatic Film – A super-high intensity prismatic retro reflective sheeting and the brightest of all retro reflective films. This film is a metallized micro-prismatic retro-reflective element material, and is commonly used for traffic delineators, channelizers,…
Type 6 – Retro Reflective Sheeting with No Adhesive for Temporary Roll Up Signs, Warning Signs, Traffic Cone Collars, and Post Bands Type 6 Retro Reflective Sheeting – A flexible elastomeric high-intensity prismatic retro-reflective sheeting without adhesive. This sheeting is typically a PVC vinyl based micro-prismatic reflective material. It is made so it can be rolled…
Type 7 – Highway Traffic Signs, Construction Zone Devices, and Traffic Delineators (Discontinued – replaced by Type 8 & 11 sheeting for signs and Type 5 sheeting for zone devices and delineators) Type 7 Reflective Sheeting – An ultra high intensity prismatic retro-reflective sheeting having the best retro-reflectivity characteristics at LONG and medium road distances. (brightest…
Type 8 – Highway Signage, Construction Zone Devices, and Traffic Delineators (more commonly used sheeting than type 7) Type 8 Retro Reflective Sheeting – Super high intensity prismatic retro-reflective sheeting having the highest retro-reflectivity characteristics (along with Type 7) at LONG and medium road distances. (see RA values of Table 2 at 0.1° and 0.2° observation…
