High Intensity and Engineer Grade Chevron Stripes / Tapes - NFPA 1901
In 2009 Fire Apparatus and Emergency vehicles will be subject to new guidelines in regards to reflective striping. The new standards call for striping on the front, sides and rear of all fire and emergency apparatus. A reflective type I tape or better is recommended. Type I tapes are also referred to as engineer grade reflective films. They are the most common and the most affordable class of tape and generally carry a 7 year outdoor life. Type 3 tapes are known as high intensity reflective tape and are more expensive but are still fairly affordable. They are normally rated for 10 years outdoors. We carry the type 1 and 3 reflective sheeting in both yellow and red and in both 4" and 6" by 150 foot rolls. We carry a full line of reflective tapes at our Main Reflective Store. If you prefer a brighter prismatic tape we have those at our Reflects-Light reflective store. We carry reflective dots, overlays and squares for creating chevron striping on diamond tread plate at our Reflective Shapes Store.
The specifics of the new regulation are as follows:
NFPA 1901 Standards For Retro Reflective Striping on Fire Trucks and Emergency Vehicles
REFLECTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOORS
14.1.6 Any door of the apparatus designed to allow persons
to enter or exit the apparatus shall have at least 96 in.2
(62,000 mm2) of retroreflective material affixed to the inside
of the door.
15.9.3.1* A retroreflective stripe(s) shall be affixed to at least
50 percent of the cab and body length on each side, excluding
the pump panel areas, and at least 25 percent of the width of
the front of the apparatus.
15.9.3.1.1 The stripe or combination of stripes shall be a
minimum of 4 in. (100 mm) in total width.
15.9.3.1.2 The 4 in. (100 mm) wide stripe or combination of
stripes shall be permitted to be interrupted by objects (i.e.,
receptacles, cracks between slats in roll up doors) provided
the full stripe is seen as conspicuous when approaching the
apparatus.
15.9.3.1.3 A graphic design shall be permitted to replace all
or part of the required striping material if the design or combination
thereof covers at least the same perimeter length(s)
required by 15.9.3.1.
REFLECTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE
15.9.3.2 At least 50 percent of the rear-facing vertical surfaces,
visible from the rear of the apparatus, excluding any
pump panel areas not covered by a door, shall be equipped
with retroreflective striping in a chevron pattern sloping
downward and away from the centerline of the vehicle at an
angle of 45 degrees.
15.9.3.2.1 Each stripe in the chevron shall be a single color
alternating between red and yellow.
15.9.3.2.2 Each stripe shall be 6 in. (150 mm) in width.
15.9.3.3 All retroreflective materials required by 15.9.3.1 and
15.9.3.2 shall conform to the requirements of ASTM D 4956,
Standard Specification for Retroreflective Sheeting for Traffic Control,
Section 6.1.1 for Type I Sheeting.
15.9.3.3.1 All retroreflective materials used to satisfy the requirements
of 15.9.3.1 that are colors not listed in ASTM D 4956,
Section 6.1.1, shall have a minimum coefficient of retroreflection
of 10 with observation angle of 0.2 degrees and entrance angle of
−4 degrees.
15.9.3.3.3 Any printed or processed retroreflective film construction
used to meet the requirements of 15.9.3.1 and
15.9.3.2 shall conform to the standards required of an integral
colored film as specified in ASTM D 4956, Section 6.1.1.
REFLECTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE
19.18.11 Where the design of the aerial device incorporates a
knuckle, the knuckle shall be as follows:
(1) Equipped with position lights or continuously illuminated
by boom lights
(2) Painted with reflective paint or provided with retroreflective
Striping
19.21.4.3 All stabilizers that protrude beyond the body of the
apparatus shall be striped or painted with retroreflective material
so as to indicate a hazard or obstruction.
Engineer grade or Type 1 reflective tape is simply a solid color in daylight to the naked eye. When light hits the tape it is reflected to the source and the reflective tape lights up. Engineer grade type 1 tapes reflect at a rate of about 75 candlepower for white and less for other colors.
This material is commonly used on emergency vehicles and makes up the majority of the reflective lettering that you see on fire apparatus. We carry the flexible engineer grade version because it will stretch if necessary and conform making it perfect for applications on vehicles.
High intensity or type 3 reflective tape is characterized by a honeycomb pattern (encapsulated lens reflective tape). Within each honey comb grid there are high concentrations of glass beads. This concentration of beads makes for a much brighter tape. High Intensity tapes reflects at a rate of around 250 candlepower for the white and less for other colors. Orange safety cones and road barrels use this material as well as many street signs. Quite a few fire departments prefer the high intensity type 3 material because it can be seen from further away and has a longer outdoor life.
Click Here for Engineer Grade Type I Reflective Tape in 4" Widths
Click Here for Engineer Grade Type I Reflective Tape in 6" Widths
Click Here for High Intensity Type III Reflective Tape in 4" or 6" Widths
Click Here to see our Pre-Made Reflective Chevron Panels
Click Here to see all of our Widths, Colors and Types of Reflective Tapes.
Click Here to see our Pavement Marking Tapes and Road Markers.
To visit our main safety products site Click Here.
Good Article on Accident Reduction through Visibility Enhancement Click Here.
If you have any questions about which tape is right for your application or need samples feel free to email me at steve@reflectivestore.com
Steve Cole - Owner
850-934-3157
