2014 Traffic Sign Retroreflective Sheeting Identification Guide

This document is intended to help identify sign sheeting materials for rigid signs and their common specification designations. It is not a qualified 

product list. FHWA does not endorse or approve sign sheeting materials. Many other sheeting materials not listed here are available for delineation 

and construction/work zone uses.

Many sign sheeting materials have watermarks and/or patterns that are used to identify the material type and manufacturer. The watermarks shown in 

this guide have been enhanced. The watermarks will be less visible in practice and may not be present on smaller pieces of sheeting due to the spacing.

Retroreflective Sheeting Materials Made with Glass Beads

Example of Sheeting

(Shown to scale)

ASTM D4956-04 I II II III III III III III

ASTM D4956-13 I II II III III III III III

AASHTO M268-13 (1) (1) (1) A A A A A

Manufacturer Several 

companies

Avery 

Dennison® Nippon Carbide 3MTM ATSM, Inc. Avery Dennison® Nippon Carbide ORAFOL Americas Inc

Brand Name Engineer Grade Super Engr 

Grade

Super Engr 

Grade High Intensity High Intensity High Intensity High Intensity ORALITE®High Intensity

Series Several T-2000 15000 2800

3800 ATSM HI T-5500 N500 5800

NOTES: (2) (8) (3) (4) (9) (4) (3) (4) (9) (4) (4) (4) (4)

1) Sheeting material does not meet minimum AASHTO classification criteria. 

2) Glass Bead Engineer Grade sheeting is uniform without any patterns or identifying marks. 

3) Material no longer sold in the United States as of the date of this publication.

4) Section 2A.08 of the 2009 MUTCD (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov) does not allow this sheeting type to be used for new legends on green signs.

• ASTM D4956-04 is referenced in Table 2A-3 of the 2009 MUTCD. 

• ASTM D4956-13 is the most current ASTM sign sheeting specification (the 2013 version is designated by “-13”).

• AASHTO M268-13 is the most current AASHTO specification (the 2013 version is designated by “-13”).

 

Manufacturer Contact Information 

3M - http://www.3M.com/roadwaysafety ATSM, Inc. - http://www.atsminc.com

Avery Dennison - http://www.reflectives.averydennison.com Nippon Carbide - http://www.nikkalite.com

ORAFOL Americas Inc. – http://www.orafolamericas.com

FHWA Publication Number: FHWA-SA-14-022. You may download and print the electronic version of this document, available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro
2014 Traffic Sign Retroreflective Sheeting 

Identification Guide

This document is intended to help identify sign sheeting materials for rigid signs and their common specification 

designations. It is not a qualified product list. FHWA does not endorse or approve sign sheeting materials. Many 

other sheeting materials not listed here are available for delineation and construction/work zone uses. 

Many sign sheeting materials have watermarks and/or patterns that are used to identify the material type and

manufacturer. The watermarks shown in this guide have been enhanced. The watermarks will be less visible in 

practice and may not be present on smaller pieces of sheeting due to the spacing.

Retroreflective Sheeting Materials Made with Micro-Prisms 

Example of

Sheeting

(Shown to 

scale)

D4956-04 (5) (5) III, IV III, IV, X (5) (5) (5) / X (5)

D4956-13 I I III, IV III, IV III, IV III, IV VIII VIII

M268-13 (6) (6) B B B B B B

Manufacturer 3MTM Avery 

Dennison®

Avery 

Dennison® 3MTM ORAFOL Americas Inc

Nippon 

Carbide

Nippon 

Carbide 3MTM

Brand Name EGP PEG HIP HIP ORALITE® 

HIP HIM Crystal Grade

Reflective 

Sheeting

Series 3430 T-2500 T-6500 3930 5900/5930 CRG 94000 CRG 92000 3940

NOTES: (8) (8)

Example of

Sheeting

(Shown to 

scale)

D4956-04 VIII VII, VIII, X IX IX (5) (5) (5) (5)

D4956-13 VIII VIII IX IX IX IX XI XI

M268-13 B (7) B B B B D D

Manufacturer Avery 

Dennison® 3MTM 3MTM Avery Dennison®

Nippon 

Carbide

ORAFOL 

Americas Inc 3MTM Avery Dennison®

Brand Name MVP 

Prismatic

Diamond 

GradeTM LDP

Diamond 

GradeTM VIP OmniViewTM Crystal Grade ORALITE® Diamond GradeTM DG3 OmniCubeTM

Series T-7500 3970 3990 T-9500 95000 7900 4000 T-11500

NOTES: (9) (9)

5) Material was either unavailable in 2005 (previous version of this Guide) or unassigned in the 2004 version of ASTM D4956. 

6) Sheeting material does not meet minimum AASHTO classification criteria.

7) Material has been discontinued prior to AASHTO M268-10. 

8) Section 2A.08 of the 2009 MUTCD (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov) does not allow this sheeting type to be used for new yellow 

or orange signs, or new legends on green signs.

9) Material no longer sold in the United States as of the date of this publication.

Resources

Federal Highway Administration – http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/retro

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) – http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov

Texas A&M Transportation Institute – http://tti.tamu.edu/visibility

ASTM – http://www.astm.org AASHTO – http://www.transportation.org