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                2014 Traffic Sign Retroreflective Sheeting Identification Guide
    

    
    
          sheetguide2014.pdf (537.72 KB)


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)
			Example of Sheeting
			Example of Sheeting
			Example of Sheeting
			Example of Sheeting
			Example of Sheeting
			Example of Sheeting
			""Example of Sheeting
			Example of SheetingASTM D4956-04
			I
			II
			II
			III
			III
			III
			III
			IIIASTM D4956-13
			I
			II
			II
			III
			III
			III
			III
			IIIAASHTO M268-13
			(1)
			(1)
			(1)
			A
			A
			A
			A
			AManufacturer
			Several companies
			Avery Dennison®
			Nippon Carbide
			3MTM
			ATSM, Inc.
			Avery Dennison®
			Nippon Carbide
			ORAFOL Americas IncBrand Name
			Engineer Grade
			Super Engr Grade
			Super Engr Grade
			High Intensity
			High Intensity
			High Intensity
			High Intensity
			ORALITE® High IntensitySeries
			Several
			T-2000
			15000
			2800 3800
			ATSM HI
			T-5500
			N500
			5800NOTES:
			(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

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-Prism**
	Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			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
			VIIIM268-13
			(6)
			(6)
			B
			B
			B
			B
			B
			BManufacturer
			3MTM
			Avery Dennison®
			Avery Dennison®
			3MTM
			ORAFOL Americas Inc
			Nippon Carbide
			Nippon Carbide
			3MTMBrand Name
			EGP
			PEG
			HIP
			HIP
			ORALITE® HIP
			HIM
			Crystal Grade
			Reflective SheetingSeries
			3430
			T-2500
			T-6500
			3930
			5900/5930
			CRG 94000
			CRG 92000
			3940NOTES:
			(8)
			(8)Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
			""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
			XIM268-13
			B
			(7)
			B
			B
			B
			B
			D
			DManufacturer
			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
			OmniCubeTMSeries
			T-7500
			3970
			3990
			T-9500
			95000
			7900
			4000
			T-11500NOTES:
			
			(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 – https://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 – https://www.transportation.org
              
      
    
          Last updated: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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