2011 Traffic Sign Retroreflective Sheeting Identification Guide

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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.

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 D4956-09 I II II III III III III III
AASHTO M268-10 (1) (1) (1) A A A A A
Manufacturer Several companies Avery Dennison® Nippon Carbide 3M™ ATSM, Inc. Avery Dennison® Nippon Carbide Oracal
Brand Name Engineer Grade Super Engr Grade Super Engr Grade High Intensity High Intensity High Intensity High Intensity High Intensity
Series Several T-2000 15000 2800
3800		 ATSM HI T-5500 N500 5800
NOTES: (2) (3) (4) (4) (3) (4) (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. 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.
(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 overhead signs.
  • ASTM D4956-04 is referenced in Table 2A-3 of the 2009 MUTCD.
  • ASTM D4956-09 is the most current ASTM sign sheeting specification (the 2009 version is designated by “-09”).
  • AASHTO M268-10 Types for this Guide are based only on retroreflective properties and not other unique AASHTO requirements such as color.
Manufacturer Contact Information

FHWA Publication Number: FHWA-SA-11-14. For additional copies of this document, please send request to report.center@dot.gov

Retroreflective Sheeting Materials Made with Prisms
Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale)
D4956-04 (5) III, IV III, IV, X (5) (5) / X (5) VIII VII, VIII, X
D4956-09 I III, IV III, IV IV IV / VIII VIII VIII VIII
M268-10 (6) B B B B B B (9)
Manufacturer 3M™ Avery Dennison® 3M™ Reflexite® Nippon Carbide 3M™ Avery Dennison® 3M™
Brand Name Engr Grade Prismatic High Intensity Prismatic High Intensity Prismatic High Intensity Prismatic Crystal Grade Reflective Sheeting MVP Prismatic Diamond Grade™ LDP
Series 3430 T-6500 3930 IC400 94000 / 92000 3940 T-7500 3970
NOTES: (7)       (8)     (10)
 
NOTES:Example of Sheeting (Shown to scale) NOTE: The watermarks have been enhanced in this ID Guide. They are shown to scale but are not as visible on actual sheeting materials. It helps to view the sheeting materials at different angles to see the watermarks. The spacing of the watermarks varies and therefore watermarks may not be present on small pieces of sheeting.
D4956-04 IX IX (5) (5) (5)
D4956-09 IX IX IX XI XI
M268-10 B B B D D
Manufacturer 3M™ Avery Dennison® Nippon Carbide 3M™ Avery Dennison®
Brand Name Diamond Grade™ VIP OmniView™ Crystal Grade Diamond Grade™ DG3 OmniCube™
Series 3990 T-9500 95000 4000 T-11500
NOTES:          
(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) – 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.
(8) – These two materials (94000 and 92000) are visually indistinguishable from one another.
(9) – Material has been discontinued prior to AASHTO M268-10.
(10) – Material no longer sold in the United States as of the date of this publication.
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