The Science of Color as it Pertains to Retro Reflective Signs Color is a universal language. At traffic lights across the country and around the world, drivers understand to stop on red and to go on green. For signs, drivers recognize yellow as caution, red as stop, white as the speed limit, and green as …
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Technical data sheets on retro reflective tape often reference the terms “Entrance Angle” and “Observation Angle”. Normally something to the effect of – (Observation Angle : .20 / Entrance Angle : -4) or (Observation Angle – .50 / Entrance Angle : 30), where the observation metric is normally very small, and the entrance metric being …
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11 Reflective Tape Types – (www.tapedealer.com) When it comes to retro-reflective films, a common misunderstanding is that Type 1 through Type 11 designations represent the brightness of the tape from lowest to highest. While this is true to an extent, the type, (1-11) actually applies to the application of each tape in road way signs …
The Beginning of Reflective Signs – (www.tapedealer.com) The history of reflective elements on signage began with the creation of the Cataphote or glass cats eye by an inventor named Percy Shaw. The little glass cataphotes were used in the center of roadways, and also on signs themselves. Up until this time, signs were painted in …
History of Reflective Paint – (www.tapedealer.com) Who actually invented reflective paint? The following outlines the invention and advancement of ready mixed Retro Reflective Coatings (also known as Reflective Paints) from their inception until now. Ready mixed simply means that the reflective glass spheres are already in the paint mix, making the application a one …
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FRA 224 Specifications for Rail Cars – (www.tapedealer.com) Note – this is a synopsis of the FRA 224 regulation. For specific requirements on markings for rail cars, the full regulation should be referenced. There is much more information in the full text than is in this article. Full regulation link. The FRA 224 regulations for …
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Reflective Tape for New York Restaurants – (www.tapedealer.com) In an effort to slow the spread of COVID 19, many cities have implemented regulations designed to allow people to distance themselves from each other while at the same time continue to carry out their normal day to day activities. One of these activities is dining out. …
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Reflective Chevron Stripes for Ambulances – (www.tapedealer.com) In 2013 the NFPA officially added Chevron Striping guidelines to their recommendations for Ambulances operating in the US. The guidelines are contained within the NFPA 1917 manual. The recommendations are basically a cut and paste from their NFPA 1901 manual for Chevron Striping for Fire Apparatus made official …
NFPA 1901 Specifications for Fire Trucks – (www.tapedealer.com) The NFPA 1901 recommendation deals with the marking of fire apparatus and emergency vehicles. The recommendation covers the application of reflective tape to the rear of the vehicle in the form of chevron striping, the side of the vehicle and the front. Many insurance companies are requiring …
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Brightest Reflective Tape – (www.tapedealer.com) I have people contact me all the time asking the question “Which reflective tape is the brightest?”. The quick and easy answer to this question would be a white or silver colored micro prismatic retro-reflective tape. Oralite SOLAS would be an example of this grade and color of tape. It …