MAINTENANCE OF REFLECTIVE SIGNS

The deterioration of reflective sign sheeting in New York State is examined, and the effectiveness of sign washing and clear-coating for restoring or preserving reflectivity of enclosed-lens engineer-grade sheeting is assessed. Generally, little benefit was achieved by washing all signs in the fall. However, changes in sign brightness, as measured by a retroreflectometer, indicate that significant brightness loss may occur during winter due to dirt accumulation, but that most signs recover after spring rains. The few that do not recover are readily identified by daytime visual inspection and would be the best candidates for washing. A large portion of these chronically dirty signs are located along high-volume highways, close to the pavement, and in industrial areas. The practice of clear-coating did not help maintain sheeting brightness; for the small sample included in this study, it had a detrimental effect. Candidates for replacement can be determined by nighttime visual inspection. Daytime cosmetic appearance alone should not determine need for replacement because signs with cracked or otherwise deteriorated sheeting may still provide adequate night visibility. Average sheeting life could not be determined in this study because no records were available for signs that had been replaced. An examination of the signs still in service determined that service lives of 15 yr in New York State are not unusual for enclosed-lens sheeting. Sign-replacement rates reported by maintenance engineers confirm that engineer-grade sheeting may retain adequate reflectivity for 15 yr or more. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1983/933/933-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MAINTENANCE+OF+REFLECTIVE+SIGNS&author=W.+Kenyon&author=G.+Gurney&author=J.+Bryden&publication_year=1983
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309036232
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Coatings, Signing and Marking Materials. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Kenyon, Wayne D
  • Gurney, Gary F
  • Bryden, James E
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-8
• Monograph Title: TRAFFIC DELINEATION, WORK-ZONE PROTECTION, AND WINTER MAINTENANCE
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 933
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brightness; Deterioration; Inspection; Maintenance; Reflective signs; Retroreflectors; Service life; Vision; Washing
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386442
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309036232
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM