ASTM E1709-08
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable Retroreflectometer at a 0.2 Degree Observation Angle
Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable Retroreflectometer at a 0.2 Degree Observation Angle
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Measurements made by this test method are related to the night time brightness of retroreflective traffic signs approximately facing the driver of a mid-sized automobile equipped with tungsten filament headlights at about 200 m distance.
Retroreflective material used on traffic signs degrades with time and requires periodic measurement to ensure that the performance of the retroflection provides adequate safety to the driver.
The quality of the sign as to material used, age, and wear pattern will have an effect on the coefficient of retroreflection. These conditions need to be observed and noted by the user.
This test method is not intended for use for the measurement of signs when the instrument entrance and observation angles differ from those specified herein.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflective properties of sign materials such as traffic signs and symbols (vertical surfaces) using a portable retroreflectometer that can be used in the field. The portable retroreflectometer is a hand-held instrument with a defined standard geometry that can be placed in contact with sign material to measure the retroreflection in a standard geometry. The measurements can be compared to minimum requirements to determine the need for replacement. Entrance and observation angles specified in this test method are those used currently in the United States and may differ from the angles used elsewhere in the world.
1.2 This test method is intended to be used for the field measurement of traffic signs but may be used to measure the performance of materials before placing the sign in the field or before placing the sign material on the sign face.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: E1709 – 08
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable
1
Retroreflectometer at a 0.2 Degree Observation Angle
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1709; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflec- 3.1 The terminology used in this test method generally
tive properties of sign materials such as traffic signs and agrees with that used in Terminology E284.
symbols (vertical surfaces) using a portable retroreflectometer 3.2 Definitions—The delimiting phrase “in retroreflection”
that can be used in the field. The portable retroreflectometer is applies to each of the following definitions when used outside
a hand-held instrument with a defined standard geometry that the context of this or other retroreflection standards.
can be placed in contact with sign material to measure the 3.2.1 annular geometry, n—the portable instrument retrore-
retroreflection in a standard geometry. The measurements can flection collection method where an annular area 0.1 degrees
be compared to minimum requirements to determine the need wide around the illumination axis collects the retroreflected
for replacement. Entrance and observation angles specified in energyatanangletothecenteroftheannularareacorrespond-
this test method are those used currently in the United States ing to a specific observation angle.
and may differ from the angles used elsewhere in the world. 3.2.2 coeffıcient of retroreflection, R , n—ofaplaneretrore-
A
1.2 This test method is intended to be used for the field flecting surface, the ratio of the coefficient of luminous
measurement of traffic signs but may be used to measure the intensity (R) of a plane retroreflecting surface to its area (A),
I
−1 −2
performance of materials before placing the sign in the field or expressedincandelasperluxpersquaremetre(cd·lx ·m ).
before placing the sign material on the sign face. 3.2.3 datum axis, n—adesignatedhalf-linefromtheretrore-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the flector center perpendicular to the retroreflector axis.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.2.4 entrance angle, b, n—the angle between the illumi-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- nation axis and the retroreflector axis.
priate safety and health practices and to determine the 3.2.5 entrance half-plane, n—the half plane that originates
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. on the line of the illumination axis and contains the retrore-
flector axis.
2. Referenced Documents
3.2.6 instrument standard, n—working standard used to
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
standardize the portable retroreflectometer.
E284 Terminology of Appearance 3.2.7 observation angle, a, n—the angle between the illu-
E808 Practice for Describing Retroreflection
mination axis and the observation axis.
E809 PracticeforMeasuringPhotometricCharacteristicsof 3.2.8 observation half-plane, n—the half plane that origi-
Retroreflectors
nates on the line of the illumination axis and contains the
E810 Test Method for Coefficient of Retroreflection of observation axis.
Retroreflective Sheeting Utilizing the Coplanar Geometry
3.2.9 orientation angle, v , n—the angle in a plane perpen-
s
diculartotheretroreflectoraxisfromtheentrancehalf-planeto
the datum axis, measured counter-clockwise from the view-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color point of the source.
and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.10 on
3.2.10 portable retroreflectometer, n—a hand-held instru-
Retroreflection.
ment that can be used in the field or in the laboratory for
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2008. Published March 2008. Originally
´1
measurement of retroreflectance.
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E1709–00 . DOI:
10.1520/E1709-08.
3.2.10.1 Discussion—In this test method, “portable retrore-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
flectometer”referstoahand-heldinstrumentthatcanbeplaced
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
in contact with sign material to measure the retroreflection in a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. standard geometry.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
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E1709 – 08
3.2.11 presentation angle, g,
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
e1
Designation:E1709–00 Designation: E 1709 – 08
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable
RetroreflectometerMeasurement of Retroreflective Signs
Using a Portable Retroreflectometer at a 0.2 Degree
1
Observation Angle
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1709; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
e NOTE—Editorial changes were made to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in October 2001.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflective properties of sign materials such as traffic signs and symbols
(vertical surfaces) using a portable retroreflectometer that can be used in the field. The portable retroreflectometer is a hand-held
instrument with a defined standard geometry that can be placed in contact with sign material to measure the retroreflection in a
standardgeometry.Themeasurementscanbecomparedtominimumrequirementstodeterminetheneedforreplacement.Entrance
and observation angles specified in this test method are those used currently in the United States and may differ from the angles
used elsewhere in the world.
1.2 This test method is intended to be used for the field measurement of traffic signs but may be used to measure the
performance of materials before placing the sign in the field or before placing the sign material on the sign face.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E284 Terminology of Appearance
E808 Practice for Describing Retroreflection
E809 Practice for Measuring Photometric Characteristics of Retroreflectors
2
E810TestMethodforCoefficientofRetroreflectionorRetroreflectiveSheeting TestMethodforCoefficientofRetroreflection
of Retroreflective Sheeting Utilizing the Coplanar Geometry
3. Terminology
3.1 The terminology used in this test method generally agrees with that used in Terminology E284.
3.2 Definitions—The delimiting phrase “in retroreflection” applies to each of the following definitions when used outside the
context of this or other retroreflection standards.
3.2.1 annular geometry, n—the portable instrument retroreflection collection method where an annular area 0.1 degrees wide
around the illumination axis collects the retroreflected energy at an angle to the center of the annular area corresponding to a
specific observation angle.
3.2.2 coeffıcient of retroreflection, R , n—of a plane retroreflecting surface, the ratio of the coefficient of luminous intensity (R
A
−1 −2
I) of a plane retroreflecting surface to its area ( A), expressed in candelas per lux per square metre (cd · lx ·m ).
3.2.2
3.2.3 datum axis, n—a designated half-line from the retroreflector center perpendicular to the retroreflector axis.
3.2.3
3.2.4 entrance angle, b, n—the angle between the illumination axis and the retroreflector axis.
3.2.4
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE12onColorandAppearanceandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeE12.10onRetroreflection.
Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Published September 2000. Originally published as E1709–95. Last previous edition E1709–95a
e1
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2008. Published March 2008. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E1709–00 .
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,orcontactASTMCustomerServiceatservice@astm.org.For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 06.01.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1709–08
FIG. 1 Annular and Point Aperture Instrument Angles
NOTE 1—For each instrument type, the illumination beam is 4° down-
ward For the point instrument, receiver is above source.
FIG. 2 Upright Optical Schematics
3.2.5 entrance half-plane, n—The—the half plane that originates on the line of the illumination axis and contains the
retroreflector axis.
3.2.53.2.6 instrument standard, n—working standard used to standardize the portable ret
...
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