ASTM E1710-97

Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable Retroreflectometer

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflective properties of horizontal pavement marking materials containing retroreflecting spheres, such as traffic stripes and surface symbols, using a portable retroreflectometer that can be placed on the road delineation to measure the retroreflection at a prescribed geometry.  
1.2 The entrance and observation angles of the retroreflectometer affect the readings. As specified by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the entrance and observation angles shall be 88.76° and 1.05°, respectively.  
1.3 This test method is intended to be used for field measurement of pavement markings but may be used to measure the performance of materials on sample panels before placing the marking material in the field.  
1.4 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 determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-1997
• ICS: 93.080.20 - Road construction materials
• Technical Committee: E12 - Color and Appearance
• Drafting Committee: E12.10 - Retroreflection

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E1710-05 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable Retroreflectometer
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D8424-21 - Standard Guide for Retroreflective Composite Optics Laboratory Procedures
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2177-20 - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Coefficient of Retroreflected Luminance (R<inf >L</inf>) of Pavement Markings using the Bucket Method in a Condition of Wet Recovery
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D4505-12(2022) - Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Extended Service Life
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D2205-20 - Standard Guide for Selection of Tests for Traffic Paints
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E3320-21 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials Using a Mobile Retroreflectometer Unit (MRU)
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D713-23 - Standard Practice for Conducting Road Service Tests on Fluid Traffic Marking Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D8367-21 - Standard Practice for Making a Laboratory Pavement Marking Sample Using a Pavement Marking and Drop-on Particles
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D7585/D7585M-10(2022) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Retroreflective Pavement Markings Using Portable Hand-Operated Instruments
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2367-05(2019) - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Nighttime Chromaticity of Pavement Marking Materials Using a Portable Retroreflection Colorimeter
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D4592-12(2022) - Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Limited Service Life
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2832-12(2017) - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Coefficient of Retroreflected Luminance of Pavement Markings in a Standard Condition of Continuous Wetting (R<inf>L-2</inf >)
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D7942-15(2023) - Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Pavement Markings in Non Snow Plow Areas
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E 1710 – 97
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials
with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable
Retroreflectometer
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1710; 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. Scope Performance for Road Users
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflec-
3. Terminology
tive properties of horizontal pavement marking materials
3.1 The terminology used in this test method generally
containing retroreflecting beads, such as traffic stripes and
agrees with that used in Terminology E284.
surfacesymbols,usingaportableretroreflectometerthatcanbe
3.2 Definitions—The delimiting phrase “in retroreflection”
placed on the road delineation to measure the retroreflection at
applies to each of the following definitions when used outside
a prescribed geometry.
the context of this or other retroreflection test methods:
NOTE 1—The restriction to bead based materials is for the purpose of
3.2.1 coeffıcient of retroreflected luminance, R , n—the
L
ensuring a sufficiently gradual optical response function (from points of
ratio of the luminance, L, of a projected surface to the normal
the source aperture to points of the receiver aperture) to allow generous
illuminance, E , at the surface on a plane normal to the
'
sized instrument source and receiver apertures.
incident light, expressed in candelas per square metre per lux
−2
1.2 The entrance and observation angles of the retroreflec- −1
(cd·m ·lx ).
tometer affect the readings. As specified by the European
3.2.1.1 Discussion—Becauseofthelowluminanceofpave-
Committee for Standardization (CEN), the entrance and obser-
ment markings, the units used commonly are millicandelas per
−2 −1
vation angles shall be 88.76° and 1.05°, respectively.
square metre per lux (mcd·m ·lx ).
1.3 This test method is intended to be used for field
3.2.2 co-entrance angle, b , n—the complement of the
C
measurement of pavement markings but may be used to
entrance angle (90°− b).
measure the performance of materials on sample panels before
3.2.3 co-viewing angle, n , n—the complement of the
C
placing the marking material in the field.
viewing angle (90°− n).
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.4 entrance angle, b, n—the angle between the illumi-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
nation axis and the retroreflector axis.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.5 observation angle, a, n—the angle between the illu-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
mination axis and the observation axis.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.6 portable retroreflectometer, n—a hand-held instru-
ment that can be used in the field or laboratory for measure-
2. Referenced Documents
ment of retroreflectance.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.6.1 Discussion—In this test method, “portable retrore-
D4061 Test Method for Retroreflectance of Horizontal
flectometer”referstoahand-heldinstrumentthatcanbeplaced
Coatings
over roadway delineation to measure the coefficient of retrore-
E284 Terminology of Appearance
flected luminance with a prescribed geometry.
E809 Practice for Measuring Photometric Characteristics
3.2.7 presentation angle, g, n—the angle between the ob-
of Retroreflectors
servation half-plane and the half-plane that originates on the
2.2 Other Standard:
illumination axis and that contains the retroreflector axis.
CEN EN 1436 Road Marking Materials—Road Marking
3.2.8 instrument standard, n—working standard used to
standardize the portable retroreflectometer.
3.2.9 retroreflection, n—a reflection in which the reflected
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-12 on
rays are returned preferentially in directions close to the
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.10 on Retrore-
flection.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1997. Published September 1998. Originally
published as E1710–95. Last previous edition E1710–95a. Available from European Committee for Standardization, Central Secretariat
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01. (CEN), rue de Stassart 36, B1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1710
opposite of the direction of the incident rays, this property 6.1.2 The retroreflectometer shall be constructed so that
being maintained over wide variations of the direction of the placement on the highway pavement markings will preclude
incident rays. any stray light from entering the measurement area of the
3.2.10 viewing angle, n—the angle between the retroreflec- instrument and affecting the reading.
tor axis and the observation axis. 6.1.3 For the convenience of the user, a marking shall be
3.2.10.1 Discussion—The retroreflector axis for pavement placed on the instrument to permit it to be aligned with the
markings is normal to the marking. direction of traffic.
6.2 Light Source Requirements:
4. Summary of Test Method 6.2.1 The projection optics shall be such that the distribu-
tion of the illuminance over the measurement area will be
4.1 This test method involves the use of commercial por-
within 10% of the average illuminance.
table retroreflectometers for determining the coefficient of
6.2.2 The aperture angle of the light source as determined
retroreflectedluminanceofhorizontalcoatingmaterialsusedin
from the center of the measurement area shall not be larger
pavement markings.
than a rectangle subtending 10 min of arc (0.17°) by 20 min of
4.2 The entrance angle is fixed at 88.76° (co-entrance angle
arc (0.33°).
1.24°).
6.2.2.1 Rectangle aperture dimensions are given with the
4.3 The observation angle is fixed at 1.05°.
first side parallel to the observation half plane.
4.4 The presentation angle shall be 0°.
4.5 The portable retroreflectometers use either a built-in
NOTE 2—The maximum source aperture dimensions are in agreement
reference white for standardization or use an external panel of
with CEN EN 1436. There is experimental evidence that for this test
method, using this maximum source aperture together with the maximum
known coefficient of retroreflected luminance, or both.
receiveraperturein6.3.3produces R measurementswithin1.5%ofthose
4.6 The retroreflectometer is placed directly over the pave- L
using two 10-min circular apertures as specified in Test Method D4061.
ment marking to be measured, ensuring that the measurement
areaoftheretroreflectometerfitswithinthewidthofthestripe,
6.3 Receiver Requirements:
andthereadingdisplayedbytheretroreflectometerisrecorded.
6.3.1 Thereceivershallhavesufficientsensitivityandrange
4.7 The retroreflectometer is then moved to other positions
to accommodate coefficient of retroreflected luminance values
−2 −1
on the pavement marking, and the readings are recorded and
expected in use, typically 1 to 2000 mcd·m ·lx .
averaged.
6.3.2 If the retroreflectometer is intended to be used for
4.8 Readings shall be taken and averaged in each direction
measurement of marking materials other than white, the
of traffic for a centerline.
combined spectral distribution of the light source and the
spectral responsivity of the receiver shall match the combined
5. Significance and Use
spectral distribution of CIE Illuminant Aand the V(l) spectral
5.1 The quality of the stripe is determined by the coefficient luminosity function according to the following criterion: For
any choice of plano parallel colored absorptive filter mounted
of retroreflected luminance, R , and depends on the materials
L
used,age,andwearpattern.Theseconditionsshallbeobserved in front of a white retroreflective sample, the ratio of the R
L
measured with the filter to the R measured without the filter
and noted by the user.
L
5.2 Under the same conditions of illumination and viewing, shall be within 10% of the Illuminant A luminous transmit-
tance of an air-spaced pair of two such filters.
larger values of R correspond to higher levels of visual
L
performance. 6.3.3 The aperture of the receiver as determined from the
centerofthemeasurementareashallnotbelargerthanasquare
5.3 Retroreflectivity of pavement (road) markings degrade
with traffic wear and require periodic measurement to ensure subtending 20 min of arc (0.33°) by 20 min of arc (0.33°).
that sufficient line visibility is provided to drivers.
NOTE 3—The maximum receiver aperture dimensions are in agreement
5.4 Foragivenviewingdistance,measurementsof R made
L
with CEN EN 1436. There is experimental evidence that for this test
with a retroreflectometer having a geometry corresponding to
method, using this maximum receiver aperture together
...