ASTM E1710-11

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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The quality of the stripe is determined by the coefficient of retroreflected luminance, RL, and depends on the materials used, age, and wear pattern. These conditions shall be observed and noted by the user.
Under the same conditions of illumination and viewing, larger values of RL correspond to higher levels of visual performance.
Retroreflectivity of pavement (road) markings degrade with traffic wear and require periodic measurement to ensure that sufficient line visibility is provided to drivers.
For a given viewing distance, measurements of RL made with a retroreflectometer having a geometry corresponding to that viewing distance are a good indicator of the visual ranking of material measured.
As specified by CEN, the measurement geometry of the instrument is based on a viewing distance of 30 m, a headlight mounting height of 0.65 m directly over the stripe, and an eye height of 1.2 m directly over the stripe.
It shall be the responsibility of the user to employ an instrument having the specified observation and entrance angles.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflective properties of horizontal pavement marking materials containing retroreflecting beads, 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.
Note 1—The restriction to bead based materials is for the purpose of ensuring a sufficiently gradual optical response function (from points of the source aperture to points of the receiver aperture) to allow generous sized instrument source and receiver apertures.
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: 31-May-2011
• ICS: 93.080.20 - Road construction materials
• Technical Committee: E12 - Color and Appearance
• Drafting Committee: E12.10 - Retroreflection

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1710-05 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable Retroreflectometer
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Replaced By: ASTM E1710-18 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable Retroreflectometer
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D4592-12(2022) - Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Limited Service Life
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D8424-21 - Standard Guide for Retroreflective Composite Optics Laboratory Procedures
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D4505-12(2022) - Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Extended Service Life
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• 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: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D7585/D7585M-10(2022) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Retroreflective Pavement Markings Using Portable Hand-Operated Instruments
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D8367-21 - Standard Practice for Making a Laboratory Pavement Marking Sample Using a Pavement Marking and Drop-on Particles
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D2205-20 - Standard Guide for Selection of Tests for Traffic Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM E3320-21 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials Using a Mobile Retroreflectometer Unit (MRU)
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D713-23 - Standard Practice for Conducting Road Service Tests on Fluid Traffic Marking Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D7942-15(2023) - Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Pavement Markings in Non Snow Plow Areas
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• 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: 01-Jun-2011
• 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: 01-Jun-2011

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: E1710 −11
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials
with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable
1
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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope NewlyApplied Pavement Marking Using Portable Hand-
3
Operated Instruments (Withdrawn 2006)
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflec-
E177Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
tive properties of horizontal pavement marking materials
ASTM Test Methods
containing retroreflecting beads, such as traffic stripes and
E284Terminology of Appearance
surfacesymbols,usingaportableretroreflectometerthatcanbe
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
placed on the road delineation to measure the retroreflection at
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
a prescribed geometry.
E809Practice for Measuring Photometric Characteristics of
NOTE 1—The restriction to bead based materials is for the purpose of
Retroreflectors
ensuring a sufficiently gradual optical response function (from points of
2.2 Other Standard:
the source aperture to points of the receiver aperture) to allow generous
CEN EN 1436Road Marking Materials—Road Marking
sized instrument source and receiver apertures.
4
Performance for Road Users
1.2 The entrance and observation angles of the retroreflec-
tometer affect the readings. As specified by the European
3. Terminology
Committee for Standardization (CEN), the entrance and obser-
3.1 The terminology used in this test method generally
vation angles shall be 88.76° and 1.05°, respectively.
agrees with that used in Terminology E284.
1.3 This test method is intended to be used for field
3.2 Definitions—The delimiting phrase “in retroreflection”
measurement of pavement markings but may be used to
applies to each of the following definitions when used outside
measure the performance of materials on sample panels before
the context of this or other retroreflection test methods:
placing the marking material in the field.
3.2.1 coeffıcient of retroreflected luminance, R ,n—theratio
L
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of the luminance, L, of a projected surface to the normal
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
illuminance, E , at the surface on a plane normal to the
'
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
incident light, expressed in candelas per square metre per lux
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
−2 −1
(cd·m ·lx ).
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—Because of the low luminance of pave-
ment markings, the units used commonly are millicandelas per
2. Referenced Documents
−2 −1
square metre per lux (mcd·m ·lx ).
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.2 co-entrance angle, β,n—the complement of the
C
D4061TestMethodforRetroreflectanceofHorizontalCoat-
entrance angle (90°− β).
ings
3.2.3 co-viewing angle, ν ,n—thecomplementoftheview-
C
D6359 Specification for Minimum Retroreflectance of
ing angle (90°− ν).
3.2.4 entrance angle, β,n—the angle between the illumina-
1 tion axis and the retroreflector axis.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color
and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.10 on
3.2.5 observation angle, α,n—the angle between the illu-
Retroreflection.
mination axis and the observation axis.
Current edition approved June 1, 2011. Published June 1, 2011. Originally
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E1710–05. DOI:
10.1520/E1710–11.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM www.astm.org.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 36 rue de
the ASTM website. Stassart, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium, http://www.cenorm.be.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1710 − 11
3.2.6 portable retroreflectometer, n—ahand-heldinstrument 5.3 Retroreflectivity of pavement (road) markings degrade
that can be used in the field or laboratory for measurement of with traffic wear and require periodic measurement to ensure
retroreflectance. that sufficient line visibility is provided to drivers.
3.2.6.1 Discussion—I
...

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.
Designation:E1710–05 Designation: E1710 – 11
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials
with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable
1
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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflective properties of horizontal pavement marking materials containing
retroreflecting beads, 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.
NOTE 1—Therestrictiontobeadbasedmaterialsisforthepurposeofensuringasufficientlygradualopticalresponsefunction(frompointsofthesource
aperture to points of the receiver aperture) to allow generous sized instrument source and receiver apertures.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4061 Test Method for Retroreflectance of Horizontal Coatings
D6359 Specification for Minimum Retroreflectance of Newly Applied Pavement Marking Using Portable Hand-Operated
Instruments
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E284 Terminology of Appearance
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E809 Practice for Measuring Photometric Characteristics of Retroreflectors
2.2 Other Standard:
3
CEN EN 1436 Road Marking Materials—Road Marking Performance for Road Users
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 test methods:
3.2.1 coeffıcient of retroreflected luminance, R , n—the ratio of the luminance, L, of a projected surface to the normal
L
−2
illuminance, E , at the surface on a plane normal to the incident light, expressed in candelas per square metre per lux (cd·m ·lx
'
−1).
3.2.1.1 Discussion—Because of the low luminance of pavement markings, the units used commonly are millicandelas per
−2 −1
square metre per lux (mcd·m ·lx ).
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE12onColorandAppearanceandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeE12.10onRetroreflection.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2005. Published February 2005. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as E1710–97. DOI:
10.1520/E1710-05.
Current edition approved June 1, 2011. Published June 1, 2011. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E1710–05. DOI:
10.1520/E1710–11.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 36 rue de Stassart, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium, http://www.cenorm.be.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1710 – 11
3.2.2 co-entrance angle, b , n—the complement of the entrance angle (90°− b).
C
3.2.3 co-viewing angle, n , n—the complement of the viewing angle (90°− n).
C
3.2.4 entrance angle, b, n—the angle between the illumination axis and the retroreflector axis.
3.2.5 observation angle, a, n—the angle between the illumination axis and the observation axis.
3.2.6 portable retror
...