ASTM D4956-19

Standard Specification for Retroreflective Sheeting for Traffic Control

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers flexible, non-exposed glass-bead lens and microprismatic, retroreflective sheeting designed for use on traffic control signs, delineators, barricades, and other devices. This specification does not address inks, overlays, or other imaging methods that may be applied to retroreflective sheeting material to create traffic signs or other devices.  
1.2 Although this specification provides photometric requirements for retroreflective sheeting under evaluation, minimum performance requirements of in-service signs or other devices are outside the scope of this document.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 7, of this specification. 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2019
• ICS: 93.080.30 - Road equipment and installations
• Technical Committee: D04 - Road and Paving Materials
• Drafting Committee: D04.38 - Highway Traffic Control Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4956-17 - Standard Specification for Retroreflective Sheeting for Traffic Control
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2019
• Refers: ASTM E811-09(2020)e1 - Standard Practice for Measuring Colorimetric Characteristics of Retroreflectors Under Nighttime Conditions
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2020
• Refers: ASTM E1347-06(2015) - Standard Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus Colorimetry
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2015
• Refers: ASTM E1347-06(2020) - Standard Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus Colorimetry
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Refers: ASTM E811-09(2015) - Standard Practice for Measuring Colorimetric Characteristics of Retroreflectors Under Nighttime Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2015
• Refers: ASTM E308-15 - Standard Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2015
• Refers: ASTM E808-01(2016) - Standard Practice for Describing Retroreflection
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2016
• Refers: ASTM G147-17 - Standard Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetallic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2017
• Refers: ASTM E1247-12(2017) - Standard Practice for Detecting Fluorescence in Object-Color Specimens by Spectrophotometry
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2017
• Refers: ASTM E308-17 - Standard Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017
• Refers: ASTM E3165-18 - Standard Test Method for Nighttime Retroreflected Chromaticity of Retroreflective Sheeting
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E2706-18 - Standard Practice for Equipment Technology and Operations for Mobile and Plant-Based Secure Destruction Safety Requirements
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2019
• Referred By: ASTM E1709-16(2022) - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable Retroreflectometer at a 0.2 Degree Observation Angle
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D8514/D8514M-23 - Standard Specification for Flexible, Retroreflective Sheeting for Use in High Visibility Vehicle Markings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2019

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:D4956 −19
Standard Specification for
1
Retroreflective Sheeting for Traffic Control
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4956; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope B209Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy
Sheet and Plate
1.1 This specification covers flexible, non-exposed glass-
B209MSpecification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy
beadlensandmicroprismatic,retroreflectivesheetingdesigned
Sheet and Plate (Metric)
for use on traffic control signs, delineators, barricades, and
B449Specification for Chromates on Aluminum
other devices. This specification does not address inks,
D2794Test Method for Resistance of Organic Coatings to
overlays, or other imaging methods that may be applied to
the Effects of Rapid Deformation (Impact)
retroreflective sheeting material to create traffic signs or other
E284Terminology of Appearance
devices.
E308PracticeforComputingtheColorsofObjectsbyUsing
1.2 Although this specification provides photometric re-
the CIE System
quirements for retroreflective sheeting under evaluation, mini-
E808Practice for Describing Retroreflection
mum performance requirements of in-service signs or other
E810Test Method for Coefficient of Retroreflection of
devices are outside the scope of this document.
Retroreflective Sheeting Utilizing the Coplanar Geometry
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
E811Practice for Measuring Colorimetric Characteristics of
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Retroreflectors Under Nighttime Conditions
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
E991Practice for Color Measurement of Fluorescent Speci-
and are not considered standard.
mens Using the One-Monochromator Method
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
E1164PracticeforObtainingSpectrometricDataforObject-
test methods portion, Section 7, of this specification. This
Color Evaluation
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
E1247Practice for Detecting Fluorescence in Object-Color
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
Specimens by Spectrophotometry
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and
E1347Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Mea-
environmental practices and determine the applicability of
surement by Tristimulus Colorimetry
regulatory limitations prior to use.
E1349Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional (45°:0° or 0°:45°)
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Geometry
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
E2152Practice for Computing the Colors of Fluorescent
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Objects from Bispectral Photometric Data
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
E2153Practice for Obtaining Bispectral Photometric Data
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
for Evaluation of Fluorescent Color
E2301Test Method for Daytime Colorimetric Properties of
2. Referenced Documents
Fluorescent Retroreflective Sheeting and Marking Mate-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
rials for High Visibility Traffic Control and Personal
Safety Applications Using 45°:Normal Geometry
1
E3165TestMethodforNighttimeRetroreflectedChromatic-
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D04 on Road
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.38 on
ity of Retroreflective Sheeting
Highway Traffic Control Materials.
G7/G7MPractice forAtmospheric Environmental Exposure
CurrenteditionapprovedJuly1,2019.PublishedJuly2019.Originallyapproved
Testing of Nonmetallic Materials
in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D4956–17. DOI: 10.1520/
D4956-19.
G113Terminology Relating to Natural andArtificialWeath-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
G147Practice for Conditioning and Handling of Nonmetal-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. lic Materials for Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshoho
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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: D4956 − 17 D4956 − 19
Standard Specification for
1
Retroreflective Sheeting for Traffic Control
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4956; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers flexible, non-exposed glass bead glass-bead lens and microprismatic, retroreflective sheeting
designed for use on traffic control signs, delineators, barricades, and other devices. This specification does not address inks,
overlays, or other imaging methods that may be applied to retroreflective sheeting material to create traffic signs or other devices.
1.2 Although this specification provides photometric requirements for retroreflective sheeting under evaluation, minimum
performance requirements of in-service signs or other devices are outside the scope of this document.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 7, of this specification. 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B209 Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
B209M Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate (Metric)
B449 Specification for Chromates on Aluminum
D2794 Test Method for Resistance of Organic Coatings to the Effects of Rapid Deformation (Impact)
E284 Terminology of Appearance
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
E808 Practice for Describing Retroreflection
E810 Test Method for Coefficient of Retroreflection of Retroreflective Sheeting Utilizing the Coplanar Geometry
E811 Practice for Measuring Colorimetric Characteristics of Retroreflectors Under Nighttime Conditions
E991 Practice for Color Measurement of Fluorescent Specimens Using the One-Monochromator Method
E1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for Object-Color Evaluation
E1247 Practice for Detecting Fluorescence in Object-Color Specimens by Spectrophotometry
E1347 Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus Colorimetry
E1349 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional (45°:0° or 0°:45°) Geometry
E2152 Practice for Computing the Colors of Fluorescent Objects from Bispectral Photometric Data
E2153 Practice for Obtaining Bispectral Photometric Data for Evaluation of Fluorescent Color
E2301 Test Method for Daytime Colorimetric Properties of Fluorescent Retroreflective Sheeting and Marking Materials for High
Visibility Traffic Control and Personal Safety Applications Using 45°:Normal Geometry
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.38 on Highway
Traffic Control Materials.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2017July 1, 2019. Published October 2017July 2019. Originally approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 20162017 as
D4956 – 16b.D4956 – 17. DOI: 10.1520/D4956-17.10.1520/D4956-19.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
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

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D4956 − 19
E3165 Test Method for Nighttim
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