ASTM D4061-13

Standard Test Method for Retroreflectance of Horizontal Coatings

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The quantity coefficient of retroreflected luminance is a measure of the reflected luminance in the direction of the observer. This is the light returned by the retroreflective surface to the observer from the source, which in practice is the vehicle headlamp.  
5.2 This test method may be used as a measure of the nighttime performance of horizontally applied surfacing materials used on highway surfaces for lane markings and other traffic control purposes.  
5.3 Since this test method is a laboratory procedure, test specimens must be prepared so that they can be mounted on the specimen holder. Specimens measured by this laboratory method may be used as transfer standards for the calibration of portable instrumentation.  
5.4 Specimen selection and preparation may significantly influence the results of this test method.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes the instrumental measurement of the retroreflective properties of horizontal surfacing materials, such as traffic stripe paint systems, traffic tapes, and traffic surface symbols.  
1.2 Specimen preparation, size, and shape must be determined and specified by the user of this test method. Likewise, the user must specify the observation and entrance angles to be used (see Fig. 1).  
1.3 The geometric requirements of this test method are based on materials for which the relative retroreflectance changes less than approximately 50 % over the observation angle range from 0.2 to 0.5°. This is illustrated in Fig. 2.
1.4 This test method is a laboratory test and requires a facility that can be darkened sufficiently so that stray light does not affect the test results. This facility must be capable of housing the required 15-m test distance.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 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: 30-Jun-2013
• ICS: 87.040 - Paints and varnishes
• Technical Committee: E12 - Color and Appearance
• Drafting Committee: E12.10 - Retroreflection

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4061-94(2006) - Standard Test Method for Retroreflectance of Horizontal Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2013
• Replaced By: ASTM D4061-13(2018) - Standard Test Method for Retroreflectance of Horizontal Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Referred By: ASTM E179-17(2022) - Standard Guide for Selection of Geometric Conditions for Measurement of Reflection and Transmission Properties of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D4505-12(2022) - Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Extended Service Life
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D6628-16 - Standard Specification for Color of Pavement Marking Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D4592-12(2022) - Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Limited Service Life
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2013
• Referred 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-Jul-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D7585/D7585M-10(2022) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Retroreflective Pavement Markings Using Portable Hand-Operated Instruments
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2013

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:D4061 −13
Standard Test Method for
1
Retroreflectance of Horizontal Coatings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4061; 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 Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E808Practice for Describing Retroreflection
1.1 This test method describes the instrumental measure-
E809Practice for Measuring Photometric Characteristics of
ment of the retroreflective properties of horizontal surfacing
Retroreflectors
materials, such as traffic stripe paint systems, traffic tapes, and
3
traffic surface symbols. 2.2 CIE Publication:
No. 54Retroreflection Definition and Measurement
1.2 Specimen preparation, size, and shape must be deter-
mined and specified by the user of this test method. Likewise,
3. Terminology
theusermustspecifytheobservationandentranceanglestobe
used (see Fig. 1). 3.1 The terms and definitions inTerminology E284 apply to
this test method.
1.3 The geometric requirements of this test method are
based on materials for which the relative retroreflectance 3.2 Definitions:
changes less than approximately 50% over the observation 3.2.1 coeffıcient of retroreflected luminance, R ,n—ratio of
L
the luminance, L, of a projected surface to the normal
angle range from 0.2 to 0.5°. This is illustrated in Fig. 2.
illuminance, E , at the surface on a plane normal to the
'
1.4 This test method is a laboratory test and requires a
incident light, expressed in candelas per square metre per lux
facilitythatcanbedarkenedsufficientlysothatstraylightdoes
−2 −1
(cd·m ·lx ).
not affect the test results. This facility must be capable of
R 5 L/E (1)
housing the required 15-m test distance. ~ !
L '
3.2.2 datum mark, n—in retroreflection,anindicationonthe
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
retroreflector that is used to define the orientation of the
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
retroreflector with respect to rotation about the retroreflector
standard.
axis.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2.1 Discussion—The datum mark must not lie on the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
retroreflector axis.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.3 entrance angle, β, n—in retroreflection,anglebetween
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. the illumination axis and the retroreflector axis.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—For plane retroreflective surfaces, the
2. Referenced Documents entrance angle is no larger than 90°.
2 3.2.3.2 Discussion—Theentranceanglemaybedividedinto
2.1 ASTM Standards:
components β and β . This is described in Practice E808.In
1 2
E284Terminology of Appearance
this test method only the component β is used. Therefore,
1
E308PracticeforComputingtheColorsofObjectsbyUsing
where only the entrance angle β is specified the convention
the CIE System
used is β =0 and β =β.
2 1
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
3.2.4 illumination axis, n—in retroreflection, a line from the
effective center of the source aperture to the retroreflector
1
center.
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 normal illuminance, E —theilluminanceonaretrore-
'
Retroreflection.
flective surface measured in the plane that passes through the
Current edition approved July 1, 2013. Published August 2013. Originally
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D4061–94(2006).
DOI: 10.1520/D4061-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM AvailablefromU.S.NationalCommitteeoftheCIE(InternationalCommission
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on on Illumination), C/o Thomas M. Lemons, TLA-Lighting Consultants, Inc., 7 Pond
the ASTM website. St., Salem, MA 01970, http://www.cie-usnc.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4061−13
3.2.10 retroreflector axis, n—a designated line segment
from the retroreflector center that is used to describe the
angular position of the retroreflector.
3.2.10.1 Discussion—Thedirectionoftheretroreflectoraxis
is usually chosen centrally among the intended directions of
illumination;forexample,thedirectionoftheroadonwhichor
with respect to which the retroreflector is
...

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: D4061 − 94 (Reapproved 2006) D4061 − 13
Standard Test Method for
1
Retroreflectance of Horizontal Coatings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4061; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method describes the instrumental measurement of the retroreflective properties of horizontal surfacing materials,
such as traffic stripe paint systems, traffic tapes, and traffic surface symbols.
1.2 Specimen preparation, size, and shape must be determined and specified by the user of this test method. Likewise, the user
must specify the observation and entrance angles to be used (see Fig. 1).
1.3 The geometric requirements of this test method are based on materials for which the relative retroreflectance changes less
than approximately 50 % over the observation angle range from 0.2 to 0.5°. This is illustrated in Fig. 2.
1.4 This test method is a laboratory test and requires a facility that can be darkened sufficiently so that stray light does not affect
the test results. This facility must be capable of housing the required 15-m test distance.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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:
E284 Terminology of Appearance
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E808 Practice for Describing Retroreflection
E809 Practice for Measuring Photometric Characteristics of Retroreflectors
3
2.2 CIE Publication:
No. 54 Retroreflection Definition and Measurement
3. Terminology
3.1 The terms and definitions in Terminology E284 apply to this test method.
3.2 Definitions:
3.2.1 coeffıcient of retroreflected luminance, R , n—ratio of the luminance, L, of a projected surface to the normal illuminance,
L
−2 −1
E , at the surface on a plane normal to the incident light, expressed in candelas per square metre per lux (cd·m ·lx ).
'
R 5 L/E (1)
~ !
L '
3.2.2 datum mark, n—in retroreflection, an indication on the retroreflector that is used to define the orientation of the
retroreflector with respect to rotation about the retroreflector axis.
1
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 Retroreflection.
Current edition approved July 1, 2006July 1, 2013. Published July 2006August 2013. Originally approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 20002006 as
D4061 – 94 (2000).(2006). DOI: 10.1520/D4061-94R06.10.1520/D4061-13.
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.
3
Available from U.S. National Committee of the CIE (International Commission on Illumination), C/o Thomas M. Lemons, TLA-Lighting Consultants, Inc., 7 Pond St.,
Salem, MA 01970.01970, http://www.cie-usnc.org.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4061 − 13
NOTE 1—Includes observation angle α, entrance angle β, viewing angle ν , co-viewing angle ν , and co-entrance angle β . The retroreflector axis,
a c c
illumination axis, and observation axis all lie in the same plane.
FIG. 1 Diagram Illustrating Geometry for Measurement of Horizontal Coatings Specimens
FIG. 2 Illustration of Typical Rate of Change of Retroreflectance Versus Observation Angle for Horizontal Retroreflective Material Mea-
sured at 86° Entrance Angle
The datum mark must not lie on the retroreflector axis.
3.2.3 entrance angle, β, n—in retroreflection, angle between the illumination axis and the retroreflector axis.
3.2.3.1 Discussi
...