ASTM E1709-00e1
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable Retroreflectometer
Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable Retroreflectometer
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: E 1709 – 00
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Retroreflective Signs Using a Portable
1
Retroreflectometer
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.
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e NOTE—Editorial changes were made to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in October 2001.
1. Scope 3.2 Definitions—The delimiting phrase “in retroreflection”
applies to each of the following definitions when used outside
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the retroreflec-
the context of this or other retroreflection standards.
tive properties of sign materials such as traffic signs and
3.2.1 coeffıcient of retroreflection, R , n—ofaplaneretrore-
symbols (vertical surfaces) using a portable retroreflectometer A
flecting surface, the ratio of the coefficient of luminous
that can be used in the field. The portable retroreflectometer is
intensity (R) of a plane retroreflecting surface to its area (A),
a hand-held instrument with a defined standard geometry that I
−1 −2
expressedincandelasperluxpersquaremetre(cd·lx ·m ).
can be placed in contact with sign material to measure the
3.2.2 datum axis, n—adesignatedhalf-linefromtheretrore-
retroreflection in a standard geometry. The measurements can
flector center perpendicular to the retroreflector axis.
be compared to minimum requirements to determine the need
3.2.3 entrance angle, b, n—the angle between the illumi-
for replacement. Entrance and observation angles specified in
nation axis and the retroreflector axis.
this test method are those used currently in the United States
3.2.4 entrance half-plane, n—The half plane that originates
and may differ from the angles used elsewhere in the world.
on the line of the illumination axis and contains the retrore-
1.2 This test method is intended to be used for the field
flector axis.
measurement of traffic signs but may be used to measure the
3.2.5 instrument standard, n—working standard used to
performance of materials before placing the sign in the field or
standardize the portable retroreflectometer.
before placing the sign material on the sign face.
3.2.6 observation angle, a, n—the angle between the illu-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
mination axis and the observation axis.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.7 observation half-plane, n—The half plane that origi-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
nates on the line of the illumination axis and contains the
priate safety and health practices and to determine the
observation axis.
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.8 orientation angle, v , n—the angle in a plane perpen-
s
2. Referenced Documents diculartotheretroreflectoraxisfromtheentrancehalf-planeto
the datum axis, measured counter-clockwise from the view-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2
point of the source.
E284 Terminology of Appearance
2
3.2.9 portable retroreflectometer, n—a hand-held instru-
E808 Practice for Describing Retroreflection
ment that can be used in the field or in the laboratory for
E809 Practice for Measuring Photometric Characteristics
2
measurement of retroreflectance.
of Retroreflectors
3.2.9.1 Discussion—In this test method, “portable retrore-
E810 Test Method for Coefficient of Retroreflection or
2
flectometer”referstoahand-heldinstrumentthatcanbeplaced
Retroreflective Sheeting
in contact with sign material to measure the retroreflection in a
3. Terminology
standard geometry.
3.2.10 presentation angle, g, n—thedihedralanglefromthe
3.1 The terminology used in this test method generally
entrance half-plane to the observation half-plane, measured
agrees with that used in Terminology E284.
counter-clockwise from the viewpoint of the source.
3.2.11 retroreflection, n—a reflection in which the reflected
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color
rays are returned preferentially in directions close to the
and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.10 on
opposite of the direction of the incident rays, this property
Retroreflection.
being maintained over wide variations of the direction of the
Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Published September 2000. Originally
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published as E1709–95. Last previous edition E1709–95a . incident rays.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E 1709
FIG. 1 Annular and Point Aperture Instrument Angles
4.5 After standardization, the retrorefl
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