1 Scope
NOTE This standard covers the materials, surface preparation, application, and quality control for exterior pavement markings and for site traffic and regulatory signage on private site pavements. (1.1)
NOTE This standard addresses the selection of the marking material to the traffic and durability demand of each marking, the retroreflective glass-bead system, the colors and line widths and their regulatory meanings, the layout of parking stalls and the symbols and legends, accessible parking spaces and their signage, the surface preparation and cure age of the pavement, and the substrate, sheeting, posts, and placement of site signs. (1.2)
NOTE A pavement marking is the primary means of directing and regulating traffic on a site after dark and in wet weather, and a marking that has worn smooth, lost its retroreflective beads, or debonded conveys no information to a driver at the moment it is most needed. (1.3)
NOTE The cost of a complete, correctly placed, durable marking and signage package is small compared with the cost of an accessibility complaint, a fire-marshal rejection of a missing fire lane, or a collision at an unmarked stop. (1.4)
1.5All marking colors, line widths, symbols, legends, and sign designations shall conform to the current edition of the FHWA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
1.6All accessible parking spaces, access aisles, accessible-route markings, and accessible parking signage shall conform to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and to any more stringent state accessibility code.
1.7All fire lanes, fire-lane markings, and fire-lane signage shall conform to the locally adopted fire code and to the directives of the fire marshal having jurisdiction.
1.8The marking and sign types, colors, legends, locations, and the parking stall layout shall be as shown on the signing and striping plan the signing and striping plan. 1.9Where this standard and the governing code, the MUTCD, the ADA Standards, or the fire code conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
1.10The Contractor shall coordinate work under this standard with Asphalt Paving and Concrete Paving for the cure age and surface condition of the pavement to be marked, with Signage for the transition between site signage and building signage, and with Fencing And Gates where gate and bollard locations affect sign placement and fire-lane geometry. 2 Referenced Standards
2.1Materials, application, testing, and execution shall comply with the latest adopted edition of the following standards and regulations.
2.2Where contract documents, adopted codes, the governing permit, and referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard |
Title |
| FHWA MUTCD |
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (current edition) |
| 2010 ADA Standards |
2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (accessible parking, access aisles, and accessible routes) |
| AASHTO M 248 |
Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed White and Yellow Traffic Paints |
| ASTM D6628 |
Standard Specification for Color of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials |
| AASHTO M 249 |
Standard Specification for White and Yellow Reflective Thermoplastic Striping Material (Solid Form) |
| AASHTO M 247 |
Standard Specification for Glass Beads Used in Pavement Markings |
| ASTM D4505 |
Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Extended Service Life |
| ASTM D4592 |
Standard Specification for Preformed Retroreflective Pavement Marking Tape for Limited Service Life |
| AASHTO M 237 |
Standard Specification for Epoxy Resin Adhesives for Bonding Traffic Markers to Hardened Portland Cement and Asphalt Concrete |
| ASTM D7585/D7585M |
Standard Practice for Evaluating Retroreflective Pavement Markings Using Portable Hand-Operated Instruments |
| ASTM E1710 |
Standard Test Method for Measurement of Retroreflective Pavement Marking Materials with CEN-Prescribed Geometry Using a Portable Retroreflectometer |
| ASTM D4956 |
Standard Specification for Retroreflective Sheeting for Traffic Control |
| ASTM B209/B209M |
Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate (sign substrate) |
| ASTM A653/A653M |
Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) by the Hot-Dip Process (sign post and hardware) |
| AASHTO M 268 |
Standard Specification for Colored Pavement Marking Materials |
NOTE State Department of Transportation pavement marking and signing standard specifications and standard drawings, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction's site development standards, are referenced as accepted practice where the project connects to or matches public infrastructure. (2.3)
2.4The governing MUTCD edition and the adopted accessibility and fire codes shall be confirmed with the Authority Having Jurisdiction before fabrication and application begin.
2.5Where a state operates its own MUTCD or accessibility code that is more stringent than the federal document, the state document governs where it differs from this standard.
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following for the Engineer of Record's review before ordering signs or applying any markings:
- Product data for each marking material proposed (traffic paint, thermoplastic, preformed thermoplastic, preformed tape, epoxy, or methyl methacrylate), including the governing material specification compliance (AASHTO M 248, AASHTO M 249, ASTM D4505, ASTM D4592, or manufacturer durable-marking data) and the recommended application rate, film or marking thickness, and cure or no-track time
- Product data for the glass beads, including the AASHTO M 247 type and gradation, the intermix and drop-on rates, and any moisture-proof and adhesion coatings
- Color documentation confirming that the marking material meets the daytime and nighttime chromaticity, luminance, and initial retroreflectivity limits of ASTM D6628 for each specified color
- Sign schedule listing each sign by MUTCD designation, legend, size, sheeting type, and quantity, with the proposed mounting locations keyed to the signing and striping plan
- Sign sheeting product data confirming the ASTM D4956 sheeting type for each sign, and substrate and post product data confirming the aluminum substrate and the galvanized post and hardware
- Shop drawings or a layout plan for the parking stall geometry, accessible parking spaces and access aisles, directional arrows, stop bars, crosswalks, and word and symbol legends, showing dimensions and the accessible space count
- Fire-lane marking and signage layout reviewed by or coordinated with the fire marshal having jurisdiction
☐ Marking material product data (per AASHTO M 248 / M 249 / ASTM D4505 / D4592 / durable)
☐ Glass bead product data (AASHTO M 247 type, intermix and drop-on rates)
☐ Color / retroreflectivity documentation (ASTM D6628)
☑ Sign schedule (MUTCD designation, size, sheeting type, quantity)
☐ Sign sheeting, substrate, and post product data (ASTM D4956 / aluminum / galvanized)
☐ Stall, arrow, stop-bar, crosswalk, and legend layout with accessible count
☐ Fire-lane marking and signage layout (fire marshal coordinated)
3.1.2Markings shall not be applied and signs shall not be installed until the submittals are reviewed and returned.
3.1.3Submittal review does not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for compliance with the MUTCD, the ADA Standards, and the fire code.
3.2 Closeout Submittals
3.2.1Prior to substantial completion the Contractor shall provide the following:
- Record drawing of the as-applied markings and as-installed signs, showing the final stall layout, the accessible parking spaces and access aisles, the marking material used for each marking type, and the sign locations and designations
- Initial retroreflectivity measurements for the longitudinal and transverse markings where retroreflectivity is specified, reported by marking type and location and measured per ASTM D7585 or ASTM E1710
- Material certifications for the marking materials, glass beads, sign sheeting, substrate, and posts, traceable to lot
- Manufacturer's and Contractor's warranty documentation as required by this standard
☑ Record drawing of as-applied markings and as-installed signs
☐ Initial retroreflectivity measurements (where specified)
☐ Material certifications (markings, beads, sheeting, substrate, posts)
☐ Manufacturer's and Contractor's warranty documentation
3.2.2Prior to substantial completion the Contractor shall provide the closeout submittal items listed above.
4 Quality Assurance
4.1 Applicator Qualifications
4.1.1Markings shall be applied by an applicator experienced in the specified marking material and equipped with the application equipment that material requires.
NOTE Thermoplastic, epoxy, and methyl methacrylate markings shall be applied only by an applicator trained and equipped for hot-applied or plural-component durable markings, because these materials require controlled melt or mix temperature and metered bead application that hand methods cannot achieve. (4.1.2)
4.1.3The applicator shall demonstrate, on a sample area or the first production markings, that the line width, thickness, edge sharpness, alignment, and bead embedment meet this standard before proceeding with the remaining work.
4.2 Sample Markings
4.2.1Before applying durable markings over the full site, the applicator shall apply a sample of each durable marking type for the Engineer of Record's review.
● Sample line and one symbol per durable material type, reviewed before production
○ First-day production reviewed in place as the sample
○ Not required — paint markings only on this project
4.2.2The sample shall establish the line width, marking thickness, glass-bead embedment, color, and alignment to be matched in production.
NOTE A sample that is rejected shall be removed and reapplied, and production shall not proceed until a sample is accepted. (4.2.3)
4.3 Layout Verification
4.3.1Before any marking is applied, the Contractor shall lay out the markings by spotting or chalking the stall lines, arrows, stop bars, crosswalks, accessible spaces, and legends, and shall obtain the Engineer of Record's verification of the layout.
NOTE The accessible parking spaces, the access aisles, and the accessible space count shall be verified against the ADA Standards during layout, because an accessible space that is short, an access aisle that is missing or narrow, or a count that is below the required number is a code violation that is expensive to correct after the markings are durable and the curbs and signs are set. (4.3.2)
4.3.3The fire-lane limits shall be verified against the fire marshal's approved layout during this same step.
4.4 Pre-Application Conference
4.4.1Before marking and signage work begins the Contractor shall participate in a pre-application conference attended by the marking applicator, the sign installer, and the Engineer of Record.
4.4.2The conference shall review the approved marking materials and their application requirements, the pavement cure age and surface condition required before marking, the stall and accessible parking layout, the sign schedule and locations, the fire-lane layout, the retroreflectivity and bead-embedment acceptance criteria, and the weather limits for application.
5 Environmental and Service Conditions
5.1 Pavement Cure Age Before Marking
New asphalt — 14 days minimum before final markings
New asphalt — 30 days minimum before final markings (waterborne paint, low VOC)
New concrete — 28 days minimum and curing compound removed
Existing/aged pavement — no cure-age limit, surface preparation only
NOTE New asphalt pavement shall be allowed to cure before final markings are applied, because fresh asphalt continues to release volatiles and surface oils that prevent paint and durable materials from bonding and that bleed through and discolor the marking. (5.1.1)
5.1.2Final markings shall not be applied to new asphalt until the pavement has cured for the specified minimum period.
5.1.3Where temporary markings are required before the asphalt has cured, they shall be applied as a removable or short-life material and replaced with the final markings after the pavement cures.
5.1.4New concrete pavement shall be cured for the specified period and the curing compound shall be removed by abrasion before markings are applied, because a curing compound left in place is a bond breaker that the marking cannot adhere through.
5.2 Surface Temperature and Weather
50°F and rising — waterborne traffic paint
40°F and rising — solvent-based paint and most thermoplastic
Per material manufacturer for epoxy and methyl methacrylate
5.2.1The pavement surface shall be dry and at or above the minimum application temperature for the specified material before marking begins.
NOTE Waterborne traffic paint shall not be applied below the specified surface temperature or when rain is forecast before the paint cures, because waterborne paint cures by evaporation and a cool, humid, or wet condition prevents the film from forming and the paint lifts, curls, or washes away. (5.2.2)
NOTE Thermoplastic, epoxy, and methyl methacrylate shall be applied within the surface-temperature window their manufacturer specifies, because a cold substrate chills the material before it bonds and a wet substrate flashes to steam and blisters the marking. (5.2.3)
5.2.4Markings shall not be applied over standing water, frost, ice, or visible moisture.
5.3 Service Demand by Marking Location
NOTE The marking material shall be selected for the traffic and wear demand of each marking location, because the durability requirement of a high-turn drive aisle or a crosswalk is far higher than that of a low-traffic parking stall. (5.3.1)
● Low wear — parking stalls, low-traffic islands and hatching
○ Moderate wear — drive aisles, directional arrows, curb-side legends
○ High wear — entrance drives, crosswalks, stop bars, fire lanes, public-road connections
NOTE Low-wear markings, such as parking stall lines and hatched islands that vehicles cross infrequently, are well served by traffic paint, which is the lowest-cost marking and is readily renewable. (5.3.2)
NOTE High-wear markings, such as crosswalks, stop bars, and markings in turning and braking paths, are subjected to the most concentrated tire scrubbing and shall use a durable material so that the marking survives between maintenance cycles. (5.3.3)
6 Marking Materials
6.1 Marking Material Selection
6.1.1The marking material for each marking type shall be selected from the materials below to match the service demand, the substrate, and the project durability requirement.
Waterborne traffic paint with drop-on beads (parking stalls, low/moderate wear)
Hot-applied thermoplastic with intermix and drop-on beads (crosswalks, arrows, high wear)
Preformed thermoplastic (heat-fused symbols and legends)
Preformed retroreflective marking tape (extended service life)
Epoxy pavement marking (durable lines on asphalt or concrete)
Methyl methacrylate (MMA) cold plastic (durable, fast-return-to-service)
Per drawings — signing and striping plan
NOTE Waterborne traffic paint is a single-component, low-VOC, fast-drying paint that is the default for parking stall lines and low-to-moderate wear markings because it is the lowest in cost, is renewable, and is applied with simple striping equipment. (6.1.2)
NOTE Thermoplastic is a hot-applied, 100-percent-solids material that forms a thick, durable, retroreflective marking and is the default for crosswalks, arrows, stop bars, and high-wear legends on asphalt because it far outlasts paint in those locations. (6.1.3)
NOTE Preformed thermoplastic is a factory-made symbol or legend that is heat-fused to the pavement and is well suited to arrows, accessibility symbols, and word legends where a consistent, ready-made shape is wanted. (6.1.4)
NOTE Preformed retroreflective marking tape is a factory-made film applied with a pressure-sensitive or thermal bond, used for extended-service-life lines and legends and for markings applied where hot or plural-component equipment is impractical. (6.1.5)
NOTE Epoxy and methyl methacrylate are durable, plural-component cold-applied materials that bond to both asphalt and concrete and provide long service life with high retroreflectivity, with methyl methacrylate offering a fast return to service. (6.1.6)
6.2 Traffic Paint
6.2.1Waterborne traffic paint shall conform to AASHTO M 248 for the specified color, with the volatile organic compound content within the limit of the air-quality authority having jurisdiction.
1225
1215182025
Default: 15 mils
NOTE Traffic paint shall be applied at the wet film thickness specified, because too thin a film wears through quickly and holds too few beads, and too thick a film cracks, takes too long to cure, and tracks. (6.2.2)
6.2.3Drop-on glass beads shall be applied to the wet paint immediately behind the paint gun at the specified rate so that the beads embed before the film sets.
NOTE Traffic paint shall not be applied over an existing marking of a different, incompatible material without confirming compatibility, because solvent or heat from one material can lift or bleed through another. (6.2.4)
6.3 Thermoplastic
6.3.1Hot-applied thermoplastic shall conform to AASHTO M 249 for the specified color, applied in a molten state and producing on cooling an adherent, retroreflective marking of the specified thickness and width.
○ Spray thermoplastic (lines, thinner cross section)
● Extruded / screeded thermoplastic (legends, crosswalks, thicker cross section)
60125
6090125
Default: 90 mils
NOTE Thermoplastic shall be heated to and applied at the manufacturer's specified application temperature, because overheating degrades the binder and discolors the material and underheating prevents proper flow and bond. (6.3.2)
6.3.3Glass beads shall be both intermixed in the thermoplastic and applied as drop-on beads to the surface, so that the marking retains retroreflectivity as the surface beads wear and the intermixed beads are exposed.
NOTE Thermoplastic applied to portland cement concrete shall be applied over a primer or sealer where the material manufacturer requires it, because concrete traps moisture and contaminants that migrate to the surface and pop the marking loose without a primer. (6.3.4)
6.4.1Preformed thermoplastic symbols and legends shall be heat-fused to the prepared pavement in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
● Preformed thermoplastic (heat-fused, durable symbols/legends)
○ Preformed tape, extended service life (ASTM D4505)
○ Preformed tape, limited / temporary service life (ASTM D4592)
6.4.2Preformed retroreflective marking tape for extended service life shall conform to ASTM D4505, and preformed tape for limited or temporary service life shall conform to ASTM D4592.
NOTE Preformed markings on concrete shall be applied over the manufacturer's sealer regardless of marking type, because the concrete substrate releases moisture and salts that fail the bond without a sealer. (6.4.3)
NOTE Preformed tape and symbols shall be rolled and tamped into full contact with the pavement so that no edge is lifted, because a lifted edge is caught by tires and peels the marking. (6.4.4)
6.5 Durable Cold-Applied Markings
6.5.1Epoxy and methyl methacrylate markings shall be applied as plural-component materials mixed at the specified ratio and applied at the specified thickness with intermix and drop-on glass beads.
1590
1520306090
Default: 20 mils
NOTE Epoxy and methyl methacrylate components shall be metered and mixed at the manufacturer's specified ratio, because an off-ratio mix does not cure to its design hardness and bond and is a common cause of premature durable-marking failure. (6.5.2)
NOTE Methyl methacrylate may be selected where a fast return to service is required, because it cures rapidly and reopens the marked area to traffic sooner than epoxy. (6.5.3)
7 Glass Beads and Retroreflectivity
NOTE A retroreflective marking returns headlight light to the driver's eye by means of glass beads partially embedded in the marking, and a marking with too few beads, beads embedded too deep, or beads embedded too shallow is not retroreflective and is invisible at night and in the rain. (7.1)
● AASHTO M 247 Type I drop-on beads (standard gradation)
○ AASHTO M 247 larger-gradation beads for wet retroreflectivity
○ Intermix beads plus Type I drop-on (thermoplastic and durable markings)
612
Default: 8 lb per gallon of paint
7.2Glass beads shall conform to AASHTO M 247 for the specified type and gradation, shall be clean, transparent, and spherical, and shall carry the moisture-proof and adhesion coatings the marking material requires.
7.3Drop-on beads shall be applied at the specified rate immediately behind the marking material so that the beads embed to between 50 and 60 percent of their diameter and are held by the material as it sets.
NOTE Beads applied too late, after the paint has skinned or the thermoplastic has cooled, sit on the surface and are swept away by the first traffic, leaving a marking that looks correct in daylight but is dark at night. (7.4)
250450
250300350
Default: 300 mcd/m²/lx
175350
175200250
Default: 200 mcd/m²/lx
7.5Where initial retroreflectivity is specified, the white and yellow markings shall meet the specified minimum initial coefficient of retroreflected luminance measured per ASTM D7585 or ASTM E1710 at 30-meter geometry.
NOTE Retroreflectivity is the single field measurement that distinguishes a marking that works at night from one that does not, and it shall be measured on the completed markings where the project or the Authority Having Jurisdiction requires it. (7.6)
8 Colors, Widths, and Layout
8.1 Marking Colors
NOTE Marking colors shall convey their MUTCD meaning, and a color shall not be used for a purpose other than its standard meaning. (8.1.1)
☑ White — stall lines, edge lines, crosswalks, stop bars, most legends
☑ Yellow — opposing-traffic separation, central islands, no-parking curbs
☐ Blue — accessible parking symbol and accessible space outline (supplemental)
☐ Red — fire lane markings (where adopted locally)
8.1.2White markings shall be used for parking stall lines, lane and edge lines for traffic moving in the same direction, crosswalks, stop bars, and most word and symbol legends.
8.1.3Yellow markings shall be used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions, to mark the left edge of one-way drives, and to mark central islands and no-parking curbs.
8.1.4Blue shall be used only to supplement the marking of accessible parking spaces and for the International Symbol of Accessibility, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
8.1.5Red, where adopted by the local fire code, shall be used to mark fire lanes and fire-lane curbs.
8.2 Line Widths
4 in — parking stall lines and standard lane lines
6 in — enhanced-visibility lane and edge lines
8 in — wide channelizing and gore lines
8.2.1Parking stall lines and standard lane lines shall be at least 4 inches wide, and wider lines may be used where enhanced visibility is wanted.
8.2.2Stop bars shall be solid white, 12 to 24 inches wide, placed across the approach lane at the stop point.
NOTE Double stall lines or hairpin stall lines may be used to define the boundary between adjacent stalls more clearly than a single line. (8.2.3)
8.3 Parking Stall Layout
8.3.2Standard parking stalls shall be laid out to the dimensions shown, with stall width and depth and aisle width meeting the local zoning and site development standards.
NOTE Stall lines shall be straight, parallel, and consistent in length, because a poorly laid-out lot that wanders or crowds is both a code and a usability problem and is visible from every approach. (8.3.3)
8.4 Pavement Symbols and Legends
☑ Directional arrows (turn, through, combination)
☑ Stop bars at controlled approaches
☐ Crosswalk markings (transverse or high-visibility)
☑ Accessibility symbol (ISA) in accessible spaces
☐ Word legends (e.g., STOP, NO PARKING, FIRE LANE)
○ Transverse line crosswalk (two parallel lines)
● High-visibility (continental / longitudinal bar) crosswalk
NOTE Crosswalks shall be marked with the pattern specified, with high-visibility longitudinal-bar crosswalks recommended at locations with pedestrian conflict because the bars are placed between the wheel paths and wear far slower than transverse lines. (8.4.2)
NOTE Word and symbol legends shall be applied to the standard proportions so that they are legible at the approach speed, and shall not be compressed to fit a space they do not fit. (8.4.3)
9 Accessible Parking
NOTE Accessible parking spaces, their access aisles, and their signage are governed by the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and an accessible space that is short, an access aisle that is missing or narrow, an accessible route that is not connected, or a space count that is below the required number is a federal accessibility violation. (9.1)
9.2 Accessible Space Count
9.2.2At least one in every six accessible spaces, and not fewer than one, shall be van-accessible.
NOTE The required accessible space count shall be verified during layout, because the count is a function of the total stall count in the lot and is easy to under-provide. (9.2.3)
9.3 Accessible Space and Access Aisle Dimensions
Car space 96 in wide + 60 in access aisle
Van space 132 in wide + 60 in access aisle
Van space 96 in wide + 96 in access aisle (alternate van configuration)
9.3.1Standard accessible car spaces shall be at least 96 inches wide and shall have an adjacent access aisle at least 60 inches wide.
9.3.2Van-accessible spaces shall be at least 132 inches wide with an adjacent access aisle at least 60 inches wide, or at least 96 inches wide with an adjacent access aisle at least 96 inches wide.
9.3.3The access aisle shall be the same length as the space it serves, shall be marked so as to discourage parking in it, and shall connect to an accessible route to the building entrance.
NOTE Two accessible spaces may share one access aisle, except that angled accessible spaces shall not share an access aisle. (9.3.4)
NOTE Access aisles shall be marked with diagonal hatching and may carry a "NO PARKING" legend so that the aisle is not mistaken for a parking space. (9.3.5)
9.4 Accessibility Symbol
9.4.1Each accessible parking space shall be marked on the pavement with the International Symbol of Accessibility.
9.4.2The accessibility symbol shall be white on a blue background where the supplemental blue marking is used, in accordance with the MUTCD and local accessibility code.
NOTE The pavement accessibility symbol supplements but does not replace the required upright accessible parking sign. (9.4.3)
10 Site Signage
NOTE Site traffic and regulatory signs direct and control traffic where pavement markings alone cannot, and a missing stop sign, a missing accessible-parking sign, or a sign with degraded retroreflective sheeting is a safety and code deficiency. (10.1)
10.2 Sign Schedule and Designations
☑ STOP (R1-1)
☑ Accessible parking, reserved (R7-8)
☑ Accessible parking, van-accessible plaque (R7-8a / R7-8b)
☐ No parking (R7 / R8 series)
☐ Speed limit (R2-1)
☐ Do not enter / one way (R5-1 / R6 series)
☐ Fire lane / tow-away (per local fire code)
● 30 in × 30 in (standard minimum, site and low-volume roadways)
○ 36 in × 36 in (higher-volume or higher-speed approaches)
10.2.2STOP signs (R1-1) shall be octagonal, white legend and border on a red background, and at least 30 by 30 inches on site and low-volume roadways.
10.2.3Accessible parking signs (R7-8) shall be installed at each accessible space, mounted so they are visible and not obscured by a parked vehicle.
10.2.4Van-accessible spaces shall carry the van-accessible designation plaque (R7-8a or R7-8b as adopted) in addition to the accessible parking sign.
NOTE Where the local code requires a fine-amount plaque on accessible parking signs, the plaque shall be provided. (10.2.5)
10.3 Sign Sheeting Retroreflectivity
Type III high-intensity prismatic (standard site regulatory signs)
Type IV high-intensity prismatic (improved brightness)
Type VIII / IX / XI very-high-intensity prismatic (high-speed or enhanced)
10.3.1Sign faces shall be retroreflective sheeting conforming to ASTM D4956 of the specified type, so that the sign is legible at night under headlight illumination.
NOTE Engineering-grade (Type I) sheeting shall not be used for regulatory signs, because its brightness and service life are below current practice for stop and regulatory signage. (10.3.2)
10.3.3The sheeting type shall be selected for the approach speed and the importance of the sign, with high-intensity prismatic sheeting the standard for site regulatory signs.
10.4 Sign Substrate and Hardware
10.4.1Sign blanks shall be aluminum sheet conforming to ASTM B209, of the thickness appropriate to the sign size, with rounded corners and deburred mounting holes.
10.4.2Mounting hardware, fasteners, and brackets shall be corrosion-resistant, with galvanized or stainless steel fasteners, so that the sign assembly does not streak and corrode over its service life.
NOTE Aluminum is the standard substrate because it does not rust, holds the retroreflective sheeting, and lasts the service life of the sheeting. (10.4.3)
10.5 Sign Posts and Footings
U-channel steel post (galvanized, driven)
Square steel tube post (telescoping / anchor base)
Round steel or aluminum post
● Driven post in compacted soil (U-channel, no concrete)
○ Post set in concrete footing
○ Surface-mounted base on existing pavement or structure
○ Breakaway support required (signs in or adjacent to vehicle clear zone)
● Breakaway not required (signs outside clear zone, on walls, or behind barrier)
10.5.1Sign posts shall be galvanized steel U-channel, square steel tube, or round post as specified, sized for the sign area and the local wind load.
NOTE A driven U-channel post shall be driven to the embedment depth required for stability and shall not be encased in concrete, because a light U-channel post driven directly into the soil yields on impact and a concrete-encased post does not. (10.5.2)
10.5.3Where a sign is located within or adjacent to the vehicle clear zone such that it could be struck, the support shall be a breakaway support so that an errant vehicle is not stopped abruptly by a rigid post.
10.5.4Posts set in concrete footings shall be used for larger signs and where the soil cannot hold a driven post, with the footing sized for the sign area and wind load.
10.6 Sign Mounting Height and Placement
Per drawings — signing and striping plan
10.6.1Signs in parking and pedestrian areas shall be mounted with the bottom of the sign at least 84 inches above the finished surface where pedestrians pass beneath, so that the sign does not present a head-height hazard.
10.6.2Signs shall be laterally offset from the edge of the travel way as shown, so that the sign is visible and is not in the path of a vehicle.
NOTE Where an accessible parking sign is mounted in a location a pedestrian passes beneath, it shall meet the 84-inch clearance so that it does not project into the accessible route. (10.6.3)
11 Fire Lanes
NOTE Fire lanes shall be marked and signed in accordance with the locally adopted fire code and the directives of the fire marshal having jurisdiction, and a missing or non-conforming fire lane is a common cause of a certificate-of-occupancy hold. (11.1)
Red curb with white 'NO PARKING FIRE LANE' legend (most common)
Red striping/hatching on pavement with legend
Yellow curb with legend (where adopted locally)
Per local fire code and fire marshal
● Fire-lane / tow-away signs at the spacing the fire code requires
○ Curb marking only (where fire code does not require signs)
○ Per local fire code and fire marshal
11.2Fire-lane curbs and pavement shall be marked in the color and with the legend the fire code requires, in the locations the fire marshal approved.
11.3Fire-lane signs shall be installed at the spacing the fire code requires so that the fire lane is identified along its full length.
NOTE The fire-lane layout, markings, and signs shall be confirmed with the fire marshal before application, because the fire marshal's approval is the controlling acceptance for this scope. (11.4)
12 Surface Preparation and Application
12.1 Surface Preparation
12.1.1The pavement surface shall be clean, dry, and free of dirt, dust, oil, curing compound, loose material, and existing failed markings before any marking is applied.
12.1.2New concrete shall have its curing compound removed by abrasive blasting, grinding, or water blasting before marking, because the curing compound is a bond breaker.
NOTE Existing markings that conflict with the new layout shall be removed by grinding, blasting, or another approved method that does not damage the pavement, and shall not be merely painted over, because a painted-over ghost marking remains visible and confuses drivers. (12.1.3)
NOTE A marking applied over a dirty, dusty, or contaminated surface debonds and peels regardless of the quality of the marking material. (12.1.4)
12.2 Existing Marking Removal
Grinding
Water blasting (high pressure)
Abrasive (shot/sand) blasting
Not required — new pavement, no existing markings
12.2.1Where existing markings are removed, the method shall remove the marking and its retroreflective beads without creating a scar that holds water or telegraphs through the new marking.
NOTE Removal by burning, by solvent, or by simply applying black-out paint shall not be used, because these leave a residue, a ghost, or a slick spot. (12.2.2)
12.3 Application
12.3.1Markings shall be applied to the layout verified by the Engineer of Record, at the specified width, thickness, and bead rate, with sharp, clean edges and consistent alignment.
12.3.2Each marking shall be protected from traffic until it has cured or cooled enough to bear traffic without tracking, displacing, or picking up, with cones, barricades, or flagging as needed.
NOTE A marking that is tracked, smeared, misaligned, off-width, or of deficient bead embedment shall be removed and reapplied, because a defective permanent marking is not corrected by overpainting. (12.3.3)
13 Quality Control and Acceptance
13.1Markings shall be inspected for color, width, thickness, alignment, edge sharpness, glass-bead embedment, and conformance to the verified layout.
☑ Line width and alignment to layout
☐ Marking thickness (durable markings)
☑ Glass-bead embedment 50-60 percent of diameter
☐ Color conformance (ASTM D6628)
☐ Initial retroreflectivity (where specified)
☑ Accessible space and access-aisle dimensions and count
13.2Where retroreflectivity is specified, the completed markings shall be measured per ASTM D7585 or ASTM E1710 and shall meet the specified initial minimum for each color.
13.3Signs shall be inspected for correct designation, legend, sheeting type, mounting height, plumb, lateral placement, and secure attachment.
NOTE The accessible parking spaces, access aisles, accessible-route connection, and accessible space count shall be inspected against the ADA Standards before acceptance, because this is the most frequently cited site deficiency and is most cheaply corrected before closeout. (13.4)
NOTE Markings or signs that fail an acceptance check shall be corrected, and durable markings that are defective shall be removed and reapplied rather than overlaid. (13.5)
14 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
NOTE Marking materials, glass beads, and sheeting shall be delivered in the manufacturer's labeled, sealed containers and stored per the manufacturer's instructions. (14.1)
● Climate-controlled / above minimum storage temperature per manufacturer
○ Standard dry, covered storage (signs, posts, preformed materials)
14.2Traffic paint and plural-component durable materials shall be stored within the temperature range the manufacturer specifies, because freezing ruins waterborne paint and excessive heat shortens the shelf life of reactive components.
14.3Glass beads shall be stored dry, because moisture clumps the beads and prevents uniform application and embedment.
14.4Thermoplastic and preformed materials shall be stored dry and protected from heat and from prolonged sunlight that can soften, deform, or prematurely activate the material.
14.5Sign blanks, sheeting, and preformed tape shall be stored flat and protected from creasing, scratching, and ultraviolet exposure that degrades the retroreflective sheeting before installation.
14.6Material past its shelf life or showing damage, contamination, or degradation shall not be used.
15 Warranty
1 year from substantial completion (paint markings and signs)
2 years from substantial completion (durable markings and signs)
3 years from substantial completion (durable markings, enhanced)
15.1The Contractor shall warrant the markings and signage, including adhesion, color, retroreflectivity, alignment, and conformance to the MUTCD, the ADA Standards, and the fire code, for the project warranty period beginning at substantial completion.
15.2Warranty obligations include correction of debonding, peeling, premature wear, loss of retroreflectivity below the specified level, fading, and any non-conforming accessible parking, access aisle, or signage deficiency attributable to non-conforming materials or workmanship.
15.3A durable marking that debonds or fails within the warranty period shall be removed and reapplied, not overpainted, at the Contractor's expense.
15.4Normal wear from traffic and routine renewal of paint markings at the end of their service life are Owner maintenance obligations and are not warranty items.
15.5The warranty does not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for an accessibility or fire-code non-conformance, which shall be corrected regardless of when it is discovered.