Stop Sign and Parking Sign Material Specifications

Let's Compare Stop Sign and Parking Sign Materials.

Engineer Grade
(silver/
white)

High Intensity
(silver/
white)

Diamond Grade
(silver/
white)

Diamond Grade
(fluorescent
Yellow)

Diamond Grade
(fluorescent
yel./green)

How Bright is the Sign?

By Day

34.8

This measures a sign "Cap Y" Value, a common way to determine how dull or bright the sign is during the daytime. Shown here is the minimum Daytime Luminance Limit y%.

At Night
(for car or SUV)

400

240

320

This measures, approximately, the reflectance of a sign, when seen by the driver of a car or SUV. For the car, the reflectance is higher, for an SUV, the reflectance is lower. In particular, the amount shown here is the coefficient of retroreflection as measured in candelas per footcandle per sq ft at an observation angle of 0.5º and an entrance angle of -4º.

At Night
(for a truck)

–

120

Like above, but the values here approximate the reflectance of the Stop sign for a driver of a truck. Note, however, that a truck typically observes a sign at an angle of 0.8º and the measurements here are actually at an observation angle of 1.0º and entrance angle of -4º.

At Night (when
seen at an angle)

175

215

130

170

Many times a stop sign is seen at an angle. The values here are the measurements here are actually the candelas per footcandle per sq ft for the stop sign at an observation angle of 0.3º and entrance angle of +30º.

How Durable is the Sign?

7 years
(3M warranty discontinued)

10 years

12 years

10 years

This is the 3M Warranty period. In practice, many signs last longer. Yet, in certain climates, your sign may degrade at a faster rate.

Used for Stop Signs?

Retroreflective Sign Element

Beads

Prismatic

There are two basic technologies used for reflective stop signs or other parking signs – glass beads or prisms.

3M Material Used for Signs

3270

3930

4090

4081

4083

This is the typical material from 3M used for these types of signs.

3M Product Bulletin

4000 Series