Picking a Sign Finish For Your Metal Sign
Baked Enamel on Aluminum
This material is economical yet durable. Signs are .063 or .080 aluminum and sprayed with a polyester powder coated paint and baked on. Signs have an average life span of 5 years. These signs are ideal in a situation where reflectivity is not needed.
Engineer Grade Prismatic Reflective Sheeting on .080 Aluminum (also called EGP or PEG Reflective)
This material is also referred to as "Type I reflective". Engineer Grade Prismatic reflective is used in towns where traffic is slower moving. It is also used on slower moving secondary roads, private subdivisions and parking lots. The "engineer grade prismatic reflective" has an approximate reflectivity of 70 foot-lamberts per square inch. This material is durable and will reflect at night when light hits it. Signs are 1/16" thick with an engineer grade prismatic reflective sheeting applied over the surface. Signs will never rust and have a minimum life span of 7 years. Signs meet State and Federal DOT's "type I reflective" specifications. Unless otherwise specified, all of our reflective signs are made with this material. The manufacturer series are 3M 3430 or Avery T-2500.
High Intensity Prismatic Reflective Sheeting on .080 Aluminum (also called HIP Reflective)
This material meets the department of transportation's "Type III & IV reflective" requirements. This material has an approximate reflectivity of 250 foot-lamberts per square inch. This material is durable and will reflect at night when light hits it. It is ten times more reflective than engineer grade reflective sheeting. The Type 3 and 4 are usually required for higher speed roads like highways. This material is durable and will reflect at night when light hits it. Signs are 1/16" thick with high intensity prismatic sheeting applied over the surface. Signs will never rust and have a life span of 10 years.
Diamond Grade Prismatic Reflective Sheeting, on .080 Aluminum (also called DGP Reflective)
This material has an approximate reflectivity of 1,000 foot-lamberts per square inch. Diamond Grade is used on high speed interstate roads. Diamond Grade can be seen from one mile away at night. This material is durable and will reflect at night when light hits it. It is the brightest reflective sheeting that we offer. It is more reflective than engineer grade or high intensity reflective sheeting. Signs are 1/16" thick with prismatic reflective sheeting applied over the surface. Signs will never rust and the Yellow-Green material has a life span of 10+ years. Signs meet most State and Federal DOT specifications.
The MUTCD has specified new rules that will have MOST traffic signs switching over to High Intensity Prismatic signs over the next few years. CLICK HERE to read about the rulings and how they will effect your signage program.