names for reflective sheeting standards

[agentsteel53]

does anyone know what the terms "Type I", "Type II", "Type III" for reflectivity mean?

also, what is "Super Engineer Grade"?

reason I ask is, because I generally know only the terms of trade from the 1930s to 1950s, which are the following:

1936 is when "Scotchbrite" is invented.  this is beads which are glued to a backing, with no front protective layer.

1946 or so is when this product is renamed to "Scotchlite".

1950 is when "Engineer Grade Scotchlite" is invented.  this adds a transparent front protective layer, that gives it the distinct light-yellow color.

1971 is when honeycomb "High Intensity" sheeting is introduced.  I do not know if this product is called "Scotchlite", and "honeycomb" is definitely an informal term.

how do these terms map to the various "Type" identifiers?

[Brian556]

Jake,
Here is a link that should help you.http://www.trafficsign.us/signsheet.html
Super EG is brighter than EG, but less bright than high intensity. It looks just like EG, so manufacturers have to put an identifying imprint on it. I have a street name blade made with it and it has light gray stars on it.

As for terminology, High intensity is officially called "high intensity". Honeycomb is slang in my experience.
The new (last 8 years) type is "HIP" or "high Intensity Prismatic" 3M brand has lines, Avery brand has checkerboard pattern.

[agentsteel53]

thanks!  I had not ever heard of the distinction between EG and Super EG.  I wonder when Super EG was introduced.

it's also notable that adoption of these reflective standards took a while.  Scotchlite was invented in 1936, but its use before 1949 or so is very, very rare. 

Same with EG Scotchlite: 1950 vs 1957 or so.

[roadman]

does anyone know what the terms "Type I", "Type II", "Type III" for reflectivity mean?

also, what is "Super Engineer Grade"?

reason I ask is, because I generally know only the terms of trade from the 1930s to 1950s, which are the following:

1936 is when "Scotchbrite" is invented.  this is beads which are glued to a backing, with no front protective layer.

1946 or so is when this product is renamed to "Scotchlite".

1950 is when "Engineer Grade Scotchlite" is invented.  this adds a transparent front protective layer, that gives it the distinct light-yellow color.

1971 is when honeycomb "High Intensity" sheeting is introduced.  I do not know if this product is called "Scotchlite", and "honeycomb" is definitely an informal term.

how do these terms map to the various "Type" identifiers?

This should help you as well.  It's a link to FHWA's current (2011) retro-reflective sheeting identification guide.

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/night_visib/sign_visib/sheetguide/

[agentsteel53]

that is, indeed, what I needed to know!

[Alps]

I have a sheeting guide hung up on my wall, I believe from CJ (CapHwys). It's really nice in the summer sunset when the orange sunlight hits all the retroreflective colors.