Retroreflection tests

Unlike specular reflection, which deflects light at a single angle, retroreflective materials ensure that most of the light beam is reflected back to its source. This is crucial for road safety, as it allows a vehicle's headlights to efficiently illuminate the sign, making the object visible to the driver.

To measure this capacity objectively, it is necessary to use a retroreflectometer, an instrument that quantifies the coefficient of retroreflection (R_AThe measurement must consider two fundamental angular parameters: the observation angle (α), which simulates the position of the driver's eyes relative to the light source, and the illumination angle (β), which is the angle at which the light enters the light. Standardized tests are applied to critical elements such as traffic signs, high-visibility clothing, road markings, and license plates, ensuring compliance with the minimum retroreflectivity values ​​required by regulations.

Conducting retroreflective tests is vital for ensuring road and workplace safety by guaranteeing the conspicuity (the ability to attract visual attention) of materials in low-light conditions. These tests verify that traffic signs and high-visibility clothing meet the minimum retroreflective coefficients required by standards such as the UNE-EN ISO 20471 and UNE-EN 12899even after undergoing abrasion, flex, or aging tests. This is critical for saving lives, as inadequate visibility in the dark dramatically increases the risk of accidents.

At Eyco, we conduct retroreflection tests using a vertical retroreflectometer. This equipment features advanced sensor technology that allows for measurements from different viewing angles and various input angles. It is capable of measuring retroreflection of various colors and all types of retroreflective materials.

We have the technical capacity to evaluate the retroreflective properties of vertical traffic signs, high-visibility clothing, and various road signage (delineators, cones), strictly following the specific standards of the sector, including the UNE-EN 12899, UNE-EN ISO 20471 and the relevant ASTM standards, thus offering standardized or custom-designed tests.

The tests carried out by Eyco are documented in a technical report that includes:

• The identification and description of the sample
• The standardized methods applied
• Test conditions
• The equipment used
• The results obtained
• Measurement uncertainty

The data is presented in a clear and traceable manner, meeting the necessary quality requirements.