5460 Validation Sheeting Specification1.doc

SPECIFICATION FOR

LICENSE PLATE VALIDATION SHEETING

WITH

“OFFICIAL USE ONLY” SECURITY MARKS

Validation Security Sheeting Series 5460ER (OR EQUIVALENT) August 2004

(SP 5460ER)

SPECIFICATION FOR LICENSE PLATE VALIDATION SHEETING

WITH “OFFICIAL USE ONLY” SECURITY MARKS

SECTION I - GENERAL

This specification shall cover the materials, performance characteristics, quality, testing and support services for retroreflective license plate validation sheeting with Custom Designed, verifiable Directional Security Marks.

A.

Description:

The retroreflective (hereafter referred to as "reflective") sheeting shall consist of lens elements enclosed within a transparent resin and shall have a pre-coated pressure sensitive adhesive backing protected by a removable liner. The reflective sheeting shall have a smooth weather resistant, flat outer surface. Reflective sheeting shall be processed into stickers according to the manufacturer's recommendations and coated with a protective finishing clear to assure the performance and durability expected. The sheeting shall display "Official Use Only" security marks that are visible only at a viewing position perpendicular to the sticker and are extremely difficult to counterfeit. These “Official Use Only” security marks shall facilitate visual verification of authenticity.

B.

Prequalification

Before any bid is considered, the materials proposed for submission shall be materials of adequate manufacture and designation as approved by the issuing agency. Approved status shall be based on:

1. Conformance to all requirements of this specification.

2. Testing of materials in actual weathering condition for a period equal to at least one-half the length of sticker issue. Where testing is not possible, certification by a corporate officer of the sheeting manufacturer that the product has been successfully used for yearly validation of vehicle registration must be provided. Certification of performance history shall include documented evidence that the validation materials and technical services proposed have been successfully employed for an entire registration period within a state.

Manufacturers failing to conform to any requirement of this specification shall be disqualified.

Prospective bidders and/or suppliers who desire to prequalify material governed by this specification, should submit technical data exhibiting characteristics of all materials proposed. Information submitted shall include time and temperature requirements for curing of any inks, clear-coats and/or other materials proposed for use in the production of completed validation stickers. Prospective bidders should also submit a copy of their Certificate of Registration to ISO 9000 series Quality Standards as part of this information packet. If a review of the technical data indicates that the proposed materials comply with the requirements of this specification, the prospective bidder or supplier shall be so notified.

A product already approved by the issuing agency through previous testing and proof of successful performance history need not be requalified to be eligible for submission, but shall be certified by a corporate officer of the manufacturer to meet all requirements of this specification.

Prequalification of validation sticker materials shall include testing for conformance to all requirements of this specification as stated in Section II. Since some tests required by this specification cannot be made after the material is finished into stickers or applied to license plates, prequalification testing shall be undertaken only for those sheetings which are identifiable as being of proper design as outlined by this specification. For material not previously qualified, test samples of reflective sheeting, inks and clear coat shall be selected by the state at the sheeting manufacturer's production facility, and shall be of representative production materials of the type offered. Two lots of reflective sheeting will be selected for testing.

SECTION II – REQUIREMENTS

A.

Retroreflective Characteristics

The unprinted reflective sheeting shall have the following minimum coefficients of retroreflection expressed as candlepower per footcandle per square foot of material (candelas per lux per square meter). Test samples shall be oriented as specified in the manufacturer's instructions. The coefficient of retroreflection shall be measured in accordance with ASTM E-810, "Standard Test Method for Coefficient of Retroreflection of Retroreflective Sheeting", except that only one reading shall be taken at each position; the sample shall not be rotated 90°.

0.2°

Entrance Angles

The coefficients of retroreflection for all sheeting colors are listed in appendix I.

B.

Rainfall Performance

The coefficient of retroreflection of the same sheeting, totally wet by rain, shall not be less than 90% of the above listed values. The photometric performance during rainfall shall be determined as follows:

1. Test set-up for rainfall performance:

2. Place the test panel in an upright position 6 inches (15.2 cm) below and 4 inches (10.1 cm) in front of the nozzle as shown below:

3. Apply sufficient water pressure so that the upper surface of the spray envelope strikes the top of the panel.

4. With water falling on the panel, measure the coefficient of retroreflection. Wet performance measurements shall be conducted at 0.2( observation and -4( entrance angles in accordance with ASTM E-810.

C.

Adhesive and Protective Liner

1.

The pre-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive shall form a durable, vandal resistant bond to clean, dry, reflective sheeting license plate surfaces or sticker surfaces of the same material, for the life of the plate issue.

2.

The adhesive shall not exude from edges of the sheeting when processed into finished stickers so as to cause stacked pieces to stick together during shearing, cutting, printing, handling or while packaged in shipment and distribution.

3.

The protective liner attached to the adhesive shall be removed by peeling without soaking in water or other solvents and shall be easily removed after storage for four hours at 150°F (66°C) under weight of 2.5 lbs. per square inch (0.17 kg/sq. cm.).

4.

The protective liner shall be of 80-lb. basis weight paper, and the total thickness of sheeting, adhesive and liner shall not exceed 0.012 inch (0.305 mm).

D.

Diffuse Daytime Color

Through instrumental color testing, the diffuse daytime color of the reflective sheeting shall conform to color requirements as determined spectrophotometrically in accordance with ASTM E-1164 and E-1349, utilizing either 45/0 or 0/45 degrees illuminations/viewing conditions as described in E-1164 and E-1349 for retroreflective materials. Chromaticity and the Luminance Factor based on CIE tristimulus values for the 2° observer and Illuminant D65 shall be calculated in accordance with ASTM E-308.

Chromaticity Coordinate

Corner Points

Y (%)

See Appendix II for color specification requirements of other colors.

E.

“Official Use Only” Security Marks

The sheeting shall have “Official Use Only” security marks which are an integral part of the sheeting, and which make unauthorized sticker reproduction extremely difficult. To assure authenticity, the “Official Use Only” security marks used on a nominal 1 inch x 1.5 inch (2.54 cm x 3.81 cm) sticker shall be separated by no more than .75 inch (1.91 cm). The “Official Use Only” security marks shall meet the following requirements:

Stickers, 25 inches (64 cm) from the ground, properly applied to a vertically mounted license plate shall provide effective visual verification by exhibiting the following:

a.

The marks shall be visible at a viewing position perpendicular to the sticker.

b.

The marks shall not be visible when viewed at an angle greater than 25° to the left or to the right side of the head-on viewing position.

The “Official Use Only” security marks shall:

Be verifiable in diffuse daylight and by retroreflected light at night.

Be visible on a sticker which is held at arms length and at a perpendicular viewing position to the sticker. These same marks shall not be visible when rotated 45° from the head-on, perpendicular viewing position.

3.

Not alter sheeting colors or reduce sheeting brightness below specified levels.

4.

Not be removable by chemical or physical means from the sticker, applied or unapplied, without irreparable damage to the reflective system.

F.

Processability

The sheeting shall be readily cut without cracking or flaking. The sheeting shall be compatible with transparent or opaque inks and protective finishing clear coat as recommended by the reflective sheeting manufacturer, for sticker fabrication. The successful sheeting bidder shall furnish all inks, clear coat and thinners needed to produce license plate validation stickers, meeting the requirements of this specification.

Reflective sheeting shall be compatible with all procedures and equipment used by the state, or its designated converter, to process license plate validation stickers. Verification of compatibility may be required by the sticker manufacturing facility prior to initiating the production of license plate validation stickers. For this purpose, fifty (50) sheets of each size and color specified, inclusive of all inks, thinners and clears, shall be submitted to the production facility for visual examination and testing in accordance with procedures established by the state. The approval of pre-production samples does not relieve the sheeting suppliers of responsibility for compliance with all other provisions of this specification. The sheeting samples shall be manufactured in the same facilities to be used for the manufacture of contract quantities.

G.

Cleanability

The sheeting processed into finished stickers and applied in accordance with the recommendations of the reflective sheeting manufacturer shall be readily cleansed of normal dirt accumulation by washing with water and mild detergent. The surface shall be sufficiently solvent resistant to permit cleaning with solvents such as VM&P Naphtha, mineral spirits, turpentine, or other solvents commonly used on vehicle finishes. Rinsed and dried, the surface shall show no appreciable change following cleaning when compared visually to a new, clean sticker surface.

H.

Performance Life

The protective finishing clear coating shall remain clear and durable and shall provide a compatible surface for direct application of additional Validation stickers of the same material for the service life required.

I.

General and Dimensional Requirements

The retroreflective sticker shall be free from ragged edges, cracks and blisters. The sheeting shall be furnished in standard sheet sizes specified. Instructions shall be included in each package to indicate correct orientation for the printing so that printed designs are applied in proper orientation with the security marks. When furnished in precut sheets, dimensions shall be as specified with tolerances of –0 + 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) in length and width.

The distance between diagonal corners of each sheet shall be equal, with a tolerance of or – 1/32-inch (0.79 mm) for all diagonals up to 24 inches (61 cm) in length. In addition, the differences between the lengths of the opposite edges of each sheet shall not be more than 1/16 inch (1.59 mm).

J.

Technical Service

The reflective sheeting manufacturer shall, without additional cost, provide the validation sticker manufacturing shop with competent technical service and product information until the shop operating personnel are able to manufacture quality license plate validation stickers in keeping with the state's requirements and the manufacturer's recommendations. A listing of the technical service personnel and their qualifications shall also be provided.

To ensure continued quality of sticker production, the sheeting manufacturer shall provide the state production facility with on-site technical service.

In the event production difficulties are experienced with the successful bidder's materials, the sheeting manufacturer shall provide toll-free call-in consultation. Technical service shall be furnished by the sheeting manufacturer at no additional cost until such times as the difficulties are resolved. On-site technical service shall be available within 48 hours of notification by the state's processing shop of production difficulties.

K.

Packaging and Delivery

All reflective sheeting shall be packaged in accordance with accepted commercial standards.

When finished in sheet form, the sheets shall be packaged in individual stacks of 150. The top and bottom of each stack shall be protected with inch (3.18 mm) thick chipboard or similar suitable material. Each individual stack shall be wrapped in polyethylene film or other suitable wrap and packed in a single layer side-by-side in wooden boxes with sufficient chipboard around and between individual packages to prevent shifting and damage. Each wooden box shall have an exterior label on the side identifying the beginning and ending sheet numbers contained within and shall have a nailed down wooden top. Wooden boxes shipped on pallets shall be banded to prevent shifting on the pallet.

Appendix I

Validation Sheeting Retroreflective Characteristics

The Coefficient of Retroreflection shall be measured on flat, clean Validation sheeting and shall have the following minimum values at 0.2° observation angle, expressed as candlepower per foot-candle per square foot (candelas per lux per square meter) of material. Measurements shall be conducted in accordance with ASTM E-810, "Standard Test Method for Coefficient of Retroreflection of Retroreflective Sheeting". Sheeting shall be measured without clear coat.

Entrance Angle

Color

White

Yellow

Lemon-Yellow

Green

Blue

Red

Orange

Gold

Yellow-Green

Magenta

Appendix II

Color Specification

Chromaticity Coordinate

Corner Points Luminance Factor

.303

.365

.340

.278

.290

.354

.378

.316 35 Min.

.403

.440

.504

.455

.508

.550

.457

.462 34 – 46.5

.447

.480

.536

.500

.472

.512

.456

.420 29 – 43

.502

.573

.627

.535

.398

.425

.368

.360 18 – 30

.552

.630

.695

.601

.358

.370

.305

.310 6 – 13

.105

.232

.240

.180

.240

.250

.200

.140 8 – 19

.115

.200

.297

.242

.300

.490

.265 14 – 26

.415

.415

.458

.458

.390

.390 19 – 26

.280

.280

.320

.500

.460

18 – 25

.465

.465

.520

.520

.235

.285

.285

.235 9 – 14