ESBD_433096_1751483705613_6_Attachment H DMS-8300 Sign Face Materials_304T-25-550A2.1 Traffic Control Devices.pdf

Departmental Materials Specification DMS-8300

Materials and Tests Division 1 – 9 Effective Date: September 2024

Revised Date: September 2024

DMS-8300

Sign Face Materials Effective Date: September 2024

1. DESCRIPTION

This Specification governs the quality monitoring program (QMP) for sign face materials and describes the Material Producer List (MPL), pre-qualification procedures, quality monitoring (QM) requirements, warranty, and material and testing requirements for the following sign face materials:

reflective sheeting, conformable reflective sheeting, screen and digital print inks, and colored transparent and black non-reflective electronically cuttable (EC) films.

2. UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS

The values given in parentheses (if provided) are not standard and may not be exact mathematical conversions. Use each system of units separately. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

3. DEFINITIONS

The following definition applies to this Specification.

Rotational Sensitive Sheeting. Reflective sheeting not meeting the 20% maximum rotational sensitivity requirement when measured in accordance with AASHTO M 268.

4. MATERIAL PRODUCER LIST

The Materials and Tests Division (MTD) maintains the MPL of all materials conforming to the requirements of this Specification. Materials appearing on the MPL titled “Sign Face Materials” require no further sampling and testing before use, unless deemed necessary by the Engineer or MTD.

Only products listed by manufacturer and product code or designation in accordance with the MPL will be qualified for purchase under State procurement Contracts.

5. AASHTO PRODUCT EVALUATION AND AUDIT SOLUTIONS PROGRAM

REQUIREMENT

Some of these sign face materials are evaluated by the AASHTO Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions program. For these sign face materials, the AASHTO evaluation is required before submital for pre-qualification. If AASHTO has designated a re-evaluation schedule, the sign face materials must be resubmitted to AASHTO for evaluation when designated by that schedule. If no re-evaluation schedule is designated, they must be resubmitted for re-evaluation every 10 yr.

The highlighted portions of this Attachment do not denote higher or more significant information than non-highlighted information.

IFB 304T-25-550A2.1

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Attachment H ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/cmd/mpl/signface.pdf

Materials and Tests Division 2 – 9 Effective Date: September 2024

Revised Date: September 2024

6. BIDDERS’ AND SUPPLIERS’ REQUIREMENTS

The Department will only purchase or allow on projects those products listed by producer and product code or designation shown on the MPL. To obtain a place on the MPL, the producer must be accepted into the Quality Monitoring Program (QMP).

Use of pre-qualified product does not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to provide product that meets this Specification. The Department may inspect or test material at any time and reject any material that does not meet the specifications.

Upon request, provide evidence of the ability to furnish the products in accordance with the terms and conditions stated in this Specification. The Department will make the final determination regarding the material supplier’s ability.

The Department will not consider award of any advertisement to a prospective material supplier or bidder with pending issues, unless the material being offered is significantly different from the item in question and has been pre-qualified under this Specification.

7. PRE-QUALIFICATION PROCEDURE

7.1. Pre-Qualification Request. Submit a request for evaluation under DMS-8300 to DMS_Prequal@txdot.gov.

Include the following information in the request:

company name;

physical and mailing addresses;

contact person, telephone number, and email address;

type of material;

company material designation (e.g., product name and code number);

AASHTO test data, if applicable;

sheeting type and a test report with actual test data showing the material complies with the requirements of AASHTO M 268, as modified by this Specification, if applicable;

fabrication guidelines outlining optimum rotation for rotational sensitive white reflective sheeting; and warranty statement required by this Specification.

7.2. Pre-Qualification Samples.

7.2.1. General Use. For all proposed products, provide pre-qualification sample quantities in accordance with Tex-720-I. Send pre-qualification samples for general posting on the MPL to the following address: Materials and Tests Division, Laboratory Building, 6230 E. Stassney Lane, Austin, TX 78744. Submit all materials for prequalification testing at no cost to the Department.

7.2.2. Procurement Materials. For all proposed sign sheeting products intended for additional listing as approved procurement materials, provide two additional rolls of material, at a minimum quantity of 50 sq. yd. per roll.

Submit one roll to the TxDOT Athens RDC Sign Shop at 2400 NE Loop 7, Athens, TX 75751, and one roll to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—George Beto Unit facility at 1391 FM 3328, Tennessee Colony, TX 75880. Submit all materials for prequalification testing at no cost to the Department.

7.3. Pre-Qualification Testing.

7.3.1. General Use. MTD will test pre-qualification samples in accordance with this Specification.

IFB 304T-25-550A2.1

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Attachment H mailto:DMS_Prequal@txdot.gov https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/cst/TMS/700-I_series/pdfs/str720.pdf

Materials and Tests Division 3 – 9 Effective Date: September 2024

7.3.2. Procurement Materials. In addition to MTD testing, State sign shops will fabricate various traffic signs using the pre-qualification samples. The producer has the option to be onsite at the time of the demonstration. Any inability to process the sign face materials without incident by the State sign shops will constitute failure of the material to be constructible by State forces and equipment.

7.4. Evaluation. MTD will notify prospective bidders and suppliers after completion of material evaluation.

7.4.1. Qualification. The Department will accept materials meeting the requirements of this Specification to the QMP and will list them on the MPL.

The Department may grant provisional pre-qualification approval for materials that have undergone a full evaluation by AASHTO and whose test results meet the minimum durability values required by this Specification.

The Department will grant full pre-qualification approval after successful completion of the accelerated weathering requirements. Failure to complete all exterior exposure requirements successfully is grounds for cancellation of pre-qualification.

Report changes in the composition or in the manufacturing process of any material to MTD. Significant changes reported by the producer, as determined by the Director of MTD, may require a re-evaluation of performance. The Department reserves the right to conduct whatever tests it deems necessary to identify a pre-qualified material and determine whether there is a change in the composition, manufacturing process, or quality that may affect its durability or performance. In case of variance, the Department’s tests will govern.

7.4.2. Failure. Producers not qualified under this Specification may not furnish materials for use on Department projects or procurement Contracts.

Producers failing to qualify may submit a request for re-evaluation after 1 yr. has elapsed from the date of the original request. MTD may modify this time limit at its discretion. In the request for re-evaluation, document the cause of the issue and corrective action taken.

The Department normally bears the costs of sampling and testing; however, the producer will bear the costs associated with materials failing to conform to the requirements of this Specification. The Director of MTD will assess this cost at the time of testing and amounts due will be billed to the producer.

8. QUALITY MONITORING (QM) REQUIREMENTS

8.1. Quality Monitoring (QM) Sample. To maintain QMP approval status, provide an annual QM sample in accordance with Tex-720-I for each product listed on the MPL. The annual QM cycle begins upon initial acceptance and approval and ends on the anniversary of that date. Submit samples at least 1 mo. before approval status expires to allow enough time for testing. Not submitting material on time may cause a delay in posting on the MPL. Provide QM sample quantities at no cost to the Department.

QM samples must meet all the minimum requirements of this Specification; however, the coefficient of retroreflection will be based on the process average of all samples tested within a minimum 1-yr. timeframe.

Maintain the running process average of all samples for the coefficient of retroreflection above the minimums specified for each sheeting type.

8.2. Periodic Evaluation. The Department reserves the right to conduct random sampling and testing of pre-qualified materials to verify performance and Specification compliance and to perform random audits of documentation. Department representatives may sample material from the manufacturing plant, the sign fabrication plant, the project site, and the warehouse.

Periodic samples must meet all the minimum requirements of this Specification; however, the Department will determine conformance for coefficient of retroreflection based on the process average of all samples

IFB 304T-25-550A2.1

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Materials and Tests Division 4 – 9 Effective Date: September 2024 tested within a minimum 1-yr. timeframe. Maintain the process average above the minimums specified for each sheeting type.

Failure of materials to comply with the requirements of this Specification as a result of periodic evaluation may be cause for removal of those materials from the QMP and the MPL. In case of variance, the Department’s tests will govern.

Issues resulting from an inability to properly fabricate signs using the equipment and forces available to State sign shops may be cause for removal from the MPL.

8.3. Disqualification. Causes for disqualification and removal from the QMP and the MPL may include, but are not limited to the following:

falsification of documentation, producer fails to properly submit QM samples to MTD, producer fails to report any change in material composition or manufacturing process to MTD, material fails to meet the requirements of this Specification as a result of periodic evaluation, producer has unpaid charges for failing samples, or producer has unresolved warranty issues.

MTD will remove disqualified producers from the MPL and will not allow submission of material for re-qualification for 1 yr., at the discretion of the Director of MTD.

8.4. Re-Qualification. Once the disqualification period established by MTD has elapsed, producers disqualified and removed from the QMP and the MPL may begin the re-qualification process by submitting a request in accordance with Section 8300.7.1., “Pre-Qualification Request,” including additional documentation identifying the cause of the problem and corrective action taken. The re-qualification process will then follow all subsequent Sections of Article 8300.7., “Pre-Qualification Procedure.”

The Department normally bears the costs of sampling and testing; however, the disqualified producer will bear the costs associated with re-qualification. The Director of MTD will assess this cost at the time of re-evaluation, and amounts due will be billed to the producer.

9. COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCER’S WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS

Sign face material producers must comply with all requirements of the following warranty. Failure to comply with the requirements of this warranty is cause for removal from the QMP and MPL.

Submit a statement to the address used for pre-qualification indicating understanding and compliance with the provisions of the warranty and willingness to abide by the provisions. Include the name, address, telephone number, and email address of the person to contact regarding potential claims under the warranty provisions.

For producers of sign face materials, the warranty must include the use of one producer’s sign face material directly applied to a different producer’s sign face material. Screen and digital print inks must be recommended and warranted by the producer of the base sheeting. If a failure occurs, assignment of warranty responsibility is to the producer of the sign face material that fails. (For example, if the base sheeting, defined as the sheeting attached to the substrate, separates from the sign substrate, the producer of the base sheeting will be responsible. If the sheeting used for legend detaches from the base sheeting, the producer of the legend material will be responsible for the failure.)

9.1. Certification. Submit a certification with each lot or shipment that states that the material supplied meets the requirements listed. Show individual lot numbers on the certification.

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9.2. Field Performance. Sign face materials processed, applied, stored, and handled in conformance with the producer’s recommendations (or in accordance with this Specification when there is an exception to the producer’s recommendations) must perform satisfactorily for the number of years specified for that sign face material. The performance period begins at the time a sign is fabricated, as indicated by the fabrication date on the sign identification decal. The warranty requirements go into effect upon final acceptance by the Department. The Department will adjust the performance period to deduct the time between the sign fabrication date and Department acceptance.

The sign face material is unsatisfactory if:

it deteriorates because of natural causes to the extent that the sign is ineffective for its intended purpose (e.g., being viewed from a moving vehicle under normal day and night driving conditions); or it shows any of the following defects:

• cracks discernible with the unaided eye from the driver’s position while in an outside lane at a distance of 50 ft. (15 m) or greater from the sign;

• peeling in excess of 1/4 in. (6.4 mm);

• shrinkage in excess of 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) total per 48 in. (1.2 m) of sheeting width; or

• fading, loss of color, or loss of reflectivity to the extent that color or reflectivity fails to meet the requirements of AASHTO M 268, as modified by this Specification.

Provide the applicators with manuals, training videos, or both describing the proper application method.

Submit, to the address used for pre-qualification, a copy of the current training materials provided with any updates as they occur. Include recommended procedures for the storage and handling of materials after application to the sign face until final installation.

The sign face material producer’s warranty does not relieve the Contractor for unacceptable work or improper handling, storage, or installation. The Contractor is fully responsible for all materials and work until final acceptance by the Department.

9.3. Minimum Performance Period. All signs made with the type of sheeting shown in Table 1 and any other sign face materials used on each type of sheeting, except construction and maintenance work signs and barricades, must meet the minimum performance periods and replacement actions shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Warranty Period (year.)

Sheeting Type Period for Complete Sign

Replacement and Installation Additional Period for Sheeting

Material Replacement Only

A, B, C 7 3

D 7 5

BFL, CFL, DFL

1 5 2

1. BFL, CFL, and DFL indicate fluorescent sheeting products in the Type B, C, and D categories.

9.4. Producer’s Replacement Obligation. Where and when shown that retroreflective traffic signs processed in conformance with the sign face material producer’s recommendations (or in accordance with this Specification when there is an exception to the producer’s recommendations) have not met the field performance requirements in Section 9.2., “Field Performance,” a producer’s replacement obligation exists.

The producer must cover the costs of replacement of the sign on the roadway or of restoring the sign surface to its original effectiveness as determined by and at no cost to the Department for materials or labor.

Replacement sign face materials must:

be the same type originally specified unless otherwise approved or directed, meet all the requirements of this Specification, and be listed on the MPL.

Schedule with designated Department personnel, within 30 days of notification of potential replacement obligation, an onsite investigation to determine whether the sign face material producer’s obligation exists.

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Fulfill all obligations within 120 days after determination of obligations. The Department may replace signs where uncompleted obligations occur and may bill the producer for all Department costs in performing the producer’s replacement obligation.

When in the judgment of the Department deteriorated signs present a traffic hazard, the Department reserves the right to remove the signs from the roadway and place them in storage for the producer’s inspection. Reimburse the Department for all costs, including labor for removal and replacement, when inspection reveals that a material producer’s obligation exists.

The material producer may use an independent contractor to fulfill obligations to replace or refurbish signs on the roadway.

Terms of the Contract must be in conformance with the provisions of Contracts used by the Department for this type of work, be approved by the Department, and save harmless the Department from any liability that may arise out of the Contractor’s operations.

The Department will provide a sample Contract to the producer upon the producer’s request.

The Department reserves the right to place a representative on the job to ensure that the signs are replaced or refurbished in conformance with Department standards. The Department will test all sign face materials used to fulfill the producer’s obligations to ensure compliance in accordance with this Specification.

Replacement material assumes the remaining warranty period of the material it replaces.

9.5. Sign Processors’ Obligations. Submit the following with each shipment of signs or sign faces:

Department Contract or purchase order number; and a copy of the certification, in accordance with Section 8300.9.1., “Certification,” showing the lot number of all sign face materials from which the completed signs or sign faces were processed.

10. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REFLECTIVE SHEETING

This Specification covers the general and specific requirements for the four types of reflective sheeting materials listed in AASHTO M 268, Types A, B, C, and D. The sheeting producer must furnish identification codes to the Department. Construction work-zone grade sheeting used for temporary construction work zone applications must meet all requirements for the type specified, except for the weathering requirements, for which it must meet at least 60% of the minimum specified initial retroreflectivity values specified for that type after accelerated weathering of 500 hr. and 12 mo. of exterior exposure.

The Department conducts outdoor weathering at the Department’s test site in Austin, Texas, or at other locations as deemed necessary by the Director of MTD.

Meet all requirements in accordance with AASHTO M 268, as modified by the following.

10.1. Coefficient of Retroreflection. For rotational sensitive white sheeting, the coefficient of retroreflection will be measured at the orientation identified by the producer as the optimum rotation.

For purple sheeting, the coefficient of retroreflection must meet the requirements shown in Table 2.

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Materials and Tests Division 7 – 9 Effective Date: September 2024

Table 2 Minimum Coefficient of Retroreflection for Purple Sheeting (mcd/m2/lux)

Observation Angle Entrance Angle Type B Type C

0.2° -4° 13.4 23.2

0.2° +30° 4.8 8

0.5° -4° 5.4 9.4

0.5° +30° 1.8 3.2

1.0° -4° 0.6 2.4

1.0° +30° 0.2 0.8

10.2. Chemical Resistance. The surface of the sheeting or the face of a completed sign must be chemically resistant to the extent that there will be no surface change when wiped using a soft, clean cloth dampened with mild detergents or cleaners supplied by or recommended by the sheeting producer.

10.3. Adhesive. Pre-coat the backside of the reflective sheeting with either a heat-activated or a pressure-sensitive adhesive. No additional coats of adhesive must be required to affix the reflective sheeting to the sign blank. The adhesive and liner, when used, must be in accordance with AASHTO M 268.

Suppliers of reflective sheeting using a porous, textured-backing paper to protect the adhesive layer that is not suitable for use as a slip-sheet for packaging of completed signs, sign panels, or both must supply rolls of slip-sheet paper in the various widths of reflective sheeting supplied. The area of slip-sheet paper, supplied in the various widths, must be the same as the area of reflective sheeting supplied in the various widths.

Supplied slip-sheet paper will be subsidiary to the reflective sheeting, and any costs, direct or indirect, must be included in the unit price bid for reflective sheeting on State purchases.

The adhesive must have no staining effect on the reflective sheeting.

10.4. Color. Meet all the color requirements in accordance with AASTHO M 268, except the Delta E requirements.

Additionally, the reflected night color must be:

identifiable as the same color as the day color when observed at 50 ft. (15 m); and uniform and free of streaks, mars, and other imperfections.

In addition, purple sheeting must meet the requirements shown in Tables 3, 4, and 5.

Table 3 Purple Daytime Specification Limits (All Types of Reflective Sheeting)

1 2 3 4 x y x y x y x y

0.302 0.064 0.310 0.210 0.380 0.255 0.468 0.140

Table 4 Purple Nighttime Specification Limits (All Types of Reflective Sheeting)

1 2 3 4 x y x y x y x y

0.355 0.088 0.385 0.288 0.500 0.350 0.635 0.221

Table 5 Purple Daytime Luminance Factors (All Types of Reflective Sheeting)

Min Max

2.0 10

10.5. Material Identification. Mark each container, carton, or box containing reflective sheeting with the information listed in AASHTO M 268. The identification numbers must also appear on the inside of the sheeting roll core. The identification numbers on the outside of the box and on the inside of the core must match. The mismatch of these numbers may be cause for rejection.

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11. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CONFORMABLE REFLECTIVE SHEETING

11.1. General Requirements. Conformable reflective sheeting is intended for use on both flat surfaces and round plastic or metal posts. Conformable reflective sheeting must meet all requirements of AASHTO M 268, as modified by this Specification, and the requirements of Tex-843-B.

12. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SCREEN AND DIGITAL PRINT INKS

12.1. General Requirements. Meet the requirements of AASHTO M 268, as modified by this Specification.

12.2. Color. Screen and digital print inks, when applied to any prequalified white reflective sheeting, must produce a color meeting the color requirements specified for the various colors of reflective sheeting in accordance with AASHTO M 268 and this Specification.

Use the type of screen recommended by the screen ink and sheeting producer. Use the type of digital printer recommended by the digital ink and sheeting producer and qualified and approved by MTD for use with that digital ink and sheeting. Digitally printed signs intended for traffic applications require a clear overlay film applied to the entire face. Digitally printed signs for work zone applications printed with black ink only do not require an overlay unless otherwise required by the sheeting manufacturer. Digitally printed signs must be produced by a certified digital traffic converter. A copy of the certification must be furnished with sign delivery.

Use screen and digital print inks as supplied and in conformance with the ink and sheeting producer recommendations. Only screen ink may be thinned before application in conformance with the ink and sheeting producer recommendations. The color will be determined using ink from sealed, unopened containers as received from the ink producer and in conformance with the ink and sheeting producer recommendations for thinning when applicable.

12.3. Durability. Screen and print inks recommended by the ink and sheeting producer for use on any of the types of reflective sheeting must exhibit the same durability as specified for that type of reflective sheeting.

When tested in accordance with Federal Test Method 6301, “Adhesion (Wet) Tape Test,” the results must show no process inks removed after processing at least 96 hr. or after exposure of the sheeting types to the durability and weathering tests specified.

12.4. Inked Sheeting Optical Performance. Before exterior exposure or weatherometer (WOM) exposure, sheeting reverse-screened with transparent ink or digitally printed must have the minimum coefficient of retroreflectivity values specified in AASHTO M 268 for the same color of sheeting as the ink.

13. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COLORED TRANSPARENT FILM AND

NON-REFLECTIVE BLACK FILMS

13.1. General. Meet all the requirements of AASHTO M 268, as modified by this Specification. Colored, transparent films and non-reflective black films must consist of durable, EC films coated with a transparent, pressure-sensitive adhesive protected by a removable liner.

The films must be:

available in standard traffic colors, dimensionally stable, and designed to cut, weed, lift, and transfer.

The films must not release any volatile organic compounds.

IFB 304T-25-550A2.1

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Materials and Tests Division 9 – 9 Effective Date: September 2024

13.2. Color. Non-reflective black film must be acrylic and have a reflectance (Y) no greater than 4.0 as determined in accordance with Tex-839-B.

13.3. Coefficient of Retroreflection. Retroreflectivity will be determined in accordance with Tex-842-B.

13.4. Durability. All films, when applied to the various types of reflective sheeting, must meet the same durability requirements as specified for that type of reflective sheeting.

14. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANTI-GRAFFITI COATINGS

14.1. General Requirements. Anti-graffiti films for signs must meet the performance test in DMS-8111 on reflective sheeting without causing the sheeting to fail to meet its specified requirements. The anti-graffiti film must be certified for use by the manufacturer of the sheeting on which it will be used.

15. CONTRAST RATIO OF SIGN FACES AND COMPLETED SIGNS

For all sign faces and completed signs using transparent screen inks, digital printing, or transparent films, the “contrast ratio” is the quotient obtained when the coefficient of retroreflection of the white is divided by the coefficient of retroreflection of the other color.

The contrast ratio will be determined at an observation angle of 0.2° and an entrance angle of -4°.

For all red and white signs, the contrast ratio must not be less than 4.0 or greater than 15.0. For all other signs, sign panels, sign faces, and traffic control devices, the contrast ratio must not be less than 4.0.

16. PACKAGING

Package the materials in containers that will permit normal shipping and storage without the material sustaining damage or becoming difficult to apply.

Roll material must contain no more than three splices per 50 yd. (46 m). The length of the roll core must not be less than the width of the material.

16.1. Pressure-Sensitive Material. The ends of the material must be cut square with either a butt-splice or an overlap splice of 3/8 ± 1/8 in. in width (9.5 ± 3.2 mm). Edges of the overlap splice are to be straight and square.

16.2. Heat-Activated Material. Cut the ends of the material square but jointed closely together and held securely in place with a removable tape.

17. ARCHIVED VERSIONS

Archived versions are available.

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Attachment H https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/cst/TMS/800-B_series/pdfs/ctm839.pdf https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/cst/TMS/800-B_series/pdfs/ctm842.pdf