What Is Conspicuity Tape?
If you’re wondering what is conspicuity tape, read this article. It covers the various types, including High-intensity retro-reflective tape and double-sided products with highly reflective surfaces on both sides. You’ll learn the requirements for big rigs and semi-trucks, and how to apply the tape on your motorcycle or bicycle. And we’ll cover how to spot it on both.
High-intensity retro-reflective tape
HIM high-intensity reflective tape is a great choice for marking bollards, dumpsters, automatic or manual gates, and other structures. Its unique design features ultra-vivid daytime color and an aggressive adhesive system. This material is four times more reflective than standard engineer grade tape. The product is also durable and can be used outdoors for long periods of time. Using high-intensity tape on your vehicle will keep the road ahead safe from any potential hazards.
The highest-quality reflective tape consists of glass beads. High-intensity tapes have two layers of beads that reflect light in a pattern similar to a honeycomb. The ultra-high-index beads increase the tape’s brightness by three times, refracting more light back to the source. Its durability is an additional benefit, and it comes in six standard colors.
The single-layer design of high-intensity tapes means they will not delaminate and stay reflective even after multiple impacts. It is durable, repositionable, and will build up adhesion over time. High-intensity tapes are available in several colors, including fluorescent lime, yellow school bus, and orange rolls. These types of reflective tapes have been proven to increase visibility and safety.
Another type of high-intensity retro-reflecting sheeting is encapsulated lens-coated sheeting. It is used to enhance vehicle safety and visibility at night. High-intensity reflective film is very durable, and is intended to provide up to ten years of effective performance. The adhesive backing is a special formula designed to bond the materials together, while the encapsulated lens retro-reflective sheeting is a pressure-sensitive adhesive film.
Double-sided product with adhesive on one side and a highly reflective surface on the other
It features high-visibility prisms and alternating red and white colors on both sides. Its strong adhesive provides excellent adhesion and allows it to be applied to a wide range of surfaces. It also resists fading and is low temperature and water-resistant. It is effective for both highway vehicles and bicycles. Its high-reflective surface catches light from all angles and makes it easy to spot on the road.
The reflective surface of the tape allows it to function even when there is no light around. This means that the reflective tape will serve as a reflector in the dark. Some glow reflective tapes even glow for about 15 minutes after exposure to light. It is important to remember that the tape must meet federal safety regulations in order to be used on public transportation vehicles, including buses.
The double-sided tape features two main components: an adhesive liner and a textile carrier. The covered side has good permanent adhesive properties and the open side is easily removed from a variety of surfaces. Double-sided siliconized paper is used on the adhesive liner. In addition, it provides long-range visibility. For a wide variety of uses, Conspicuity tape can be used on clothing, automobiles, bicycles, and more.
Conspicuity tape is a double-sided product with adhesive on one side that is highly reflective on the other. Conspicuity tapes help drivers understand what is expected of them when approaching a vehicle in low-light conditions. Conspicuity tapes are mandatory for vehicles over 7.5 tons or trailers that weigh over three tons.
Requirement for semi-trucks and big rigs
If you’re in the business of moving large objects, you probably know about the conspicuity tape requirement for big rigs and trucks. It’s meant to increase the visibility of these vehicles, especially during nighttime, but is there a legal requirement for big rigs and semi-trucks to use this material? The answer is yes. These trucks must display conspicuity tape as required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA.
To comply with federal regulations, truckers must apply red/silver reflective tape on their trailers. This tape must be applied on the sides and back of the trailer, along with the upper corners. Despite these requirements, some trucks don’t even use the required conspicuity tape, so a driver must always be vigilant and make sure the reflective tape is clean and applied in the right places.
However, even though this law was introduced to protect driver’s safety, some manufacturers and truck outfitters fail to implement it. Therefore, drivers have the responsibility to apply the appropriate markings on their trucks. Insufficient markings could result in level I inspections, a fine of up to $5,000, and adversely affect a carrier’s safety rating. Fortunately, there are a few tips that can help drivers comply with the DOT’s conspicuity tape requirements.
The red tail lights and stop lamps are also essential for safety. They alert other drivers to the width of the truck, and should be installed as close to the road’s centerline as possible. Stop lamps, meanwhile, must be red and mounted symmetrically on the sides of the trailer. Lastly, red and white striped tape on the sides of the trailer must extend at least 50% of the vehicle’s length.
Cost
Conspicuity tape is reflective tape used to make objects more visible to drivers in low-light situations. The purpose of this tape is to improve visibility, and to prevent collisions. However, conspicuity tape is not inexpensive, and some companies offer packages that include a number of other materials. You should consider your budget before making the purchase, since conspicuity tape costs a few dollars more than other materials.
The price of conspicuity tape depends on the quality of the product and its durability. The best conspicuity tape is a higher-grade product, which is 6-7 times more reflective than engineering-grade tape. This tape uses prism technology instead of glass beads. The reflective properties of conspicuity tape make it much more visible and useful for emergency vehicles, road signs, and other items. Conspicuity tape comes in different lengths to meet the needs of different types of businesses.
