EC Transparent Overlay Film - Specifications

1.0 SCOPE

This document covers flexible, transparent, durable films designed to be applied to retroreflective materials for the creation of traffic control signs and devices.

2.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The following documents, of the issue in effect on the date of invitation for bids or request for proposal, form a part of this specification to the extent specified herein:

2.1 B209
Specifications for aluminum and aluminum alloy sheet and plate.

2.1.2 D523
Standard method for test for specular gloss.

2.1.3 D4956
Standard specification for retroreflective sheeting for traffic control.

2.1.4 E284
Standard definition of terms relating to appearance of materials.

2.1.5 E308
Computing the colors of objects by using the CIE System.

2.1.6 E810
Standard test method for coefficient of retroreflection of retroreflective sheeting.

2.1.7 E1164
Standard practice for obtaining spectrophotometric data for object-color evaluation.

2.2 CIE Publication Number 39-2, recommendation for surface colors for visual signaling.

2.3 FP-92 standard specifications for construction of roads and bridges on federal highway projects.

3.0 DESCRIPTION

EC Transparent Overlay films shall consists of durable, transparent, colored films coated with a transparent pressure sensitive adhesive protected by a removable liner. The films are designed to be cut on knife over roll (sprocket fed or friction fed) and flat bed electronic cutting machines. The films shall be available in standard traffic colors, be dimensionally stable, and be designed to optimally cut, weed, life, and transfer. Use of Electronic Cuttable Films will not require using agency to release any volatile organic compounds.

4.0 TEST METHODS

4.1 TEST CONDITIONS.

Unless otherwise specified herein, all applied and unapplied test samples and specimens shall be conditioned at the standard conditions of 73+ - 3 F (23+ - 1.5 C) and 50+ - 5% relative humidity for 24 hours prior to testing.

4.2 TEST PANELS.

Unless otherwise specified herein when tests are to be performed using test panels, the specimens of retroreflective and/or overlay film(s) shall be applied to smooth aluminum cut from ASTM B-209 Alloy 5052-H36, 5052-H38, 5154-H38 or 6061-T6 sheets on 0.020 inch (0.051 cm), 0/040 inch (0.102 cm), or 0.063 inch (0.160 cm) thickness. The aluminum shall be degreased and lightly acid etched before the specimens are applied. The specimens shall be applied in accordance with recommendations of the reflective sheeting and EC Film manufacturer(s).

5.0 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

5.1 COLOR REQUIREMENTS.

When EC Transparent Overlay Film is applied to retroreflective sheeting, the resulting color of the composite sheeting will conform to federal specification FP-92, Section 718.01 and ASTM D 4956 or to the using agency specification for the appropriate retroreflective sheeting to which it is applied.

5.1.1 COLOR TEST.

Conformance to color requirements shall be determined by instrumental method in accordance with ASTM E 1164 on sheeting applied to aluminum test panels. The values shall be determined on a Hunterlab Labscan 60000/45 Spectrocolorimeter with option CMR 559 (or approved equal 0/45 (45/0) instrument with curcumferential viewing (illumination). Computations shall be done in accordance with ASTM E 308 for the 2 observer.

5.2 COEFFICIENT OF RETROREFLECTION, R.

When EC Transparent Overlay Film is applied to retroreflective sheeting, the composite will conform to the percentage retained of the minimum coefficient of retroreflection specified by the using agency and the manufacturer for the retroreflective sheeting when retroreflective is screen processed. The coefficient of retroreflection shall be determined in accordance with ASTM E 810.

5.2.1 UNITS.

Coefficients of retroreflection R shall be specified in units of candelas per foot candle per square foot (candelas per lux per square meter).

5.2.2

The observation angles shall be 0.2 and 0.5 degrees unless otherwise specified.

5.2.3

The entrance angles shall be -4 and 30 degrees unless otherwise specified.

5.2.4

Retroreflective sheetings with datum marks shall be tested in the orientation specified by the manufacturer. If no datum mark is supplied, the sheeting shall be rotated to determined the minimum which shall be reported without averaging.

5.3 SPECULAR GLOSS.

The EC Transparent Overlay Film shall have an 85 specular gloss on not less than 50 when tested in accordance with ASTM D 523.

5.4 PROCESSING AND CUTTABILITY.

The EC Transparent Overlay Film shall permit cutting, weeding, masking with transfer tape, lifting, and application to retroreflective sheeting when used in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations at temperatures between 65 and 95F (18.3 and 35.0C) and relative humidities between 30% and 70%. The film shall lay flat with minimal edge curl and be dimensionally stable.

5.5 ADHESIVE LINER.

The protective liner attached to the adhesive shall be removable by peeling without soaking in water or other solution, without breaking, tearing, or removing any adhesive from the EC Transparent Overlay Film. The liner shall have a controlled release from the adhesive coated film sufficient to allow cutting without the film popping off from the liner while still allowing the liner to easily be peeled from the film.

5.5.1

Film with punched edges for use on sprocket fed knife over roll cutters shall be edge scored and weeded to remove film in the punched area as a means of eliminating adhesive build up on the sprockets.

5.6 RESISTANCE TO ACCELERATE OUTDOOR WEATHERING.

When EC Transparent Overlay Film is applied to retroreflective sheeting, the surface of the film shall be weather resistant and show no appreciable cracking, blistering, crazing, or dimensional change after 2 years unprotected outdoor exposure, facing the equator and inclined 45 from the vertical. Following weather exposure, panels shall be washed in a 5% HCL solution for 45 seconds, rinsed thoroughly with clean water, blotted dry with a soft clean cloth and brought to equilibrium at standard conditions. After cleaning, the coefficient of retroreflection shall not be less than the value specified by the using agency for the retroreflective sheeting when the retroreflection sheeting is screen processed.

5.6.1

Show no appreciable evidence of cracking, scaling, pitting, blistering, edge lifting or curling more than 1/32 inch (0.08 cm) shrinkage of expansion.

5.6.2

Show "Good" color fastness or better when tested as in 5.7.

5.6.3

Retained reflectivity shall be the same as the using agency specification for screen processed retroreflective sheeting of the type being tested.

5.6.4

The EC Transparent Overlay Film shall not be removable from the retroreflective sheeting without damage. Retroreflective performance measurements made after weather exposure shall be made only at angles of 0.2 observation and -4 entrance. When more than one panel of a color is measured, the coefficient of retroreflection shall be the average of all determinations.

5.7 COLORFASTNESS.

One Specimen, exposed and prepared as specified in 5.6 shall be wet out with a mild detergent and water solution and compared with a similarly treated unexposed specimen under natural (north sky) daylight or artificial daylight having a color temperature of 7600k. The colorfastness shall be evaluated as follows:

EXCELLENT - NO PERCEPTIBLE CHANGE IN COLOR.

GOOD - PERCEPTIBLE BUT NO APPRECIABLE CHANGE IN COLOR.

FAIR - APPRECIABLE CHANGE IN COLOR.

Appreciable change in color means a change that is immediately noticeable in comparing the exposed specimen with the original comparison specimen. If closer inspection or a change of angle of light is required to make apparent a slight change in color, the change is not appreciable.

5.8 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PACKING.

5.8.1 ROLL GOODS.

When supplied as roll goods, the EC Transparent Overlay Film shall be of good appearance, free from ragged edges, cracks, and extraneous materials. The maximum number of splices in each roll shall be three per 50 yards of material. Splices shall be butted. The sheeting shall be packed snugly in corrugated fiberboard cartons, in accordance with commercially accepted standards. Each carton shall clearly stipulate the brand, quantity, size, lot or run number, and color. Stored under normal conditions, the EC Transparent Overlay Film as furnished shall be suitable for use for a minimum period of one year.

5.8.2 SIGN FACES.

When supplied as a finished sign face or mounted sign, the sign face, made of EC Transparent Overlay Film and retroreflective sheeting, shall comply with the appearance, specification, and good workmanship designated by the using agency for sign faces constructed of screen processed retroreflective sheeting for the same type.

6.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS.

6.1 Certification.

The film manufacturer shall, upon request, submit with each lot or shipment, a certification which states that the material supplied will meet all of the requirements listed herein.

6.2 FIELD PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.

The EC Transparent Overlay Film applied to retroreflective sheeting, both materials applied in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, shall as a composite perform with the same effective performance life as the using agency specifies for that type of retroreflective sheeting when screen processed. The composite sign will be considered unsatisfactory if it has deteriorated due to natural causes to the extent that:

1. The sign is ineffective for its intended purpose when viewed from a moving vehicle under normal day and night driving conditions: or
2. The coefficient of retroreflection is less than the minimums specified by the using agency for the retroreflection sheeting when screen processed and aged for the same period.

6.3 ELECTRONIC FILM MANUFACTURER'S REPLACEMENT OBLIGATION.

Where it can be shown that retroreflective traffic signs with EC Transparent Overlay Film supplied and used according to the film manufacturer's recommendations have not met the performance requirements of section 6.2, the film manufacturer obligation shall not exceed the replacement of the E.C. Film. The manufacturer will require the date of application of the E.C. Film.

6.4 GOVERNMENT USING AGENCY OBLIGATION.

The using agency shall be responsible for requiring dating of all signs at the time of application. That date constitutes the start of the field performance obligation period.

7.0 EQUIPMENT.

The manufacturer supplying the EC Transparent Overlay Film requirement shall provide service for film cutting or application equipment of their manufacture, certify that trained personnel will be available on 72 hours notice to render such service, and shall stock authorized parts for their sheeting application equipment. The manufacturer supplying the Electronic Cuttable Film requirement shall not be required to provide service on film cutting or application equipment not of their manufacture.

7.1 COMPLIANCE.

Failure to comply with the requirements and schedules of 7.0 shall be cause for cancellation of contract.

THIS SPECIFICATIONS AND WARRANTY SUPERCEDES AND REPLACES ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS WARRANTIES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 11, 1997.

Here are the five easy steps for using EC Transparent Overlay Film:

1. Enter text and cut film per your electronic cutting machine's operating instructions.
2. Remove excess film, leaving behind the final text.
3. Mask the copy, using transfer tape.
4. Apply film to pre-sheeted substrate, using a hand-squeeze roller applicator.
5. Remove the transfer tape, revealing the completed sign.