This site covers road-marking thermoplastic (hot-applied line marking material), not general thermoplastic manufacturing (injection moulding/thermoforming).
BS EN 1436 is the European standard that defines performance requirements and test methods for road markings. It doesn't specify materials or installation methods — instead, it classifies how markings perform once installed.
Key Performance Properties
- Retroreflectivity (RL): Night-time visibility measured in dry conditions. Classes R0–R5, with higher numbers indicating better performance.
- Daytime visibility (Qd): How visible the marking is in daylight. Classes Q0–Q4.
- Skid resistance (SRT): The friction properties of the marking surface. Classes S0–S5.
- Luminance factor (β): The brightness of white or yellow markings. Classes B0–B5.
- Wet retroreflectivity (RW): Night-time visibility when the marking is wet. Classes RW0–RW3.
What This Means for Your Specification
When writing a specification, you can reference BS EN 1436 classes to define the minimum performance you require. For example, requiring R2/Q3/S1 sets clear, measurable benchmarks that contractors can price against and inspectors can verify.
Practical Tip
Don't over-specify. Requiring the highest classes everywhere increases cost without proportionate benefit. Match performance requirements to the road type, traffic level, and location risk.