The Safety Flag Co. of America, Pawtucket, R.I., is offering paddle signs that are as much as four times more reflective than standard signs. These signs are particularly more retroreflective when light strikes them at an angle.
The Safety Flag paddle signs feature either High Intensity Retroreflective 3M film, about twice as reflective as standard engineer-grade signs, or Diamond Grade DG3 3M film, about four times as reflective as engineer-grade signs. Safety Flag also offers traditional engineer-grade signs, still approved in most states.
The Safety Flag paddle signs are octagonal and are offered in 14-in., 18-in. and 26-in. diam. The smaller sizes are supplied with 10-in. wood dowel handles and the 26-in. size is supplied with either a 60-in. dowel or an 81-in. PVC tube.
Signs can read “STOP” on one side and “SLOW” on the other, or “STOP” on both sides. They can be constructed with an aluminum or hardboard composite base. Composite is more popular because it is less likely to injure the sign holder in the event of an accident.
The new Safety Flag signs are particularly reflective because of their special prismatic construction. In a standard engineer-grade sign, the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, so light bounces back at its source no matter what direction it comes from. Prisms also are orientated in rows deflecting at different angles, enhancing observation retroreflectivity.