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Where can I find rules or guides to using reflective vinyl
Small job on a emergency response vehicle (the volunteer type for expos etc) so not regular ambulance as such. The customer wants reflective vinyl to replace already existing graphics where the yellow has faded to white. They want all stripes of green and yellow to be reflective on side . I only seen green reflective and fluorescent on side of these emergency vehicles so I’m confused why he wants all reflective. My first job like this so any advise appreciated. Anyone know of any traffic vinyl regulation rules regarding this?? Thanks in advance for the advise. I have asked him to put in writing before I begin and wasted money and time.
Mike
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10 Replies
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would be a good place to start
Chapter 8 rules always seem a bit of a minefield and seem to change fairly frequently we find.
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Well explained to client and he confirmed he wants all in reflective so I’m going to do what the client wants. I did suggest if he knew guidelines which he apparently checked and said go ahead with it. So I guess it’s a don’t deal. Whoever installed the original graphics (I know but won’t shame) used some yellow vinyl that faded to white within 3 years!!!!
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Normal no reflective on front bonnet etc
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Hi Mike
Normal ESV (Emergency Services) spec would use Reflective Green and Reflective Fluorescent Yellow/Green in a battenburg design down sides of the Ambulance. The rear uses a chevron design where again Reflective Fluorescent Yellow Green and Reflective Fluorescent Orange colours are used. These are generally high grade Prismatic products. Each Emergency service (Police, Fire and Ambulance) has its own colour combinations.
Chapter 8 guidelines are aimed at vehicles working on the highways or requiring high visibility. This is a different specification than used by ESV. This is primarily a rear chevron marking that uses Reflective Red and Non reflective Fluorescent Yellow. As a side note most manufacturers non reflective fluorescent films will "white out" anything between 3 months and 3 years dependent on the manufacturer …. Its inherent in these products and I have rarely seen any manufacturer give a warranty for non reflective Fluorescent longer than 2 to 3 years and many are as low as 3 to 6 months.
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Wow as a newbie I’m shocked that they don’t put longer guarantees on the yellow reflective. Thank you for your advise and help guys 😉
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Hi Mike
The short lifetime is on the "non reflective" Fluorescent colours – This is typically 3 months to 3 years depending on how good (or bad) the product is and how much you want to spend.
On Reflectives, these again vary but the high grade Diamond Grade reflective from 3M has a 12 year warranty for standard colours and 10 years for Fluorescent.
The High Grade Prismatic Reflectives and non reflective Fluorescents are completely different beasts.
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Thank you Stuart. Really appreciated. First job and it took a while to get use to the reflective vinyl it’s so damn fragile. Sorted now I have one panel left and lettering. I honestly under estimated removal of the old vinyl a nightmare!!! I need to find a new tool to help in this seen a few out there but I’m not doing it the old school way I have been doing it’s too time consuming.
😉
And to think I’m doing it all for charity!!!! I have a week spot because my son is disabled or shall I say was made disabled by negligence. I was approached to do this for a charity and feeling a fool now as I have spent way too long on it and time is money. Although my heart feels good it don’t pay the bills 😉
Lesson learned
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Update. As client required all reflective in the colour yellow they wanted. My first time using reflective on vehicle was a little tricky as a one man band but I’m slowly learning. He was very happy so I guess that was the main thing.
This was a rushed charity job so ended up costing me but out of curiosity how much would something like this would be charged at by you big boys in the business?? I’m starting to think it’s nice doing signage but I’m better off working for someone else less stress. My reason to getting into this field was to enable me to be nearer to my home since my son is severely disabled. I’ve found I’m out quoting fitting. I have to say I can’t quote for s@&£ I have the price it guide but not use it. I guess I’m trying to run before I walk.Need to get organised. Feeling drained
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Won’t let me add other photos
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Here another [/img]
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