This document provides an overview of reflectivity requirements for parking signs. It discusses how nighttime visibility is achieved through sign illumination or reflectivity. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) sets standards requiring all regulatory, warning, and guide signs to have nighttime visibility. It also outlines specific design standards for parking signs, including that they must be retroreflective and made of reflective sheeting materials that meet minimum standards set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to ensure visibility at night. Local agencies must maintain traffic sign reflectivity levels according to FHWA guidelines.

1. © 2017 ComplianceSigns, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Compliance – Resource Bulletins are reference summaries of rules which govern the design of signs and related products. These bulletins are not legal advice,
and are not intended for use in legal proceedings or inspections. Please do your own research, and seek professional advice from your inspector, lawyer, or other
professional who is familiar with your specific situation on signage requirements, compliance or installation.
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Compliance – Resource Bulletin
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Reflectivity - Parking
Overview:
An important requirement of all traffic signs is their ability to be seen and understood at night. Standards for sign
illumination are set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (MUTCD).
Nighttime visibility is achieved in two ways: illumination with a sign mounted lighting source and reflectivity of the
sign itself. Some signs incorporate both methods, but the vast majority of traffic signs are reflective only, since
illumination is impractical and expensive in non-urban environments. All regulatory, warning, and guide signs
must have nighttime visibility. The requirement for sign illumination cannot be satisfied by street or highway
lighting. (MUTCD 2A.07)
Resources:
MUTCD Standard for Highway Signs: (Free) https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/shs_2004_2
012_sup.pdf
MUTCD Regulatory Signs: (Free) http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/SHSe/Regulatory.p
df
FHWA Traffic sign Retroreflectivity: (Free) http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/nig
ht_visib/policy_guide/fhwasa07020/
FHWA Nighttime Visibility: (Free) http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/nig
ht_visib/
ComplianceSigns.com Product Data Bulletin: (Free) http://www.compliancesigns.com/media/prod
uctbulletins/Parking%20Control%20Signs.pdf
Design of Reflective Parking Signs:
• Parking signs are designated as regulatory signs by the FHWA. The MUTCD design manual catalogues
them as R7 signs. With several exceptions, these signs are green or red on a white background and they
must be retroreflective. (MUTCD 2B, R-7)
• Sign reflectivity relies on the light of a vehicle’s headlights reaching the sign and being reflected back to
the motorist. The MUTCD requires that reflective signs use retroreflective materials in their construction.
Retroreflective materials are able to return the light directly to its source, eliminating loss of light due to
dispersion. These materials commonly use micro size glass beads or prisms to achieve retroreflectivity.
(MUTCD 2A.08)
• The FHWA sets minimum standards for the level of retroreflectivity various traffic signs must achieve as
well as the product class of the sheeting material used to construct the sign. The MUTCD indicates
parking signs may be constructed, at a minimum, from engineer grade (type 1) reflective sheeting. The
Traffic Sign Retroreflective Sheeting Identification Guide is viewable at the FHWA Nighttime Visibility
page. (MUTCD Table 2A-3)

2. © 2017 ComplianceSigns, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Compliance – Resource Bulletins are reference summaries of rules which govern the design of signs and related products. These bulletins are not legal advice,
and are not intended for use in legal proceedings or inspections. Please do your own research, and seek professional advice from your inspector, lawyer, or other
professional who is familiar with your specific situation on signage requirements, compliance or installation.
www.ComplianceSigns.com | PHONE: 1.800.578.1245 | FAX: 1.800.578.1246 | EMAIL: Sales@ComplianceSigns.com
Compliance – Resource Bulletin
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(Reflective Parking Signs Continued)
• ComplianceSigns.com uses 3M 3290 Engineer Grade Reflective Vinyl sheeting in fabricating its parking
signs. This sheeting meets the minimum retroreflective sheeting standards set forth by the FHWA.
• Local highway agencies must have complied with the MUTCD minimum retroreflectivity standards by
2013 and must have developed a maintenance program to make certain signs under their jurisdiction
maintain the minimum standard throughout their life. This program is necessary since some reflective
materials used in sign construction may initially comply with the standards, only to degrade over time and
lose their reflectivity level. Note: Local highway agencies may exclude parking signs from the
maintenance guidelines described in the MUTCD. (MUTCD 2A.08.06A)
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