880SIGN MATERIALS

770

Cut-out copy shall be fabricated from the appropriate class sheeting by individually cutting the borders, legends, numerals, and symbols, and applying them to the required background in strict compliance with the sheeting manufacturer's recommendation. If electronic cuttable film is used, it shall be the sheeting manufacturer’s recommended film and shall be applied to the required background in strict compliance with the sheeting manufacturer’s recommendations. The film shall be transparent when used in lieu of reverse screening and non-reflective when used in lieu of direct screening. When cut out copy or electronic cuttable film is authorized, borders, legends, symbols, or numerals shall be either screened, cut out copy, or created using electronic cuttable film; mixing of methods to form a border, a legend, a symbol, or numerals will not be permitted except when authorized on construction warning signs.

An approved digital printing system must be used. Digital printing systems include a digital printer with appropriate software and drivers, flexible white or colored prismatic retroreflective sheeting, acrylic overlay films, and inkjet inks. A list of approved digital printing systems is included in List V-1 of the MSDSAR. Sign messages shall be printed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Digital printing shall produce the desired color and the same retroreflectivity values as required for the reflective sheeting of the same type and color when applied on a reflective sheeting background. Traffic signs printed with digital ink systems will be fabricated with a full sign Protective Overlay Film designed to protect the entire sign from fading and UV degradation. The overlay will comply with the retroreflective sheeting manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure proper adhesion and transparency.

880.04Sign Supports

Ground mounted supports shall fall into two categories, a light weight {mass} or bendaway post and a standard or rigid post. The light weight {mass} or bendaway posts are normally single "U" channels (aluminum or steel) and tubular shapes (round, square, etc.) of such size and design that when hit by a moving vehicle, will easily bendaway from the vehicle without seriously damaging it. The standard or rigid posts shall be of various designs (shapes, tubular, etc.) which by size and design will not easily bendaway when hit by a moving vehicle. This type post, unless otherwise noted by plan details, will require a "breakaway" feature to be incorporated with the post. The material and design of the breakaway features for the various shapes of standard posts shall be shown by the plan details. Breakaway features constructed of steel shall have all elements galvanized, unless otherwise provided by the plan details. Damage to galvanization or any bare spots developed during construction shall be treated with two coats of approved galvanizing paint (Section 855) or approved zinc spelter paint. Aluminum elements will require no special treatment, unless so specified by plan details. All materials furnished for use shall be new, unless otherwise specified by plan details or provisions of the contract. All tubular post shapes whose design will have a tendency to collect water shall be provided with an approved tight-fitting post cap fabricated of material compatible with that of the post.

This type of post shall be fabricated from standard steel shapes of the size and weight {mass} shown by plan details. Round shapes shall conform to the requirements of ASTM A 53, Grade B, Schedule 40 or better (no pressure test required). Other shapes and materials shall be as noted by plan details.

This type of post shall be fabricated from standard beam shapes of the size, shape, and weight {mass} shown on the plans. The material shall conform to the requirements of either ASTM A 588 or A 572, Grade 50, unless otherwise noted by plan details. SIGN MATERIALS 771

Inertia and Section Modulus for the requirements of the designated post size shown by the plan details. The posts shall be made of rerolled rail steel meeting the requirements of ASTM A 499, Grade 60, or a comparable new billet steel meeting the requirements of ASTM A 572, Grade 60. The steel in the posts shall meet the chemical requirements of ASTM A 1 for rails having a nominal weight {mass} of 91 pounds per yard {37 kg/m} or greater. Shaped sections shall be provided with 3/8 inch {9.5 mm} diameter holes placed on 1 inch {25 mm} centers starting 1 inch {25 mm} from the top of the post and extending the full length of the post.

SS: GRADE 33 and ASTM A 924/ A 924M. Tubular sections shall be provided with 3/8 inch {9.5 mm} diameter holes placed on 1 inch {25 mm} centers starting 1 inch {25 mm} from the top of the post and extending the full length of the post (holes shall extend through the opposite walls). In lieu of the above, tubular steel posts may conform to ASTM A 1011/A 1011M SS: Grade 33 or better. The posts shall be provided with 7/16 inch {11 mm} diameter die-cut knockouts on 1 inch {25 mm} centers on all four sides.

Standard posts shall be hot dipped zinc galvanized after fabrication in accordance with ASTM A 123 for beam shape and ASTM A 53 for tubular shape. Light weight {mass} or bendaway posts shall be zinc galvanized in accordance with the following: "U" Channel Section - ASTM A 123 after fabrication. Tubular Section - ASTM A 653, Grade G90 or better. An alternate coating may be an in-line hot dip galvanized zinc coating per ASTM B 6, followed by a chromate conversion coating and cross-linked polyurethane acrylic exterior coating, with the inside surface given a double in-line application of a full zinc-based organic coating.

This type of post shall be fabricated from extruded tubing to the size, shape, and wall thickness shown on the plans and shall conform to the Aluminum Association, Alloy 6061-T6 (ASTM B 221).

This type of aluminum support shall be fabricated from extruded shapes of the size, shape, and weight {mass} shown on the plans and shall conform to the Aluminum Association, Alloy 6061-T6 (ASTM B 308).

This type of aluminum support shall be fabricated from acceptable extruded shapes meeting the design requirements (Moment of Inertia and Section Modulus) for the designated post size shown in the plan details. Materials shall conform to the requirements of Alloy 6061-T6 of ASTM B 221. Holes 3/8 inch {9.5 mm} in diameter shall be placed on 1 inch {25 mm} centers starting 1 inch {25 mm} from the post top and extending the full length of the post or within 8 feet {2.4 m} or less of the bottom of the post (holes in tubular sections shall extend through the opposite walls),

Aluminum supports shall be provided with a smooth non-glare finish.

High strength bolts, nuts, and washers shall meet the requirements of Article 836.33. Bolts, nuts, and washers other than high-strength shall meet the requirements of ASTM A 307 for bolts and the appropriate requirements noted in Subarticle 836.33(a) for nuts and washers. All bolts, nuts, and washers shall be galvanized utilizing zinc in accordance with the provisions of ASTM B695 Class 50. Other miscellaneous hardware shall be galvanized in accordance with ASTM A 153, Class B. DELINEATORS AND HAZARD MARKERS 772

The materials required for overhead sign supports shall be furnished in accordance with the requirements given in Section 891.

880.05Protection Of Sign Material

All sign panels shall be protected by packaging after fabrication and during shipment and storage. Packaging and packing shall be adequate to prevent damage to any part of the sign panel, legends, copy, or borders. Before packaging all paint shall be thoroughly dry and all signs free of moisture. Adhesive tapes shall not be used on any sign face. All packaged signs shall be kept entirely dry. All assembled or partially assembled signs, other than flat sheet signs, shall have sufficient braces securely attached to prevent buckling or warping at all times from after assembly has begun until the signs have been attached to their permanent supports.

880.06Sampling, Inspection and Testing of Sign Materials

Sampling and inspection of sign materials will be done in accordance with the requirements given in ALDOT-245, "Procedures for Sampling and Inspection of Roadway Signs and Overhead Sign Structures." All hardware such as nuts, bolts, washers, angles, channels, etc., sign panels along with the samples of the materials used in the panels and any certified test reports required and sign supports shall be shipped to the project site. Inasmuch as certain tests require actual inspection of all sign panels, the Contractor shall supply at the time of inspection the necessary personnel for uncrating and movement of the panels. Until test reports are issued on the sign materials, the Contractor will not be permitted to install the sign materials, unless written approval for such has been obtained from the Central Office. Should any material samples fail or any question arise concerning submitted samples being representative of those on the project, additional samples shall be selected from those on hand at the job site. Failure of resamples shall be cause for rejection of all items of the type involved. Verification of color by comparison with Color Tolerance Charts published by the FHWA shall be made. Noticeable variation in color shall be cause of ordering inspection of all sign faces and the rejection of any sign face outside the tolerances provided by the Color Charts. All signs shall be inspected for faulty application, blemishes, or other faults that might impair the serviceability of the sign or any noticeable color mismatching when viewed from a distance of 25 feet {8 m} under both daylight and nighttime conditions shall be cause for rejection of the sign face. DELINEATORS AND HAZARD MARKERS

881.01Standard Delineators

A delineator shall consist of one or more colorless or colored reflector units mounted as shown on the plans. A reflector unit shall consist of a hermetically sealed acrylic plastic prismatic reflex reflector with a sealed plastic back or housed in an embossed aluminum housing.

The reflector lens shall be methyl methacrylate meeting the requirements of Federal Specifications L-P-380, Type 1, Class 3 or ASTM D 788, Grade 8 and shall be of clear or colored transparent plastic, with a minimum of 7 square inches {4500 mm²} of reflective area. The lens shall have a smooth front surface, free from projection or indentation other than a central mounting hole and identification, and a rear surface bearing a prismatic configuration, such as will effect essentially total reflection of light. The manufacturer's trademark shall be molded legibly on the face or back of the reflector unit. The backing shall be a heat sealable plastic or metallic foil fused to the lens under heat and pressure around the entire perimeter of the lens and the central mounting hole to form a unit permanently sealed against dust, water, and vapor.

To retain the acrylic reflector, the delineator shall have a sealed plastic back or aluminum housing conforming to the following: