Helping to Enhance Road Safety and Durability with 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting Series 4000

One goal: zero traffic fatalities. 3M is on a mission to help reduce fatalities on highways, city streets and intersections. We are working toward this goal with innovative solutions like wet reflective pavement markings and highly visible road signs.

During a recent visit to a sign shop in central Florida, a 3M representative observed the durability of our sheeting firsthand. Three stop signs, each with a different history, were discovered in the scrap pile:
 

• Stop Sign on the Left: Made with a competitor's sheeting, installed in May 2015, lasted 10.1 years.
• Stop Sign in the Middle: Made with 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting, installed in February 2011, lasted an impressive 14.3 years.
• Stop Sign on the Right: Made with the same competitor's sheeting, installed in April 2016, lasted 9.2 years.

The 3M team learned that all three signs were south-facing and situated within 200 yards of each other. In this scenario, the 3M sign not only outlasted the others but also maintained superior brightness and visibility throughout its lifespan. While this observation was not conducted as a formal test in 3M's lab, and customers should always consult our 3M Technical Bulletins for detailed product information, it highlights the durability advantage of 3M's sheeting. When used as part of 3M's system of matched components, finished sign faces are warranted for up to 12 years under the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty for Traffic.

Choosing 3M's sheeting for your road signs can help you realize both long-term savings in addition to safety benefits. A life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) can be useful for evaluating transportation investment decisions like critical road signage.** Based on life-cycle cost analysis, it can be inferred that signs fabricated with 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting help reduce the need for frequent replacements.

3M's Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting is engineered to meet the ASTM Type XI sheeting specification, ensuring high retroreflectivity. This highly retroreflective sheeting provides critical visual cues, particularly at night, dawn, and dusk, enhancing visibility for drivers and pedestrians alike. By efficiently reflecting light back to its source, our sheeting offers clear visibility from various angles and distances, helping to improve road safety.

In the world of road signage, the combination of high retroreflectivity, visibility, and durability is paramount. 3M's Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting exemplifies this by providing excellent visibility and longevity. As demonstrated by the central Florida sign images, investing in 3M's Type XI sheeting is not just a choice for visibility but a strategic decision for long-term savings.

For over 80 years, 3M has shared in your mission to make our roadways safer. We are your ally in helping you make your roads safer, working collaboratively to improve specifications and partnering with transportation organizations. Our highly retroreflective materials combine innovative systems and services to help you bring the best roadway systems into reality. Our family of products is dedicated to safety, offering a full suite of solutions that work in harmony to provide clear and consistent visual cues for navigation and traffic control. Whether you're using digital printing or traditional fabrication methods, 3M has you covered with retroreflective sheeting, inks, and overlays to help you fabricate high-quality roadway signs.

For more information on 3M's Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting and its benefits, please visit our website or contact our team. Helping to bring families home safely is our priority, and with 3M, you can trust in the durability and visibility of your road signs.

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