AS NZS 1906-4:2010 – Retroreflective materials and devices forroad traffic control purposes Part 4: High-visibility materials for safety garments.
2.1 APPLICATION OF SECTION
The requirements of this Section shall apply to Class F, Class RF and Class NF in respect of their
daytime visibility only.
2.2 GENERAL. DESCRIPTION AND SUMMARY OF TEST REQUIREMENTS
2.2.1 Class F and Class NF materials
Class F and NF materials typically comprise but are not limited to, either of the following:
(a) A robust woven fabric of cotton, linen or equivalent man-made fibres to which a fluorescent or other highly coloured plastic coating has been applied.
(b) A robust woven or knitted fabric of cotton or equivalent man-made fibre which contains a fluorescent colour or, if indicated in Clause 2.4, other high-visibility colour.
Class F and Class NF materials shall be subjected to the following tests:
(i) Daylight colour and luminance factor test (see Clauses 2.3, 2.4 and Appendix A).
(ii) Colourfastness after UV exposure (see Clause 2.5.1 and AS 2001.4.B02).
(iii) Colourfastness to washing test (see Clause 2.5.2 and AS 200 1.4.15).
(iv) Colourfastness to perspiration test (see Clause 2.5.3 and AS 2001.4.E04).
A fresh sample of material shall be used for each test.
A Class F material which has met the optional wet weather test in Clause 2.6 may be designated
Class F (W).
NOTE: This Standard specifies only those requirements related to the visibility and possible degradation of visibility, of materials. These tests do not address the durability or fitness for purpose of the materials in other respects.
2.2.2 Class RF materials
Class RF materials are required only to meet the fluorescent colour requirement of Clause 2.3. In all other respects they are required to meet the requirements of Section 3 for a retroreflective material.
2.3 FLUORESCENT COLOUR
The colour and luminance factor of fluorescent material when tested under simulated daytime conditions in accordance with Appendix A shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) The chromaticity coordinates of the test piece shall be within the corresponding colour space defined by the coordinates of the corners of the space as given in Table 2.1 and illustrated in Figure 2.1.
(b) The minimum luminance factor of a test piece shall be as specified in Table 2.2 for the colour to which it conformed in the test in Item (a) above.
NOTE: Separate specifications have been provided for the colours orange and red for the benefit of industries that require the distinction for colour coding purposes. They have been derived from an arbitrary division of the orange-red colour space as illustrated in Figure 2.1. Purchasers who require the two distinctive colours are advised to ensure that when offered otherwise conforming materials, the perceived colour difference is adequate for their purposes.
The colourfastness of the material UV exposure shall be detennined in accordance with AS 200 l.4.B02? Method 5. Exposure shall be continued until the test specimen has been exposed to 225 kJ.m—. When tested in accordance with Appendix A the colour and luminance factor after exposure shall be within the areas specified by the chromaticity coordinates in Table 2.1 and shall meet the minimum luminance factor specified in Table 2.2 for fluorescent or Table 2.3 for non-fluorescent materials.
2.5.2 Colourfastness to washing
When tested in accordance with AS 2001.4.15, TestL2, the material shall show no greater colour
change than 4 on the grey scale. The grey scale comparison shall be made in accordance with AS
2001.4.1, except that the assessment is to be carried out in a colour matching booth complying with
AS 4004, Category BC.
2.5.3 Colourfastness to perspiration
When tested in accordance with AS 2001 .4.E04, the material shall show no greater colour change than 4 on the grey scale. The grey scale comparison and assessment shall be carried out as specified in Clause 2.5.2.
2.6 WET WEATHER PERFORMANCE (OPTIONAL)
An optional wet weather performance test may be carried out on Class F materials. A sample, af’ter immersion in distilled water at 20 ± 5°C for 5 ±2 miii and then allowed to drain naturally for 5 ±2 mm that then meets all of the requirements of Clause 2.3, except for a reduction in luminance factor to not less that 85 percent of that specified in Table 2.3, shall be deemed to have passed this test. This material may then be classified Class F (W) material.
NOTES:
I The purpose of the optional classification is to allow garments made from such materials to be described as suitable for wet weather use, e.g. rainwear.
2 The rainfall performance in Clause 3.8 for retroreflective materials is not optional. All Class R and RF materials are expected to meet that test requirement.