NFPA 1901, the Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, established by the National Fire Protection Association, sets comprehensive safety requirements for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. Key among these requirements is the inclusion of high-visibility reflective chevron striping on the vehicles to enhance safety, particularly in low-light or adverse conditions.
NFPA 1901 Requirements:
- Rear Chevron Stripes:
- Coverage: At least 50% of the rear-facing vertical surfaces must be covered in chevron striping.
- Pattern: The chevron stripes must slope downward and away from the centerline of the vehicle at a 45-degree angle.
- Colors: Each stripe in the chevron must alternate between red and either yellow, fluorescent yellow, or fluorescent yellow-green.
- Side and Front Striping:
- Sides: At least 50% of the cab and body length on each side (excluding pump panels) should be covered with 4-inch wide striping.
- Front: 25% of the front width of the apparatus should be covered with 4-inch wide striping.
- Flexibility in Colors: There is no color designation for the sides and front, permitting departments to maintain some aesthetic customization.
Recommended Reflective Tape for NFPA Compliance:
For fulfilling these stringent requirements, Oralite V98 Conformable Reflective Tape is highly recommended. This tape is specifically designed to ensure compliance with NFPA 1901 standards and offers the following features:
- Brightness: The tape’s micro-prismatic structure ensures high visibility, crucial for enhancing the conspicuity of emergency vehicles.
- Durability: It withstands outdoor conditions effectively, ensuring long-term visibility.
- Ease of Application: The tape is easy to apply without the need for edge sealing, and its repositionable adhesive ensures strong adhesion over time.
- Color Accuracy: Available in the required fluorescent lime and red, which are essential for the alternating color pattern mandated by NFPA 1901.
To review a detailed spec sheet or technical data, you may find it on the following link: V98 Reflective Tape Specifications.
Another Option – 3M™ 983 Conspicuity Striping – 983 reflective chevron tape rolls by 3M are also very popular for creating chevrons on fire trucks that are NFPA 1901 compliant. It is an incredibly bright film and reflects very well at wider angles. 983 is a polycarbonate based film, so it has a longer outdoor life, however, it is stiffer and does not conform to curves. So it is great for striping flat surfaces. (the back of fire trucks are often smooth and flat) Click this link for a Spec Sheet on 3M™ 983 Conspicuity Tape.
For purchasing or more information, you can visit: Chevron Striping Rolls – NFPA 1901.
For more information, go to www.tapefinder.com and click on the contact link at the top of the page.
