Development tests

For road markings, the level of system performance paint/glass beads as well as the sustainability of the paint /glass bead is paramount. Therefore, the authorities develop certification procedures to select the best performing systems (Standard EN 1436).
Sovitec has a unique approach to evaluate the performance of systems. A detailed preparation in our technical center allows us to elaborate test plans according to the current standards. We work both on the turntable according to the EN13197 standard and on road sites according to standard EN1824.

Turntable

For trials on the turntable, we work with our Spanish partner in Madrid, AETEC, Association for the development of technology equipment of the road.

AETEC developed, through an R&D project funded by the Research Directorate of the Community of Madrid, an innovative instrument: a wear test (turntable).  This equipment is capable of simulating wear which road markings are subject to under the same conditions as in real traffic. It is currently the benchmark for determining the durability of road markings in Europe and is part of the accreditation system of the quality of road marking products.

The firmness with which the glass beads and aggregates adhere to the paint layer, and the hardness of the layer itself, determine both the sustainability of its properties during daytime and nighttime and the anti-skid resistance of the system during traffic.

The procedure does not just stop by following the process described in European standard EN13107.  New conditions were created so that we can get out a maximum of information for you.  We have defined the following new parameters:

• Surfaces painted in a more realistic way thanks to the construction of a slab of over 40 cm long
• A unique composition of the slabs facilitating the reproducibility of the interfaces between the bitumen and the paint
• Special slab structures or textures similar to the actual road surfaces through sample copies taken in situ .....
• Cleaning cycles which are strictly controlled to avoid contamination: fill rate of the table, cleaning with pressurized water ...
• The conditions for applications suited to the problem

The systems are subject to properties measurements at very many levels of wear to better understand the behavior:

• Measurement of nighttime visibility: retro-reflectivity
• Measurement of daytime visibility: luminance coefficient under diffuse illumination and colors and luminance factors
• Measurement of skid resistance coefficient (TRS)
• Degree of wear
• Whiteness

Road Tests

To assess the behavior and the performance level of road markings, there are 3 tracks: laboratory tests, tests on the turntable and wear tests on real road sites. According to the European harmonization, which has led to numerous discussions, only two methods were chosen: the turntable because it is used in Germany and Spain, and road test as this procedure is very widespread throughout Europe.

Road tests are obviously fairly representative of actual wear conditions. This test is unfortunately quite long because we have to wait at least a year for the system to live a full climatic cycle (the 4 seasons).

Sovitec offers field trials from conception to completion. Our technical center has an experience of over 15 years so far, and we do so in many countries. Through our facilities, our technicians in the technical center manage the applications and the systems controls that we have chosen together.