Airfield Marking Airfield Marking HandbookHandbook

Primary InvestigatorPrimary InvestigatorDonna Speidel,Donna Speidel,

President – Sightline, LCPresident – Sightline, LC

IPRF/FAAProject No. 01-G-002-05-1

Sightline, LC (Airport Marking Consultants)is the author of the

Airfield Marking Handbook.

The project was administered by the Innovative Pavement Research Foundation under a Cooperative Research Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration

Markings

If a sign is unlit or broken, it If a sign is unlit or broken, it gets replaced.gets replaced.

If a taxiway light is malfunctioning, If a taxiway light is malfunctioning, it gets fixed.it gets fixed.

But how do you know when the But how do you know when the markings aremarkings are

“broken”?

NAVAIDSNAVAIDSSigns

Lights

Marking StandardsMarking Standards

FAA AC 150/5340-1JFAA AC 150/5340-1JUSAF ETL 04-2USAF ETL 04-2

USN UFGS 32 17 24.00 10USN UFGS 32 17 24.00 10 USACE TM 5-823-4

Describes Describes WHATWHAT the markings arethe markings are,, WHENWHEN you’re supposed to use themyou’re supposed to use them

andand WHEREWHERE they belong.they belong.

MarkingsMarkings Airport Marking Importance

Guide Clarify Define

Runway Runway IncursionsIncursions

Lack of clear, distinct markingsLack of clear, distinct markings

Visibility of Markings

Contrast of markings (black border)

“The contrast of markings on light colored pavements can be increased by outlining them with a black border at least 6-inches in width.”

AC 150/5340-1H, dated 8/31/99 (FAA)

Visibility of Markings

Use of glass beads:

“Markings that cannot be seen by pilots and others operating on marked surfaces are useless.”

AC 150/5340-1H, dated 8/31/99 (FAA)

Visibility of Markings

Markings should be as visible during darkness as they are in the daylight.

Visibility of MarkingsVisibility of Markings

Quality ApplicationQuality Application

All the efforts to increase All the efforts to increase visibility with black visibility with black borders, glass beads and borders, glass beads and new designs are futile if new designs are futile if markings are not applied markings are not applied well. well.

Objectives of the handbookObjectives of the handbook

2. What constitutes a “quality” marking?2. What constitutes a “quality” marking?

3. When is a marking functional and when 3. When is a marking functional and when is it “unsafe”?is it “unsafe”?

4. What is a good application v. a poor one?4. What is a good application v. a poor one?

1.1. What can be done to increase the life-cycleWhat can be done to increase the life-cycleof airfield markings?of airfield markings?

30 industry participants met in

Kansas City on

June 15, 2006: airport engineering

consultants, FAA staff, airport management, maintenance personnel, striping contractors, material manufacturers, and military airport managers

Roundtable Discussion

1.1. Application Application

ProceduresProcedures

Top FIVE Industry IssuesTop FIVE Industry Issues

2.2. Surface PreparationSurface Preparation

3.3. Pavement Marking RemovalPavement Marking Removal

4.4. Material SelectionMaterial Selection

5.5. Project SpecificationsProject Specifications

5.5. Application Application

ProceduresProcedures

Handbook OrganizationHandbook Organization

3.3. Surface PreparationSurface Preparation

4.4. Pavement Marking RemovalPavement Marking Removal

2.2. Material SelectionMaterial Selection

1.1. Project SpecificationsProject Specifications

1.1. Address the standard specifications Address the standard specifications and guidance literature, and guidance literature, emphasizing the need to emphasizing the need to customize customize specifications specifications to fit the projectto fit the project. .

2.2. When is maintenance necessary?When is maintenance necessary?

3.3. Develop measured and detailed Develop measured and detailed techniques for quality assurance.techniques for quality assurance.

4.4. Create a tool kit for inspection of Create a tool kit for inspection of marking application. marking application.

Project SpecificationsProject Specifications

Marking MaintenanceMarking Maintenance

Markings degrade slowly due to:Markings degrade slowly due to: traffic (worn marking)traffic (worn marking) sunlight (UV deterioration) sunlight (UV deterioration) rain (paint absorbs water, expands and rain (paint absorbs water, expands and

contracts)contracts) snowplows, sweeperssnowplows, sweepers contaminants (oils, rust deposits, algae, contaminants (oils, rust deposits, algae,

rubber)rubber) loss of retro-reflectivityloss of retro-reflectivity

Who’s watching?Who’s watching?

Marking MaintenanceMarking MaintenancePrevent degradation due to:Prevent degradation due to:

Poor Application Practices

Worn Markings - over 50% of paint is gone.Worn Markings - over 50% of paint is gone.

Faded MarkingsFaded Markings

Nighttime visibility is poor to bad:Nighttime visibility is poor to bad:

Obscured MarkingsObscured Markings

Project SpecificationsProject Specifications

Verify material types and quantities.

Specify materials arrive in sealed containers.

Evaluate actual site conditions, specify remediation.

Evaluate condition of pavement under markings.

Evaluate surface preparation methods and quantities.

Determine amount, type, and degree of marking removal.

Select materials appropriate to the airport environment.

1.1. Observe the different marking materials Observe the different marking materials already approved for use on airports, noting already approved for use on airports, noting the advantages and disadvantages of each. the advantages and disadvantages of each.

2.2. Develop criteria for deciding the best materials Develop criteria for deciding the best materials suited for a project based on pavement suited for a project based on pavement surfaces, existing markings, airport weather surfaces, existing markings, airport weather conditions, and airport operations.conditions, and airport operations.

3.3. Review current material testing procedures.Review current material testing procedures.

Material SelectionMaterial Selection

Material SelectionMaterial Selection

Glass beads are selected appropriate to the type and thickness of coating specified as well as airport needs.

Select materials suited for the pavement or existing coatings.

Temporary marking materials are selected for “removability”.

Materials are selected based on the airport environment.

Materials are sampled directly from equipment guns.

1. Create an effective definition of surface preparation.

2. Develop ways of determining when surface preparation is necessary, if not always.

3. What equipment is best suited to do the work?

Surface PreparationSurface Preparation

Surface PreparationSurface Preparation

Surface preparation is the cleaning of anything that would prevent the bond of the new coating to either the pavement or existing coatings.

Definition:

“Seventy-five percent of all material failures are attributable to deficient surface preparation and/or application. The unit cost of repair is normally two and one half times higher than the original material application unit cost and frequently results in lower quality due to adverse application conditions. This analysis does not include the potentially staggering cost of down-time and loss of facility production.”

S. G. Pinney & Associates

Surface PreparationSurface Preparation

Waterblasting is best method for surface preparation.

Perform surface preparation before painting to remove:

Curing compound on new concrete. Algae.

Rust discoloration. Oily substances including jet blast residue.

Sweep, blow with air, or rinse with water after preparation.

Specify surface preparation as a separate bid item.

Loose and poorly bonded paint.

Heavy rubber build up.

Surface PreparationSurface Preparation

Adequate surface preparation Adequate surface preparation

will:will: Prolong the life of the markings.Prolong the life of the markings. Save valuable airport funds.Save valuable airport funds. Prevent paint build-up/pavement Prevent paint build-up/pavement

damage.damage. Reduce FOD.Reduce FOD.

1. Define paint removal.

2. Define different types of removal

encountered.

3. Define the degrees of removal

required.

4. Describe type(s) of equipment and

effectiveness

on varying pavement conditions,

thickness of and types of existing

coatings.

5. Define pavement damage.

Pavement Marking Removal

There are several reasons airports remove

markings, and each situation requires

different degrees (or percentages) of

eradication.

Pavement Marking RemovalDefinition: Pavement marking removal is the mechanical eradication of markings from the pavement to a specified degree.

Pavement Marking Removal Degree of removal is defined in specifications.

Markings are removed, not “blacked” out or obscured.

Equipment is specified based on conditions.

Shotblasting is effective on non-grooved surfaces.

Waste water and debris are contained, characterized, and properly disposed of.

Test strips indicate capability of equipment and operator.

Waterblasting is effective on most surfaces.

The scar is thoroughly cleaned before applying markings.

Pavement Marking Removal

All marking removal methods will leave a scar.

Scarring is removal of the texture with some exposed aggregate.

Handbook definition:

Pavement Marking RemovalPRE-EXISTING DAMAGE

Handbook definition:

Damage occurs when more than 25 percent of the depth of the nominal-size aggregate diameter is uniformly exposed across the pavement, and some of the aggregates are loose.

Pavement Marking RemovalPavement damage can be subjective.

1.1. Evaluate equipment commonly used.Evaluate equipment commonly used.

2.2. How is equipment calibration performed to ensure correct How is equipment calibration performed to ensure correct

material coverage?material coverage?

3.3. Evaluate different airport conditions (i.e., traffic, weather, Evaluate different airport conditions (i.e., traffic, weather,

etc.) and their effect on markings. etc.) and their effect on markings.

4.4. Consider types of pavement surfaces. Consider types of pavement surfaces.

5.5. Evaluate installation of both temporary and permanent Evaluate installation of both temporary and permanent

markings.markings.

6. Observe clean up/housekeeping procedures.6. Observe clean up/housekeeping procedures.

Application ProceduresApplication Procedures

Application Procedures Application Procedures

Layout establishes guidelines for applicators.

Adequate surface preparation is performed.

Glass beads are dispensed automatically with the coating.

Pressurized bead systems provide best distribution. Hand machines are equipped with automatic bead dispensers.

Two or more colors are applied simultaneously.

Markings are applied from 6 to 36 inches in a uniform film thickness in a single pass.

Pointer systems are used for accurate placement of markings.

Application ProceduresApplication Procedures

Calibration of material guns is performed. Close attention is paid to application rates.

Uniform, specified film thickness across marking.

Test lines are applied in appropriate areas or on tar paper.

Documentation of marking operations is maintained to record location, quantity, weather conditions, etc.

A primer coat is applied to uncoated asphalt.

Equipment is well maintained.

Windscreens are used to prevent material displacement.

Tools to Evaluate Markings (Tool Kit)

Wet Film Gauge Bead Gun Calibration Bucket Magnifying Lens Color Chips and/or

Colorimeter LTL Reflectometer Flashlight Duct tape Metal coupons

It’s a marking system:It’s a marking system:Summary

Surface Preparation (waterblasting)

Quality Binders

Quality GlassBeads

Quality Application

Careful Inspection

Visual Inspection(daytime)

But a nighttime visual inspectionreveals uneven reflectivity

Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments:Research Team Members:

Charles D. Carneal, President, Safety Coatings, Inc. H. Gene Hawkins, Ph.D., Hawkins Engineering Stephen M. Quilty, A.A.E., Bowling Green State Univ. Cynthia Randazzo, Scientist, Rohm and Haas Company Donald Schall, Distinguished Scientist, Rohm and Haas Co. Michael W. Speidel, Marketing Manager, Sightline, LC Fred C. Peil, V.P., FOL Tape, LLC

Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments:

IPRF Cooperative Agreement Program Manager: Jim Lafrenz

FAA Cooperative Agreement Manager: Dr. Satish Agrawal

Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments:

IPRF Technical Panel Members: Michael Ates, AFCESA (Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency)

Gilbert Rushton, MDSHA (Maryland State Highway Administration)

Jeffrey Rapol, FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)

Holly Cyrus, FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)

Ron Boeger, Flex-O-Lite, Affiliate of PQ Corporation Mark Jansen, P.E., The LPA Group, Inc.

Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments: The staff of the many airports visited. The participants of the Roundtable

Discussion. The staff of the airport marking

contractors. The industry experts, including

material and

equipment manufacturers.