Marker classification

To ensure consistency on the network, permanent raised pavement markers (retroreflective and non-retroreflective) installed on New Zealand roads are required to:

• comply with the Australia and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1906.3:2017 and Specification M12; and
  Specification M12: raised pavement markers
• have a body colour that matches the reflector colour, except that:
  • where a marker has yellow and white reflectors the marker body is required to be yellow;
  • where the marker is internally illuminated with a variable colour the marker body is required to be white; and
  • where it is not practicable to maintain the colour of the body, such as for snow ploughable markers, a black or dark grey body is acceptable.

Permanent RRPMs are designed to be used in conjunction with appropriate line marking and, in some situations, replace painted pavement markings in order to provide or enhance general night-time and wet-weather delineation with improved guidance over medium and greater distances.

Marker classification is referred to using terminology consistent with the AS/NZS 1906.3:2017 standard that includes the following, along with reference to Table 2‑30 showing examples of the new system versus the superseded 1992 based system.

Table 2‑30

Marker categories

• D – Non-retroreflective daytime markers (limited to white).
• N – Night only, retroreflective but the marker body colour is not specified.
• G – General day/night, marker body colour generally represents the colour of the primary retroreflective lens and has retroreflective performance.

Non-retroreflective Category D raised pavement markers are generally installed on (but not limited to) fine textured road surfaces, however, because they are not necessary, or practical, on roads with coarse textured surfacing they are infrequently used on such surfacing.

Retroreflective Category G raised pavement markers may be used as an enhancement to the appropriate pavement marking on either fine textured surfaces such as asphaltic and cement concrete or coarse textured surfaces such as chip seal, or in conjunction with non-retroreflective Category D ceramic road markers on fine textured surfaces.

Retroreflective classes

There are three retroreflective performance-based classes:

• Class A: a basic level of retroreflective performance for low-volume roads.
• Class B: an intermediate level of retroreflective performance for general widespread use.
• Class C: a high level of retroreflective performance suggested appropriate for use on high traffic volume motorways and expressways. This performance typically includes additional durability features as outlined in the marker classification section.

Marker classification

Retroreflective raised pavement markers typically use a flat microprismatic type of retroreflective element (lens) to return or retroreflect light to the vehicle driver.

Marker type

Marker type confirms a retroreflective raised pavement markers lens configuration:

• Type 1: one-way retroreflective lens.
• Type 2: two-way retroreflective lenses each exhibiting the same (one) colour.
• Type 3: two-way retroreflective lenses each exhibiting a different colour.

Typically, RRPMs for lane lines and edgelines should be what is referred to as Type 1, one-way markers. RRPMs for centre-lines and borders of flush medians should be Type 2 two-way one-colour or Type 3 two-way two-colour markers.

Additional features

• Abrasion resistance: this is a lens that has a wear resistant protective coating to enhance performance and durability that would be expected on heavily trafficked routes, motorways and expressways.
• Flexural strength: a marker body construction designed to flex with pavement movement caused by heavy traffic.
• Solid one-piece marker body: the retroreflective marker body is manufactured either as a solid one-piece body or as a two-piece system consisting of a tough plastic shell that is then filled with a second substance that together forms the body. The solid marker body can be formed using a number of materials such as plastics, thermoplastic, ceramic and metal.

Marker colour

Where a daytime non-retroreflective raised pavement marker is only permitted for use on New Zealand roads with a white marker body, colour for RRPMs confirms two features of the marker:

• the colour of the marker body. This should always be the first colour symbol shown, noted using the first letter of the colour: W=White; Y=Yellow; R=Red; B=Blue and G=Green; and
• the colour (and retroreflective colour) of the retroreflective lens or lenses.

Where the marker body colour and lens colour are the same, a single colour letter is used. Where a marker includes two different coloured retroreflective lenses, the first noted colour must also indicate the marker body colour. For example, a yellow marker body with a yellow and a white retroreflective lens will be noted as Type 3YW. RRPMs with one-way or two-way yellow reflectors shall have a yellow body.

Table 2‑30 : Raised pavement markers category and identification examples

Application

To ensure consistency on the network, installation of raised pavement markers is required to conform to Specification P14: raised pavement marker installation and Specification P14: raised pavement marker installation notes.

Specification P14: raised pavement markers installation

Marker body and lens colours permitted for use on New Zealand roads are listed in M12 Notes but typically require that white markers should only be used in conjunction with white lines, and yellow used with yellow lines.

Specification M12: raised pavement markers