3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sign Sheeting

Commitment to achieving the best possible traffic safety outcomes starts with 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Sheeting. It provides brightness and visibility with the highest optical efficiency of 3M's sheeting products by returning more light to drivers in a range of vehicle types.

People in a car at night
Outsmart the dark with the latest 3M technology.
CONTACT A 3M APPLICATION ENGINEER

DG³ sheeting has twice the brightness of 3M's lower-grade reflective sign sheeting

  • DG3 cone reflection graph
  • 3M’s “full-cube” retroreflective technology greatly increases the visibility of road signs for drivers across a range of vehicle types and sign geometries. These performance improvements are enabled by “100% active area” full cube retroreflectors that result in higher efficiency sheeting as compared to conventional retroreflective sheeting. Even signs in the most disadvantaged locations perform better with Diamond Grade DG³ sheeting.

    58% Retroreflection efficiency (29% + 29%) is ideal for large and small vehicles. Increasing the overall total retroreflective efficiency serves the greatest segment of nighttime drivers of all vehicle types.²

    FIND A ROAD SIGN CONVERTER

Why DG³ reflective sign sheeting?

  • Reflective road signs in the dark
    Maximise reflected light

    3M’s full-cube retroreflective technology is more efficient and reflects more light than the conventional truncated cubes used in many Type IV and Type IX sheeting products. DG³ Reflective Sheeting uses 100% active-area retroreflectors that maximise reflected light, even on signs placed in less than optimal locations.

    Learn how not all Type XI sheeting is created equal (PDF, 2.1 MB)

  • Reflective overhead road signs on busy highway
    Visible Signs Improve Road Safety

    According to one study, brighter sign sheeting helped reduce the number of crashes by 25-46% (over a three- to six-year period) in locations where the more reflective sheeting was installed.* Type XI sheeting is brighter, more reflective and more conspicuous than standard beaded sheeting (or…than lower grade sheeting). This helps drivers see and react to road signs sooner and with greater confidence.

    *Ripley, D., Howard R. Green Company, ITE AB04H313.

    Download the white paper on traffic sign brightness (PDF, 0.3 MB)

DG³ reflective sign sheeting demonstration videos

Watch our demonstration videos to see for yourself the advantages of choosing Diamond Grade DG³ reflective sign sheeting.

  • Fluorescent yellow road sign
    Fluorescent Technology Demonstration

    See how the fluorescent technology of DG³ sheeting is transformed from invisible light to visible light.

    Click the image above to watch the video (1:26)

  • Road signs video thumbnail
    Stop Sign Visibility Demonstration

    Elevated seating positions result in a higher angle relative to headlights. In this demonstration, you'll see how elevated seating positions impact sign visibility and how higher-performing sign sheeting can help.

    Click the image above to watch the video (2:00)

  • Laser light comparison
    Laser Light Demonstration

    This demonstration shows how 3M's microprismatic fluorescent sheeting can significantly improve critical sign visibility during nighttime conditions. The larger cone of retroreflection illustrates how drivers of both large and small vehicles are better served by Diamond Grade DG³ sheeting.

    Click the image above to watch the video (1:58)

  • Sign sheeting reflectivity comparison
    Sign Sheeting Performance Comparison

    The demonstration in this video shows how 3M DG³ Reflective Sheeting compares to Engineer Grade sheeting and High Intensity Prismatic Sheeting.

    Click the image above to watch the video (2:57)

3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sign Sheeting
Ready to upgrade your reflective sign sheeting to DG³?
CONTACT A 3M APPLICATION ENGINEER
  • Device screens showing webinar preview
  • Free webinar: Brighter signs for safer roads.
    Improving road safety with 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting.

    Register for our free webinar on 10 May 2023 discussing the benefits of 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sign Sheeting for both road users and providers.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the difference bright signage can make and put your questions to 3M road safety experts.

    REGISTER NOW

     


Additional benefits of 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ reflective sign sheeting

With its life expectancy of 12 years, Diamond Grade DG³ provides protection longer than 3M's lower-grade sign sheeting.

  • Road sign for Heathrow Airport
    Increased reactivity time for drivers

    Brighter signs give drivers more time to react. During the day, and especially at night, DG³ Reflective Sheeting can make a difference by making signage brighter and more visible as compared to our High Intensity Prismatic sheeting, giving drivers more time to react.

    Brighter sheeting is more visible to drivers and has been shown to increase safety by helping cut nighttime accidents by 25 to 46 percent.¹

  • Reflective road signs for airport directions
    Can help reduce lighting costs

    "With the highest brightness and retroreflectivity ratings in the industry, Diamond Grade DG³ can safely lower installed road lighting costs by up to $150,000 per km, and annual lighting maintenance by up to $15,000 per km."

    — The Handbook of Road Safety Measures, 2nd Edition. Rune Elvik, 2009.

  • Road sign reflectivity comparison
    Long-lasting and less maintenance cost

    With its life expectancy of 12 years, it provides protection longer than lower-grade sign sheeting. It may also require less maintenance and reduce energy expenses.

Orange gradient banner

Why upgrade to Diamond Grade DG³?

The difference between High Intensity Prismatic and Diamond Grade™ DG³ reflective sign sheeting.

  • Sign Sheeting Comparison
    • Brighter Signs, Safer Roads. During the day, and especially at night, 3M Diamond Grade DG³ reflective sign sheeting can make a difference by making signage brighter and more visible, giving drivers more time to react.

      High Intensity Prismatic Sheeting meets middle grade performance standards and EN 12899-1 Class RA2. This reflective sign sheeting uses polycarbonate cube corner technology and is often used for reflective traffic and road signs.

      Diamond Grade reflective sheeting DG³ meets Class RA3 and R3B of DIN 67520 and Class R3C-UK of UK National Annex to EN 12899-1. This highly reflective sign sheeting uses efficient full-cube prismatic technology that reflects more light back to its source than High Intensity Prismatic sheeting.

      CONTACT A 3M APPLICATION ENGINEER        DOWNLOAD COMPARISON CHART (PDF, 0.1 MB)

Main reasons to upgrade to DG³

  • Family crossing a road
    Safer roads

    According to one study, over a three to six-year period, crash numbers dropped by 25 to 46 percent where brighter signs, like those with DG³ reflective sign sheeting, were installed.²
    Road Signs can make a difference during the day, and especially at night, by using 3M™ Diamond™ Grade DG3 Reflective Sheeting.

  • Bright stop sign
    Brighter signs

    Significantly brighter signs are manufactured with 3M’s Full Cube Technology. This represents optimal performance in retroreflective technology, with optic elements that are nearly 100% efficient, resulting in sign sheeting that returns almost 60% of available light. Signs are noticeably brighter and more legible at a greater distance. 12-year life expectancy backed by our 3M warranty.

  • Overhead road signs on highway
    Broad observation angles

    Full cube technology reflect light at broad observations angle, helping drivers in all vehicle sizes see your sign.

Looking for product specifications?

If you want to find product specifications, use the buttons to go to our product catalogue.

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  • References
    1. Ripley, D.A, Howard R. Green Company, ITE AB04H313, Quantifying the Safety Benefits of Traffic Control Devices - Benefit-Cost Analysis of Traffic Sign Upgrades, 2005 Mid-Continent Transportation Research Symposium Proceedings.
    2. Ripley, D., Howard R. Green Company, ITE AB04H313.
    3. Schell T, Yekhshatyan I., Daiker R., Konz J., Effects of Luminance on Information Acquisition Time and Accuracy from Traffic Signs. Journal of Transportation Research Board, 2008. UIWOA