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Why How Glass Beads Make Roads Safer at Night?
Ever wondered why road lines are so visible at night? It's not just bright paint. It's millions of tiny glass beads embedded in the surface.
When your headlights hit the road, the glass beads act like tiny retroreflectors, bouncing light directly back toward your eyes. Without beads, paint absorbs most of the light and appears dull at night.
Bead application matters. Drop them too early and they sink too deep. Too late and they sit on top and wear off quickly. The right technique embeds beads to about 60% of their diameter, optimal for retroreflection and durability.
We tested different bead application rates when we first started road marking. At 200g per square metre, night visibility was marginal. At 400g per square metre, it was excellent and met road authority requirements. Going higher didn't improve visibility but wasted material.
Now we apply at rates specified by road authorities, typically 350-450g per square metre depending on requirements. And we verify retroreflectivity with testing equipment.
Key Benefits
Glass bead embedment at optimal 60% depth for maximum retroreflection and durability
Application rates of 350-450g per square metre meeting road authority specifications
AS/NZS 1906.3 Class B retroreflective performance for road marking applications
Drop-on application for paint and premix integration for thermoplastic
Retroreflectivity testing available to verify performance after application
Different bead types for different applications: standard, high-performance, wet-night
Site Inspection
Free assessment and detailed quote
Professional Marking
Expert application with premium materials
Quality Assurance
Final inspection and compliance sign-off
Compliance Standards
AS/NZS 1906.3
Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control devices - Class B materials.
AS 4049.4
Glass bead requirements for thermoplastic pavement marking materials.
Austroads AGRD06
Road marking retroreflectivity requirements in Guide to Road Design.
State Road Authority Specs
TfNSW, VicRoads, MRWA specifications for glass bead type and application rates.
AS 2009
Glass beads for pavement marking materials - Specifications.
Fully Compliant & Certified
All our work meets or exceeds Australian Standards and state road authority requirements
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5,000+ Projects
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Fixed Prices
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AS 1742
Traffic Control Devices
Specifies line colours, widths, arrow designs, and placement for road markings. Ensures all traffic control devices meet national safety standards.
AS/NZS 2890
Parking Facilities
Covers bay dimensions (2.4m × 5.4m standard, 3.2m × 5.4m accessible), aisle widths, and traffic flow requirements for compliant parking areas.
AS 4586
Slip Resistance
Defines slip resistance classifications (P rating) for pedestrian surfaces. Critical for wet areas, ramps, and high-traffic zones.
AS/NZS 1428
Access & Mobility
Sets requirements for accessible parking bays, tactile indicators, and mobility access. Essential for DDA compliance and accessibility audits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Tiny spherical glass balls (typically 100-850 microns) embedded in paint or thermoplastic. They retroreflect light back toward the source, making lines visible in headlights at night.
Road markings yes, for night-time visibility and road authority compliance. Indoor facilities and carparks often don't need beads as they're not relying on headlight retroreflection.
Dropped onto wet paint immediately after application, or premixed into thermoplastic. The key is embedding to the right depth, not too deep and not sitting on top.
Yes, using retroreflectometer equipment. We can test and provide readings to verify marking meets required performance levels.
Surface beads do wear. Quality marking has beads throughout the paint layer, so fresh beads are exposed as the surface wears. Eventually all beads are gone and marking needs renewal.
Standard beads perform poorly when wet. For critical applications, we can use larger beads or structured profiles that maintain visibility in rain.
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