You know most construction or safety professionals make the same mistake. And that’s not properly highlighting the safe paths, construction or danger zones, to guide drivers on road, foot traffic on crosswalks, and pedestrians.
Although some facilities install traditional orange-colored traffic cones, there are times when they don’t fulfill the guidance and safety job. That’s because cones are smaller in size, and nowadays, an average driver is so used to seeing cones on roads that they don’t even take them as a danger or caution indicator.
And that’s where vertical panels take the lead, as a perfect even enhanced alternative to common traffic cones. But it’s very important for road construction and traffic professionals, like you, to deeply understand vertical panels. Like what they do, when to install, how to install, which to install, benefits, and much more. That’s exactly what we have discussed in this guide.
What are Vertical Panels?
Vertical panels are traffic control devices (often known as traffic indicator panels, vertical & parking panels, vertical delineators, chevron panels, traffic delineators and vertical channelizers, vertical panel channelizers, and vertical delineator blades). Looks-wise, they are vertical in shape with a striped design of orange and white reflective tape. The design color often varies depending on state and working environments.
Based on their needs in both outdoors and indoors, vertical panels are produce in plastic material with reflective sheeting to enhance the panels’ visibility in both day and nighttimes. Plus, these panels are ideal for use on the road-repair zones, at construction sites, school, hotels, or anywhere where there is need to delineate different areas.
How do Vertical Panels Function?
Well, the vertical panels (upright panels along roads) are generally built with strong materials like plastic or rubber. Plus, they also have a reflective sheet layer over them that serves the purpose of high visibility, especially in low-light conditions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how they operate:
- Visibility and Reflection
As we mentioned earlier that vertical panels have colored striped pattern over them. That makes them more visible to a driver even in daytime at one glance. On top of that, during nighttime when a vehicle’s flashlight falls over panels, their reflective sheeting instantly re-bounce the flashlight back into driver’s eyes.
- Lane Guidance and Separation
These panels on roads, generally are placed in road edges and curves. That way panels acts as physical guidance, or you can say “Obstruction”, to guide drivers about safe lane and prevent them from entering into danger zone.
- Flexibility and Safety
Most panels are made with plastic and rubber material. That makes them more flexible and durable. Means, they can easily withstand harsh weather-condition. Plus, plastic vertical panels are impact-resistance too. So when any vehicle hits them, they bend and spring back, reducing the damage to both vehicle and panel.
What Materials Are Vertical Panels Made From?
Well, different manufacturers across different states produce vertical panels in different materials. Some even use fiberglass, aluminum or composite material. However bear in mind that MUTCD only allow few materials. That means only panels following compliance and regulations can be used at public roads. Not following the regulations, can put any traffic or construction company in serious legal penalties.
Here’s a complete breakdown of MUTCD permit materials:
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
If you know, HDPE is most tough material type among plastic family. It doesn’t crack easily. Plus, HDPE vertical panels are UV-and-weather resistance too. That means they don’t fade early and doesn’t crack due to high temperature. That’s why they are commonly used at high-traffic-flow places like highways and roads. However they are lightweight so their chances of falling and damage are comparatively high.
- Rubber
Compared to HDPE, rubber material stands out. Panels made with rubber are heavy-weight, highly-flexible, and impact resistant. So if any vehicle hits them, they bend backwards and instantly bounce back instead of falling (due to heavy-weight). Due to its weight capability, vertical panels’ base are produced with rubber material. So that the panels can stay firm on its place and stays visible at all times.
- Galvanized steel
Some vertical panels are also produced with mix of HDPE and galvanized steel material. Since steel rust very early and easily which is why it is coated with the heavy layer of retro-reflective sheet. That way, panels become durable and weather resistance. Plus, during nighttime, this reflective sheet bounces back a dazzling light when vehicle’s light falls on it. This helps guide drivers and ensure safety.
Color Coding of Vertical Panels
| Color Scheme | Description |
| Orange and White Stripes | Used at places where there is a high need to alert drivers about danger. Such as under construction zones or road work. They act as a barricade, separate construction site, to protect drivers and pedestrians. |
| Red and White Stripes | Often used for parking lots (open-spaces) direction at schools, universities. OR for denoting sites like signal spots. |
| Yellow and Black Stripes | These colored panels are designed for Australia and South Africa. Often used to highlight the misaligned roads or any hazardous zones. |
| Blue and White Stripes | Although very less used. But often used for information purpose or at commercial sites like hotels to guide customers about safe lane. |
Above mentioned color coding is not a complete lists as the color coding varies from country to country (as per their state compliance and regulations). Now, let’s discuss the main requirements for vertical panels that go the same for every state:
- Vertical panels must be installed 150-500 m(500-1650 ft) before the main detour starts.
- Facilities should use panels built with retro-reflective sheeting. So that panels can be visible in lower-light conditions.
- At construction or road-repair zones, every traffic or road facility is required to not just properly place vertical panels. But also arrange sources of light (such as beacons, barricade lights) for low-light conditions.
- Stripes angle on vertical panel must be at 45°, exactly towards the traffic route on road. Plus, each stripe should be 4–6 inches long.
- Every facility is required to daily do safety checks on panels. If any broken, faded panel is found or even any panel is missing, it should be replaced immediately.
- Panels must be made of plastic and rubber. So that they can withstand every weather condition.
- (Most important) Only certified professionals, and those with permits, can only use vertical panels on public spaces.
JACKWIN’s Vertical Panels Key Features
- High Visibility
Our vertical panels are produced in bright colors along with a reflective sheet coating over them. That makes them more visible, even in both daytime and nighttime. Duringthe daytime, bright colors catch drivers’ attention even from far distances. During nighttime, these reflective sheets throw light directly toward the driver’s eyes (when the vehicle’s light falls on it). That way, the panels provide high visibility, hence guiding and protecting drivers and workers.
- Long Durability
The HDPE, galvanized steel, and especially rubber-based vertical panels have long durability. We use these materials for panels to make them resist and impact free. Plus, the reflective sheet coating makes them rust-proof and UV and weather resistant. That way, when you invest once, our vertical panels last long with you.
- Easy Storage
Due to their sleek and slim design, they are easy to carry and store in bulk. On top of that, deploying them in bulk at your project worksite is also very easy.
- Resist Fading
We use high-quality, UV-and-weather resistance material for both base and plates. This way, in any weather conditions like heavy rains, high-temperature (especially in summers), these vertical panels don’t fade, crack or get damaged.
- Rust-proof
With 100% HDPE plastic material and thick reflective coating over panels makes them rust-proof, moisture-proof, and waterproof.
- Easy Handling
Using a molded grip at the top of vertical panel, you can easily hold, handle and move them on your worksite without extra manpower or machinery needed. Apart from that, at JACKWIN, we also offer foldable vertical panels with double-sided reflective tape, that are not just easy to handle, but carry too.
- Low Maintenance
Our reflective panels don’t require you to regularly maintain them. Just place them on your project site and remove them when the project ends. However, we do suggest to you that, to further increase the lifespan of vertical panels, whenever your team has availability, you should clean the panels thoroughly. Doing so will clear away all dirt and enhance the panels’ look even more.
- Resist Temperature
Our vertical panels are designed for both indoors, and outdoors use, considering high and low temperature conditions. So even if they keep being placed at same spot for several months, they won’t fade, break and crack, due to weather and temperature changes.
Best Practices for Public Safety with Vertical Panels
Although vertical panels are made with durable material and clearly guide drivers on road. But panels’ incorrect placement on roads will do more harm, instead of ensuring driver’s safety. That’s why as a leading traffic products manufacturer, we’re here to share a few best practices according to our experience, that you can adapt to ensure public safety using vertical panels.
- Always Use Reflective Strips
Always ensure that the panels you buy must have reflective strips and reflective sheet coating over them. Because strips guide the drivers about the safe path that they should take. And reflective sheets ensure high-visibility after sunset or in low-light zones.
- Place at Proper Intervals
At your road repair or construction worksite, vertical panels are spread evenly. Generally, 10 to 20 feet apart is ideal distance, but not less or more. However, depending on the area where work is undergoing and based on local traffic, you can adjust the vertical panel barricades placements (when needed).
- Secure Panels Firmly
Firm placements of vertical panels on your project site play a significant role. We suggest you use vertical panels with heavy bases (made with rubber material) and firmly place them on the road. If you place loose, they can fall or even come in way of any vehicle (due to wind or hit). So be careful while installing.
- Use Panels for Lane Shifts & Closures
If a sudden lane change or road closure decision is made, as a road safety professional, you are required to guide drivers about the safe lanes. You can do that by positioning vertical panels through detours or narrowed lanes. That way, drivers will not get confused and simply follow the directed safe path.
- Maintain Clear Signage
Keep in mind, if installing vertical panels is beneficial, then crowding them along with other traffic signs can subject to serious accidental situations. So you must ensure that only needed panels are installed. Plus, panels must not be obstructed or hidden so that drivers can easily see them from a distance.
- Inspect Regularly
Most important practice! You should regularly check all vertical panels on roads for any damage, cracks, breakage, fading or missing ones. If you find any defective panel, instantly replace it. As defective panels will no longer comply to traffic regulations, and not changing them can put you in trouble.
Common Applications of Vertical Panels
Vertical panels aren’t just for guiding road drivers about safe lane. Their uses expand across several property types and industries. Here’s a breakdown of most common applications:
- Roadworks
On road repair or construction sites, facilities can thoroughly place vertical panels. That way, panels alert drivers and provide guidance about lane closures, detours, or narrowing lanes.
- Construction Sites
At commercial or residential construction zones, heavy machinery, workers, and vehicles, everything is constantly moving in and out. In such cases, vertical panels can be placed at entrances or along work zone boundaries. That way workers will continue to work in their zone while drivers passes through safe lane.
- Parking Lots
Parking lots often have constant vehicle and pedestrian movements happening all around. You can use vertical panels to separate entrance/exit paths and mark pedestrian walkways. Plus, using panels, you can also reserve spaces for emergency exits.
- Job Sites
Several corporates or high-traffic job sites where equipment, trucks, and facility vehicles frequently move around. Here, you can place vertical panels to highlight safe walkways, loading zones, and no-entry areas. Plus, if there’s maintenance work being done on the job site, you are required to install these panels 10 meters away from the construction zone.
- Schools & Universities
Just like in school zones with speed bumps, you can place vertical panels to manage on-campus traffic flow. Here’s how: You can install panels in different areas to separate pedestrian areas, define bus drop-off points, and block unauthorized vehicle access. That way, you can control traffic while protecting students, faculty, and visitors within the premises.
How You Can Choose the Right Vertical Panels?
As a road safety and traffic professional, it’s very crucial that you carefully choose the correct vertical panels for your construction or safety project. Because wrong selection may not only cost you money, but also put the public in more danger. To help you in this regard, we recommend you a few points that you should keep in mind while doing vertical panels selection.
- First of all, you need to assess the type of project you are going to manage. Whether it’s a lane closure, construction zone, or traffic redirection. We also suggest you get some analytics on daily vehicle-traffic and foot-traffic flow in your project zone.
- Next, consider the visibility requirements. If your project duration is during night hours or in low-light areas, then our first recommendation is to go for panels with high-intensity reflective sheeting. Secondly, to enhance visibility, you need to mount lights on panels, like beacons or barricade lights.
- You should also wisely choose the quality material. For long-term or outdoor use, HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) or rubber is highly recommended. Because these materials are flexible, resist-fading, and withstand any extreme temperatures. Plus, they last longer in harsh conditions.
- Then, evaluate the panel base. There will be times when your project site roads will be uneven or damaged. So if you use light-weight vertical panels, they will fall due to wind or hits. To ensure that panels stand firmly, choose the panels whose base is made with heavy material (like rubber).
- Not to forget, any vertical panels you select, must comply with your local traffic safety regulations. Using not-complaint vertical panels, that too without permits, can put you in serious legal troubles.
- Now the final step, you must choose the reliable vertical panels supplier. Choose a manufacturer that complies with government standards, like JACKWIN. Contact us today, as we have a wide variety (varying in size, thickness, material) available. Upon request, our manufacturing team can also customize vertical panels according to your brand needs.
Conclusion
After reading this guide, we can say that you now have a complete understanding about vertical panels and how they play a huge role in separating construction zones and safe lanes. We also suggest you to always get durable and plastic-material based vertical panels that must meet compliance and safety regulations.
If you are new to road, traffic safety, or road construction jobs, we understand that it must be challenging for you to find the correct material, thickness, and size for vertical panels. To get rid of this hassle, check out our vertical panels catalog now, which meets all safety standards.
