Complete Guide to Roll Up Signs & Portable Systems
Roll Up Signs are the industry standard for Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) zones that are short-term (less than 3 days) or mobile in nature. Unlike rigid aluminum signs, Roll Up Signs are engineered for speed and storage efficiency. They allow utility crews, tree trimmers, and emergency responders to establish a compliant warning zone in minutes and pack it away into a compact truck bin when the job is done. At TrafficSafetyHQ, we supply Roll Up Signs that meet all MUTCD Part 6 and NCHRP-350 crashworthiness standards.
Material Selection: Reflective Vinyl vs. Mesh
Choosing the right fabric is critical for safety and longevity.
- Non-Reflective Mesh (Daytime Only): A breathable, porous fabric that allows wind to pass through, reducing the likelihood of the sign blowing over. Note: Mesh is not retroreflective and is legally permitted only for daytime operations.
- Reflective Vinyl (Day & Night): Solid vinyl material with micro-prismatic retroreflectivity (Marathon or Diamond Grade). This is mandatory for any work performed at night or in low-light conditions. While heavier than mesh, it provides superior visibility.
- Pink Fire/Incident Signs: Specifically designed for Emergency Management (car crashes, floods). The fluorescent pink color signals an unplanned incident rather than scheduled construction.
The Rib System: Structure & Stability
A Roll Up Sign is only as good as its frame.
- Fiberglass Cross-Ribs: Every sign requires a set of flexible fiberglass ribs (creating an 'X' on the back) to hold the fabric taut.
- Corner Pockets: Our signs feature heavy-duty, polycarbonate corner pockets. This prevents the ribs from tearing through the fabric after repeated tensioning—a common failure point in cheap signs.
- Universal Compatibility: Our signs are compatible with all major rib profiles, ensuring they fit your existing inventory of stands.
Stand Compatibility & Crashworthiness
Roll Up Signs must be paired with the correct portable sign stand.
- Spring Stands: The gold standard for highway use. Heavy-duty steel springs allow the sign to sway in the wind (wind relief) without tipping over. Mandatory for high-speed traffic zones.
- Tripod Stands: Lightweight and economical. Best for low-speed urban streets or sidewalk closures where wind load is minimal.
- NCHRP-350 Compliance: Because these stands are placed on the road surface near active traffic, they must be crash-tested. Our stands are certified to collapse safely upon impact, preventing the legs from penetrating a vehicle windshield.
Placement Geometry
Portable signs sit lower to the ground than permanent posts.
- 1-Foot Minimum: The bottom of the sign must be at least 12 inches above the pavement. This ensures the sign is not obscured by the stand itself or low-lying road debris.
- Advance Warning: Just like rigid signs, Roll Up Signs must be spaced according to the speed limit (e.g., 500 feet in advance on rural highways) to give drivers reaction time.