GSO 289:1994

‫لائحة فنية خليجية‬

‫ لوح ــات الأرق ــام ذات الخلفي ــة العاكس ـ ــة‬- ‫مركب ــات الط ــرق‬
‫وطرق اختبارها‬

Gulf Technical Regulation

ROAD VEHICLES - RETRO-REFLECTIVE NUMBER
PLATES AND ITS METHODS OF TEST

ICS: 43.040
English Language – ‫اللغةالإنجليزية‬ Edition 1 – 16/11/1994 – 1 ‫الطبعة‬

© GCC Standardization Organization , www.gso.org.sa

© ‫جميع الحقوق محفوظة لهيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية‬

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

‫هذه الوثيقة محمية بالقانون‬

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT

‫ لا يجــوز‬،‫ ما لم ينـص على خـلاف ذلــك‬.‫جميع الحقوق محفوظة لهيئة لتقييس لدول مجلس التعـاون لدول الخليـج العربيـة‬
‫ بمـا فـي ذلك‬،‫ إلكتروني ــة أو ميكانيكيـ ــة‬،‫إعــادة إنتـاج أي جـزء مـن هـذا المنشــور أو اس ــتخدامه بـأي شــكل آخـر أو بـأي وس ــيلة‬
‫ دون إذن كتابي مسبق من هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج‬،‫ أو النشر على الإنترنت أو الإنترانت‬،‫التصوير‬
.‫العربية على العنوان أدناه أو الدول الأعضاء في الهيئة داخل بلدانهم‬

All rights reserved to GCC Standardization Organization (GSO). Unless otherwise specified, no part of this
publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission
can be requested from either GSO at the address below or GSO's member body in the country of the requester.

Outreach Dept, Knowledge Management Section ‫ قسم إدارة المعرفة‬،‫إدارة التواصل‬

GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) (GSO) ‫هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية‬
P.O.Box: 85245 Riyadh 12511 12511 ‫ الرياض‬85245 :‫ ب‬.‫ص‬
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬

Tel: +966115208000 :‫هاتف‬

Fax: +966115208010 :‫فاكس‬
E-Mail: csc@gso.org.sa :‫بريد إلكتروني‬
Website: www.gso.org.sa :‫موقع ويب‬

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

‫تقديم‬
‫هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربيـة هيئة إقليميـة تضم في عضـويتها أجهـزة التقيي ــس‬
‫ ومن مهام الهيئة إعداد المواصفات القياسية واللوائح الفنية الخليجية بواسطة‬، ‫الوطنية في الدول الأعضاء‬
.‫لجان فنية متخصصة‬

‫( الــذي‬17) ‫قرر مجلس الإدارة لهيئة التقييـس لدول مجلـس التعـاون لـدول الخليـج العربيـة في الاجتمــاع رقـم‬
GSO ‫م اعتمــاد ترجمــة لللائح ــة الفنيــة الخليجي ــة رقــم‬16/11/1994 ‫الموافــق‬، ‫هـ‬06/12/1415 ‫عقـد بتاريـخ‬
‫ لوحــات الأرقــام ذات الخلفي ــة العاكس ــة وطــرق اختباره ــا" إلـى اللغة‬- ‫ وعنوانه ــا "مركب ــات الطــرق‬289:1994
‫ "اللجنة الفنية الخليجية للمواصفات‬TC02 ‫الانجليزية التي تم دراستها ضمن برنامج عمل اللجنة الفنية رقم‬
.‫ ويعتبر النص العربي هو المرجع الأساس في حال وجود اختلاف بين النصين‬. ‫الميكانيكية" المدرجة في خطة‬

Foreword
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists of the
National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main function is to issue Gulf
Standards/Technical regulations through specialized technical committees (TCs).

GSO Board of Directors in its meeting number (17) held on 06/12/1415 H , which corresponds
to 16/11/1994 has approved translation Technical regulation No GSO 289:1994 and titled
"ROAD VEHICLES - RETRO-REFLECTIVE NUMBER PLATES AND ITS METHODS OF TEST " in
English language which was studied through the technical program of Technical Committee
No TC02 "GSO Technical Committee for Mechanical Products" . (Arabic) text is considered the
official text in case of any conflicts between the two.

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

ROAD VEHICLES -
RETRO-REFLECTIVE NUMBER PLATES
AND ITS METHODS OF TEST

1- SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION

This standard is concerned with the metallic retro-reflective registration plates for
road vehicles (as any self-propelled vehicles and trailers), and its methods of test.

2- DEFINITIONS
2.1 Retro-reflective number plate: A plate fitted to each road vehicle on the fore and
aft of the motor vehicle (passenger cars, buses and trucks) and on the aft for the
motorcycles, trailers and semi-trailers, including the registration number of the
vehicle on a retro-reflective background.
2.2 Reflective coating: A reflective sheeting adhering to the substrate with specific
reflectivity, and provided with a suitable means to anti-counterfeit.

3- REQUIREMENTS
3.1 The number plate shall be rectangular with rounded edges, provided with
reinforced groove and with the dimensions specified in Table (1).
Table 1
Dimensions of the number plate in millimeters

Category/Dimensions Length Width Tolerance

All motor vehicles 320 160 1

categories, trailers
and semi-trailers

Motorcycles 180 100 1

3.2 The colours of the number plates shall be as specified in Table (2).

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 Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

Table 2
Categories of vehicles and number plates’ colours

Category of vehicle Colour

Reflective surface Numbers and figures

Private White Black

Public Light blue White
Diplomatic Light green White
For export or temporary Orange yellow Black
use

3.3 The number plates shall be provided with fastening holes of (6  0.5) mm
diameter in the positions shown in Fig. (1).
3.4 The Arabic Naskh letters shall be used in writing the figures and the height of the
figures and numbers (the distance between lines delimiting the numbers and
letters) shall be (80  2) mm and their thickness shall be within (7  2) mm, and
shall be embossable to a minimum height of (1  0.1) mm (Fig. (1).
3.5 The plate shall be made from aluminium of a thickness of (1  0.1) mm with the
chemical composition and mechanical properties specified in Tables (3) and (4).

Table 3
Chemical composition of plate material
Contents Silicon Iron Copper Manganese Magnesium Chromium Zinc Others Aluminium

Percentage 0.25 0.4 0.05 0.05 0.05 Zero 0.07 0.03 remainder
%

Table 4
Mechanical properties of plate material
Tensile strength Yield stress Elongation
MPa MPa
0.2% %
(minimum) (minimum)
90 - 100 60 16

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

3.6 Before the application of the reflex-reflecting surface, all substrates shall be free
from grease, oil, dirt or any old coatings.
3.7 Photometric properties (reflective)
3.7.1 The retro-reflective surface of the plate shall have, in a new condition, the
minimum values of coefficient of retro-reflection expressed in candelas per lux
per square metre given in Table (5) when illuminated with the standard
illuminant “A” according to CIE conditions with the entrance and observation
angles on the same plane.
Table 5
Photometric properties of retro-reflective surface
Observation
Entrance angle
Colour angle
5o 30o 40o
0o 12’ 45 18 8
White 0o 20’ 30 12 6
1o 30’ 3.5 2 0.7
Orange 0o 12’ 30 12 5
Yellow 0o 20’ 20 8 4
1o 30’ 2.3 0.8 0.4
12’ 18 10 7
Light 20’ 13 7 3
Blue 1 30’
o
1.5 0.8 0.5
12’ 18 10 7
Light 20’ 13 7 3
Green 1o 30’ 1.5 0.8 0.5

3.7.2 The ratio of the highest to the lowest reading of the coefficient of luminous
intensity shall not exceed 2 at several adjacent areas, each 50 x 50 mm at an
observation angle of 20’ and an entrance angle of 5o.
3.8 Colorimetric properties
The chromaticity co-ordinates shall be located within the area defined in Table
(6) when tested in day light.

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

Table 6
Chromaticity co-ordinates for the retro-reflective
surface by day
Chromaticity Luminous Factor
Colour
1 2 3 4 Min. Max.
x 0.355 0.305 0.285 0.335
White 0.28 --
y 0.355 0.305 0.325 0.375

Orange x 0.465 0.427 0.487 0.545

Yellow 0.24 0.40
y 0.534 0.483 0.423 0.454

x 0.105 0.181 0.270 0.230

Light blue 0.10 0.2
y 0.271 0.094 0.245 0.275

x 0.210 0.280 0.180 0.080

Light green 0.13 0.22
y 0.275 0.385 0.520 0.310

3.9 The retro-reflective number plate shall satisfy the requirements mentioned in
items (3.9.1, 3.9.2 and 3.9.3) when subjected to the weathering test specified in
this standard.
3.9.1 No area of the exposed specimen shall show any evidence of cracking, scaling,
pitting, rusting delamination, distortion, blooming, staining or blistering. There
shall be no shrinkage in excess of 1% or 1 mm, whichever is the lesser, in any
linear direction measured from the edge of the plate, nor shall exposed gaps
appear at any joints. In addition, there shall be no evidence of adhesion failure
such as edge lifting from the substrate.
3.9.2 After this test, the colour of the plate shall still meet the chromaticity
requirements mentioned in Table (6).
3.9.3 The retro-reflection coefficient of the plate after test shall be not less than 80% of
the relevant values specified in Table (5), provided that all measurements be
made at an observation angle of 0o 12’ and entrance angles of 5o left and right in
accordance with the method mentioned in item (3.7).
3.10 The substrate and the reflective material shall not be affected after carrying out
the “temperature resistance test” specified in this standard.
3.11 It shall not be possible to remove the retro-reflective material in one piece when
the plate is subjected to the adhesive test.

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

3.12 The retro-reflective material shall show no cracking or separation from substrate
within a circle of 5 mm half diameter after carrying out the impact test.
3.13 There shall be no cracking in the plate when subjected to bending resistance test.
3.14 The plate shall show no evidence of deterioration which could reduce its
efficiency after carrying out the water resistance test.
3.15 The reflective material, figures and numerals shall not be damaged when wiped
with a mild aliphatic solvent followed by washing with a neutral detergent.
3.16 The reflective plate, figures and numerals shall not be affected after carrying out
the petroleum resistance test.
3.17 The reflective plate, shall not show signs of rust after the corrosion test.
3.18 The reflectivity of the retro-reflective surface of the plate shall not be less than
90% of the values specified in Table (5), when subjected to rainfall performance
test.
4- MARKING
Each number plate shall be permanently and legibly marked (on its back) in
Arabic language in such a way as to be difficult to counterfeit the manufacturer
name and/or trade-mark and the production date.
5- TESTING
5.1 Sampling
The consignment shall be divided into lots, each comprising 200 plates, and the
remainder of the consignment shall be considered as an individual lot. Two
plates shall be taken at random from each lot. The test samples shall be taken
from these plates with a minimum area of 10,000 mm2 of continuous flat
background area. All test samples shall be conditioned for 24 hrs at (23  5)oC
and (50  10)% relative humidity prior to testing.
5.2 Tests
The following tests shall be carried out on the sample drawn in accordance with
item (5.1).
5.2.1 Visual inspection test
The number plate shall be visually examined to check for any damage, crack or
any apparent defects.
5.2.2 Dimensions’ measurement
The dimensions of the plate shall be measured with instruments that permit
measurement within an accuracy of ( 0.1) mm.

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

5.2.3 Weathering test

5.2.3.1 Preparation of sample
Two identical specimens of a sample unit shall be taken. One of them shall be
stored in a dark dry container for subsequent use as the reference unexposed
specimen, the second one shall be subjected to the test.
5.2.3.2 Test apparatus
The apparatus shall consist of the following: (Fig. 2).
- A drum, approximately 1220 mm in diameter, capable of rotating about a
vertical axis. Within the drum there shall be three galleries for mounting the
specimens under test. The galleries shall have provisions for draining. A
lid, fitted over the top of the drum but not rotating with it, and it may be
raised or lowered for the purpose of adjusting the temperature of the air
within the drum.
- A thermometer unit, mounted in a suitable frame for protecting it, is attached
to the galleries such that it is held in the same position as the test specimens.
- Twin arc lamps, mounted diametrically opposite with their axes vertical and
within (200  20) mm from the axis of the drum. The arcs shall be formed
between two core carbons, each of (14  1) mm diameter, enclosed in clear
borosilicate air free glass enclosures. The glass enclosure shall be replaced
after approximately 2000 hrs use or whenever pronounced discoloration
appears, whichever occurs first.
- An assembly of water atomizers by means of which the specimens are
sprayed with fresh distilled water. Each atomizer shall be capable of
discharging approximately 1.7 litre/h with an air pressure of approximately
50 kN/m2, in such a way that the whole of the surface of each specimen is
evenly subjected to a fine mist. In passage to the atomizers, the water shall
not come into contact with any corrosive material. The water used shall be
fresh, its temperature (15  5)oC and not recirculated with the following
specifications:-
o pH value between 6-8
o total solid content (maximum) 50 ppm
o copper content (maximum) 0.2 ppm
5.2.3.3 Test procedure
- The sample under test shall be placed on one of the galleries of the drum
which shall be rotated at a speed not greater than 60 rev/h or less than 10
rev/h, so that the panel is exposed to 102 min of continuous light followed
by 18 min of light and water in any two-hour period.
- The height of the lid shall be so regulated that the thermometer reading is
maintained through the incoming air at (63  3)oC.

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

- The specimen shall be removed from the gallery for one hour in every 24
hrs, and placed in cold storage in a chamber maintained at a temperature
between -15oC and -12oC. During this period the carbon electrodes shall be
adjusted or replaced as necessary and the arc glass enclosures shall be
cleaned.
- The specimen shall be carried to different gallery.
- The above cycle shall be maintained for 5 days continuously, after which the
specimen shall remain undisturbed for the remaining 2 days of the week.
- The test shall be continued for a total exposure period of 1200 hrs.
5.2.4 Thermal resistance test
The test plate shall be subjected to the following conditions:
5.2.4.1 7 hrs consecutively at a temperature of (65  2)oC and (10  5)% relative
humidity.
5.2.4.2 One hour at a temperature of (23  5)oC and (50  10)% relative humidity.
5.2.4.3 15 hrs consecutively at a temperature of -20oC.
5.2.5 Adhesion of the reflective material
Condition the test sample for one hour at -20oC. Immediately after taking the
sample out of the cold store, it shall not be possible to remove the retro-reflective
material physically in one piece from the substrate.
5.2.6 Impact resistance test
The test plate shall be conditioned for one hour at -20oC. Immediately after
being taken out of the cold storage, place the sample plate with the reflective side
upon a solid support base such as concrete or a 12.5 mm steel plate and allow a
steel ball of 25 mm diameter to drop from a height of 2 m onto a flat section of
the plate.
5.2.7 Bending test
The flat area of the test plate shall be bended within a period of two seconds over
a mandrel of 50 mm diameter to an angle of 90o with the retro-reflective material
facing outwards, at a temperature of (23  5)oC.
5.2.8 Water resistance test
Immerse the test plate for a period of 24 hrs consecutively in deionized water at
(23  5)oC and then allow it to dry for 48 hrs at room temperature.
5.2.9 Test of cleaning effect
A test sample smeared with a mixture of lubricating oil and graphite, shall be
wiped with a mild aliphatic solvent, followed by washing with a neutral
detergent. Notice that the reflecting surface is not affected after carrying out the
test.

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

5.2.10 Resistance to fuel test

Immerse a portion of the sample plate including letters and numerals, for one
minute in a test fuel composed of 70% normal heptane and 30% toluol (by
volume).
5.2.11 Corrosion resistance test
The test plate shall be subjected for 22 hrs to the action of a saline mist 5%
concentration produced by atomizing at a temperature of (35  2)oC. The above
cycle shall be carried out once more after an interval of two hours during which
the plate is allowed to dry.
5.2.12 Rainfall performance test
The test plate shall be placed as shown in Fig. (3), the performance (reflectivity)
of the retro-reflective surface shall be measured at an entrance angle of -4o and an
observation angle of 0.2o.

6- RULES OF ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION

6.1 Each consignment of number plates shall be accompanied with a certificate
indicating compliance of all the plates in the consignment with the requirements
of this standard.
6.2 The consignment shall be considered complying with all the requirements of this
standard when the drawn sample passes all the tests mentioned in item (5.2).
6.3 In case one or more of the sample plates fails to pass any of the tests, a second
sample double the number of units of the first one shall be drawn from the same
lot and subjected to all tests.
The consignment shall be considered complying with the requirements of this
standard when all the number plates of the second sample pass the re-test;
otherwise the consignment shall be considered non-complying.

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

Fig. 1a
Typical number plate for motor vehicle

Fig. 1b
Typical number plate for motor cycle

Note: All dimensions in millimeters

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

Fig. 2
Apparatus for accelerated weathering test: assembled views

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Gulf Technical Regulation GSO 289:1994

Fig. 3
Position of number plate during rainfall performance test

Dimensions in millimetres.

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