Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
KARL WESTON / GUY HAMMOND
Blackburns have developed a Composite Panel specifically aimed at the Road Traffic
Sign market. This has been achieved in conjunction with composite manufacturers
and expertise within the Blackburns organisation, which have over thirty years
experience of supplying metal substrates to the road traffic sector. Blackburns have
also collaborated with major reflective sheeting and riveting manufacturers to ensure
the product is compatible with these products and its intended use.
BCP Traffic differs from some other composites, which have simply been cloned from
architectural products, in that the product has been developed to emulate traditional
substrates by having a polyester coated Aluminium sheet to the rear of the sign and
a traditional etched Aluminium face but with the added advantage of greater ridigity,
lower weight and superior sustainability of paint adhesion and colour.
Reflective sheeting producers and distributors have traditionally tested their materials
on Aluminium sheeting. Therefore composites that use an Aluminium surface of
similar pre-treated un-painted characteristics are accepted under the ‘family products’
banner, as detailed in EN 12899:2007 part 5 clause 3.7, where historical records are
permitted providing the tests were carried out by an ISO 17205 accredited laboratory
within approximately the last ten years.
On the following pages you will find the necessary documentation confirming that
the appropriate testing of BCP Traffic has been carried out, and providing the
recommended rivet from Henrob or Bollhoff is used in conjunction with the Buchanan
Sign Load Programme when manufacturing the product, it conforms to the appropriate
specification and carries a twelve year guarantee.
BCP® WARRANTY CERTIFICATE
WARRANTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN ……………………………………………………………………….
CUSTOMER …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Blackburns Metals warrants that BCP® traffic will fulfill its intended use as substrate for road traffic signs for 12 years.
The warranty period shall commence on the date of Blackburns initial shipment. It obliges the customer to
demonstrate the order confirmation number of material claimed.
• The fixing has to relate to the wind loading (not exceeding permissible tension or deflection). Please refer
to our sign load programme - The panels not having been exposed to temperatures exceeding 70 °C.
• The guidelines laid down in the Blackburns technical testing sheets concerning fabrication, handling and
maintenance of the panels having been observed.
This warranty does not apply to BCP® traffic panels which have been or are exposed to:
• Hurricane, hail, lightning, fire, smoke, or other acts of god, radiation, harmful fumes or foreign substances
in the atmosphere, i.e. air- or chemical pollution, including but not limited to organic solvents, concentrated
detergents or wetting agents.
• Or to panels damaged by impact, vandalism, malicious mischief, misuses, abuse or negligence in cleaning
or maintaining, improper storage or handling, improper fabrication or installation or other occurrences
beyond the control of Blackburns, and does not extend to cover any form of damage caused by direct
and indirect influences that are generally known to affect the quality.
Warranty for lamination of reflective sheeting is issued under separate cover by the manufacturer of this product.
If the sign deteriorates due to natural causes to an extent that the intended use as a substrate road traffic signs
is no longer fulfilled Blackburns sole responsibility and purchasers and users exclusive remedy shall be:
Blackburns will provide composite sheet to replace the sign. Replacement panels will carry the unexpired portion
of the warranty of the panel it replaces. Claims made under this warranty will be honored only if Blackburns is
notified of a failure within a reasonable time, reasonable information requested by Blackburns is provided and
Blackburns is permitted to verify the cause of the failure.
Blackburns Metals liability under this warranty is limited to replacement as stated herein and Blackburns assumes
no liability for any incidental or consequential damages such as lost profits, business or revenues in any way related
to the product regardless of the legal theory on which the claim is based.
The BCP® traffic panels supplied by Blackburns must be inspected by the CUSTOMER immediately upon receipt.
Defects established by such inspection may only be claimed within 7 days upon receipt. Concealed defects must
be claimed immediately upon discovery; the rights to claim such concealed defects shall at any rate expire at the
end of the warranty period stipulated in paragraph 2.
In case any panel should be found not to be in conformity with the conditions of this agreement, Blackburns, upon
being satisfied of the existence of such non-conformity, reserves the right and option to correct the same by either
replacing or repairing defective panels at their cost. However, all costs and costs of labour, to remove and replace
defective panels, will be borne by the CUSTOMER.
If Blackburns is unable to correct such non-conformity by replacing the panels or repairing them, whether due to
the nature of such non-conformity or the uses made by the CUSTOMER of the panels, Blackburns will return to
the CUSTOMER the purchase price, or where appropriate, the unit price of such number of quantity of the panels
as shall have such non-conformity which Blackburns is unable to correct, subject to the return of defective panels
upon a written request by Blackburns. All other costs are barred.
The foregoing is Blackburns sole warranty with respect to the BCP® traffic composite panels. Blackburns makes no
other warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and suitability for a particular purpose.
The CUSTOMER's exclusive remedy against Blackburns shall be as set forth in the preceding paragraphs. In no
event shall Blackburns be liable to the CUSTOMER either directly or by way of contribution or indemnity, for any
other direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages such as, but not limited to, property damage,
loss of profit, damages based on loss of use of the panels, or damages for cover, regardless whether the claim for
such damages be based on warranty, express or implied, contract, tort or otherwise.
The commencement date for this warranty is the date of dispatch of the BCP® traffic panels from the Blackburns.
This agreement has been made in the United Kingdom and shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with
the laws of that state.
Signatures:
Suppliers Signatures:
Blackburns Aluminium Composite Panel
Data/Specifications sheet for BCP Traffic
This product is now approved to EN12899:2007 and complies to parts one and five.
Supporting evidence is attached.
Modulus of Elasticity
and Liner Thermal Expansion EN 19991-1
Width -1mm/+2mm
Length -1mm/+3mm
SURFACE PROPERTIES
Gloss EN 13523-2 30 - 35
Pencil Hardness HB
RIVET PROCESSING
Tested and approved for use with Bolloff Rivet using a standard R 3 x 8 Hardness 2 rivet.
WARRANTY
12 years guarantee
Printed date Nov 25/08
GB/T1774
Standard: 8-1999
Bending
Fracture Fracture Bending
Stress in Bending Bending
Sample Aluminium Bending Bending Rigidity
definite Modulus Strength
Thickness Thickness Strain Stress in Unit
deflection (Ef) (σfM)
(εfB) (σfB) Length
(σfC)
Composite panels aluminium substrate outside, lacquered on one or both sides; polyethylene-core inside bonded
with ethylene-based copolymere.
3. POSSIBLE RISK
Description:
Lacquering or bonding medium may catch fire or burn , if edges are unprotected and if the composite panel is
heated up to the inflammation point. Under such conditions there is a risk of decomposition and toxic gases may
be released in a minor quantity (see sections 5 and 10).
General: None
At ambient temperature the material is not a health hazard.The material may be noxious if it is exposed to high
temperatures (e.g. fire) only.
Inhalation:
In the case of contact with vapours or aerosols which develop at high temperatures, the person should be removed
from the danger zone; adequate will be necessary. Please make sure the injured person is positioned safely and
ensure medical treatment.
In case of contact with the hot product immerse the skin in cold water or rinse well with cold water to cool the
skin down. Cover with a clean cloth and seek medical help. Please do not try to remove the substance itself of
sticky clothes from the skin as you may damage the skin tissue.
Eye contact: Product is inert. If any part of it gets in your eyes, remove like other foreign matters.
Special risk due to the material, its burning substances or released gases:
If there is insufficient oxygen small amount of carbon monoxide (CO) and irritating smoke may be released.
Clean-up procedures: Collect product and dispose either as waste or for recycling.
(See sections 3, 8, 10 and 13).
Handling: Loading, unloading and transport at normal temperatures, Secure panels safely on pallets.
Storage: Store on wooden or plastic pallets. Keep dry and make sure there is no direct
or indirect (condensation) moisture.
Colour: Surface: Depending on lacquer (single shade or special effect lacquer). Core: Black.
Odour: Slight
Conditions to be avoided (instability): Temperatures above 300℃ may cause the bonding medium to
decompose.
Practical experience
Inhalation:
No health risk at normal ambient temperatures: At higher temperatures and unprotected edges, vapours and/or
aerosols may be released which may cause irritation to eyes and respiratory tract.
Skin contact:
No health risk at usual ambient temperatures. Contact with the hot product may cause burns.
Eye contact:
Contact with edges may damage the conjunctiva and cause mechanical irritation.
Material Data Safety Sheet for BCP Traffic (Page 4 of 4)
Recommendation:
Disposal according to the regulations of local authorities. Return to the supplier for recycling purposes is possible.
15. REGULATIONS
16. ADDITIONAL INDICATIONS (Please ensure the proper use of the product in every specific area.)
No guarantee is given for correctness, reliability or completeness.The user should make sure that all details
provided are suitable and complete for the specific purpose.
Test Report
Authority & date BSI Quotation Acceptance number 0000237337 dated 24 December 2009
Conditions of issue This Test Report is issued subject to the conditions stated in the current issue of CP0322
'Conditions of Contract for Testing'. The results contained herein apply only to the particular
sample/s tested and to the specific tests carried out, as detailed in this Test Report. The issuing of
this Test Report does not indicate any measure of Approval, Certification, Supervision, Control or
Surveillance by BSI of any product. No extract, abridgement or abstraction from a Test Report
may be published or used to advertise a product without the written consent of the General
Manager, BSI Testing Services, who reserves the absolute right to agree or reject all or any of the
details of any items or publicity for which consent may be sought.
BSI Maylands Avenue Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP2 4SQ Telephone: 0845 765600
Report No 2381/7474185/2 of 2
Page 2 of 7
INTRODUCTION
At the request of Blackburns Metals Ltd., the composite panels detailed below, were tested
following the method described in BS EN ISO 9227:2006, as indicated on the following pages of
this Test Report. This request was made on a BSI Quotation Acceptance No BSI 0000237337.
It is emphasized that assessments were not made against the clauses of the Specification.
The testing detailed in this Test Report were undertaken at BSI Industrial Engineering Laboratory
from 04 January 2010.
TEST ITEM
Samples identified 5 to 6
Report No 2381/7474185/2 of 2
Page 3 of 7
CLAUSE ASSESSMENT
NSS test
6. TEST SPECIMENS
6.1 2 test specimens were selected by the manufacturer. The
samples were approximately 150 mm x 150 mm x 3.5 mm.
7.1 The test specimens were placed in the cabinet so that they were
not in the direct line of travel of the spray from the atomizer.
7.3 The samples were arranged so that they did not come into
contact with the cabinet and so the surfaces to be tested were
exposed to a free circulation of spray.
8 OPERATING CONDITIONS
Page 4 of 7
EXAMINATION AND TEST (CONTINUED)
CLAUSE ASSESSMENT
9 DURATION OF TESTS
9.2 The cabinet was opened for brief visual inspections only.
9.4 The surfaces under test were not disturbed during interim
inspections. The period for which the cabinet was open was the
minimum necessary to observe and record any visible changes.
At the end of the test period, the samples were removed from
the cabinet and allowed to dry for 1h before rinsing. Residues of
spray were removed by rinsing the samples in clean running
water at a temperature not exceeding 40°C and then dried
immediately in a stream of air at a pressure of 200 kPa and at a
distance of approximately 300 mm.
Report No 2381/7474185/2 of 2
Page 5 of 7
EXAMINATION AND TEST (CONTINUED)
CLAUSE ASSESSMENT
e) Change in mass
Not assessed. -
Not assessed. -
12 TEST REPORT
Page 6 of 7
ANNEX 1
Page 7 of 7
ANNEX 2
Tests conducted to date with Blackburns Composite Panel, Kiwalite Retroreflective sheeting’s
Overlay Films and Non Reflective Films.
BCP with Kiwalite Prismatic Sheeting and Prismatic Sheeting with Overlay Film meet the relevant
requirements of BS8408:2005 and once again have been placed on natural weathering racks as above with no
visible defects to date. Upon completion further reports will be available.
Best Regards,
Phil Armstrong
Managing Director
Directors:
P.J. Armstrong
M.R.J. Armstrong
BSI CERT NO. FM 69512 Registered Office – 20/21 Clinton Place BN25 1NP CERT NO. RO34536
3M United Kingdom PLC Traffic Safety Systems Telephone: 01344 858018
3M Centre Facsimile: 01344 857920
Cain Road, Bracknell pbatchelor@mmm.com
Berkshire RG12 8HT
19 Apr 2010
Guy Hammond
Blackburn Metals limited
Birmingham New Road
Tipton
West Midlands
DY4 9AG
Dear Guy,
Blackburn Metals has shared with 3M the results from their own testing and of
independent testing to demonstrate the robustness of their Aluminium composite material
and its suitability for use on road traffic signs. Samples have been submitted to 3M so that
basic adhesion tests could be undertaken.
Our investigations show good levels of adhesion are maintained after aging and found no
evidence of incompatibility between BCP Traffic and 3M Reflective sheetings in
accelerated heat aging.
Yours sincerely
Pippa Batchelor
3M D&G Technical Supervisor
Traffic Safety Systems
Registered in England at 3M Centre, Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 8HT Reg. No. 1123045
Sign made from BCP... Sign made from Aluminium...