AS/NZS 1906.4 durability testing is designed to show whether reflective tape can maintain its performance after exposure to the conditions it is likely to face in real-world use. Reflective tape is not assessed on brightness alone. It must demonstrate that it can continue to reflect light, retain its colour, and remain physically intact after tests involving UV exposure, washing, abrasion, heat, and flexing.
This guide explains what AS/NZS 1906.4 durability testing actually covers, which tests apply to which tape class, and how to read a test report so you can check whether a reflective tape has been tested for the conditions it will face.
Why Durability Testing Exists
A brand-new roll of reflective tape can look perfect under a torch in a showroom and still fail on-site within months. Sun exposure breaks down materials over time. Washing strips adhesive and dulls retroreflective beads.
Rubbing against tools, machinery, and seatbelts wears surfaces thin. A tape that passes an initial luminance test tells you it works on day one. Durability testing is what tells you it will still work after the conditions a garment or vehicle actually faces.
How AS/NZS 1906.4 Tests Different Reflective Materials
It is easy to assume AS/NZS 1906.4 uses a single “durability test” for reflective tape. It does not. The standard assesses different materials in different ways because they can fail in different ways.
Retroreflective Material: Retaining CIL
Retroreflective tape is assessed on how well it continues to reflect light back towards its source after exposure to various stresses. This is measured through CIL (Coefficient of Luminous Intensity), the technical measurement behind what is commonly described as retroreflectivity or “brightness under headlights.”
After testing, the key question is:
How much of the tape’s original retroreflective performance remains?
The tape may be exposed to conditions such as washing, abrasion, sunlight, heat, or flexing before its CIL is measured again.
Fluorescent Material: Retaining Colour
Fluorescent background material, such as bright orange, yellow, or lime fabric, is assessed differently. Instead of measuring retroreflectivity, colourfastness testing checks whether the material can retain its colour after exposure to factors such as:
- Light
- Washing
- Perspiration
This is important because fluorescent material provides daytime visibility, while retroreflective material is designed to improve visibility when illuminated by a light source, such as vehicle headlights.
Which Tests Apply to Each Class?
The two testing suites do not apply equally to every class of tape:
| Tape Class | Retroreflectivity Durability | Colourfastness |
| Class R | Yes | No |
| Class RF | Yes | Yes |
| Class SP | Yes | Yes |
- Class R tape is retroreflective only, so it is assessed against Section 3, which covers photometric performance and durability of the retroreflective material.
- Class RF tape combines retroreflective and fluorescent properties. It must meet Section 3 requirements for retroreflective performance and durability, as well as the relevant Section 2 requirements for the fluorescent component, including chromaticity, luminance and colourfastness/durability.
- Class SP tape is classified as separate-performance retroreflective/fluorescent material. Like Class RF, it must meet the applicable Section 3 requirements for the retroreflective component and Section 2 requirements for the fluorescent component.
[Source: https://awtaproducttesting.com.au/app/uploads/2025/09/AS-1906.4-Hi-Vis-garments-TIS.pdf]
A retroreflectivity result and a colourfastness result measure different aspects of performance. They are not interchangeable. For Class RF or SP tape, a supplier providing only a retroreflectivity result does not necessarily provide the complete picture of the material’s tested performance.
How Retroreflective Tape Is Stress-Tested
For the tape itself, AS/NZS 1906.4 uses a series of environmental and physical exposures before measuring retroreflectivity again. The aim is to determine how much of the tape’s original performance remains after simulated real-world use.
UV and Weathering Exposure
The tape is exposed to specified light and weathering conditions before CIL is measured again. This is particularly relevant to tape used on vehicles, signage, and workwear that may spend long periods outdoors.
Washing
The tape is put through a defined number of wash and dry cycles, and then CIL is re-measured. This provides an important durability check for reflective tape used on garments that are regularly washed and maintained in the field.
Abrasion
The tape’s surface is subjected to physical rubbing to simulate everyday wear from movement, tools, seatbelts, and general handling. CIL is then measured to determine how much performance has been retained.
Raised Temperature
The tape is exposed to elevated temperatures before being retested. This is relevant to tape used on vehicle exteriors, dark-coloured garments, and applications exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods.
Flex Cracking
The tape is repeatedly flexed to check whether its reflective surface cracks, separates, or delaminates under repeated movement. This is particularly relevant to reflective tape used on garments that bend and move throughout a working shift.
Cold Cracking
Cold cracking testing applies the same principle under low temperatures. The tape is checked to ensure it does not become brittle and crack when exposed to colder conditions.
Rainfall Performance
For tape where viewing angle affects performance, an additional rainfall performance test checks whether retroreflectivity is maintained when the material is wet, rather than only under dry conditions.
After each relevant test, CIL is compared against the tape’s original, unstressed performance. The requirement is not necessarily for the tape to look completely unchanged after every exposure. Instead, it must retain retroreflective performance at or above the minimum level specified by AS/NZS 1906.4.
How Fluorescent Background Material Is Tested for Colourfastness
For Class RF or Class SP tape that includes a fluorescent background, the fluorescent component is tested separately. Instead of measuring retroreflectivity, colourfastness testing checks whether the material can maintain its colour after exposure to common conditions.
Colourfastness to Light
The fluorescent material is exposed to simulated light conditions and then assessed for colour change or fading. This helps determine whether the bright fluorescent colour can remain stable during prolonged exposure to light.
Colourfastness to Washing
The material is washed under defined conditions and then checked for colour change or bleeding. This is particularly important for high-visibility garments that are regularly laundered and returned to service.
Colourfastness to Perspiration
The material is exposed to both acidic and alkaline conditions designed to simulate perspiration before being assessed for colour change.
This is especially relevant to garments worn against the body during long shifts, where repeated exposure to perspiration can affect the fluorescent material.
Fluorescent material provides daytime visibility, so maintaining its colour is an important part of its performance. These tests fall within the broader category of textile colourfastness testing but are applied specifically to the fluorescent materials used in high-visibility products.
How Many Wash Cycles Does Reflective Tape Need to Pass?
The standard baseline for wash durability is 5 wash/dry cycles. This is the minimum a compliant tape must withstand under AS/NZS 1906.4.
Manufacturers can also undertake extended wash testing to demonstrate performance beyond this baseline. It is optional, not a separate compliance tier. A tape that meets the 5-cycle requirement is still fully compliant.
For buyers, the distinction matters. If two products both meet AS/NZS 1906.4 but one has an extended wash-cycle result, that result provides additional evidence of durability under heavier laundering, not evidence that the other product is non-compliant.
How Often Does AS/NZS 1906.4 Testing Need to Be Repeated?
AS/NZS 1906.4 sets out the tests a tape must pass and the conditions those tests simulate, such as 5 wash/dry cycles for the baseline wash test. It does not require every batch of tape to be re-tested through the full durability suite on an ongoing basis once a product has passed.
In practice, testing is generally repeated when something about the product changes, such as a new tape formulation, a change of manufacturer, or a change to the adhesive or base film.
Buyers who want current evidence of compliance should ask when the test report they’ve been given was issued and whether it still reflects the product currently being supplied, rather than assuming a compliance claim made years ago still applies unchanged today.
Who Actually Runs These Tests
AS/NZS 1906.4 testing is carried out by materials test houses using the specific test methods and clauses set out in the standard. Where a lab holds accreditation for the relevant test methods, that accreditation gives buyers a documented, independently verified basis for a compliance claim.
When assessing a supplier’s compliance claims, it’s reasonable to ask:
- Who conducted the testing, and what accreditation, if any, they hold for the relevant methods
- Whether the test report covers the tape’s retroreflectivity durability suite, the fluorescent colourfastness suite, or both, depending on the tape class
- Whether results are reported against the baseline 5 wash/dry cycle requirement, an extended wash claim, or both
A supplier should be able to produce a test report on request, not just a compliance statement on a label or invoice.
What Do the Test Results Mean for Buyers?
Passing AS/NZS 1906.4 durability testing means the tape has demonstrated the required performance after specific testing. It does not mean it will remain like-new for the entire life of a garment. UV exposure, washing, and abrasion can gradually reduce reflective performance over time, making regular inspection and eventual replacement important.
When comparing reflective tapes, look beyond the compliance claim. Check which tests the product has passed, which components they cover, and whether extended durability results are available.
A fluorescent colourfastness result does not demonstrate retroreflective durability, and vice versa. The best buying decision is one based on documented test performance, not just a standard number on a label.
Need reflective tape for safety garments? Ask Reflective Fabrications about the material’s AS/NZS 1906.4 classification, test coverage and available compliance documentation. For a broader guide to checking reflective tape compliance, see our AS/NZS 1906.4 explained.
Tel: 1300 241 855 
34 Murdock Street, South Clayton VIC 3169, Australia 
