6" Wide V98 Oralite Reflective Tape - BY THE FOOT - ($5 per foot)

6" V98 By The Foot — Oralite Conformable Prismatic Reflective Tape ($5/ft)

The 6-inch V98 by-the-foot product is the cut-to-length version of Oralite's V98 conformable prismatic reflective tape — for buyers who need specific custom lengths rather than a fixed-length 30' or 150' roll. Sold at $5 per linear foot with a $10 minimum purchase, available in all seven V98 colors. Orders for more than one foot of a single color ship as a continuous roll, so a 10-foot order arrives as a single 10' length, not ten 1' pieces.

The most popular use is custom-length chevron striping on fire-apparatus rear bodies, but the by-the-foot format also fits any V98 application where a partial roll would otherwise be wasteful — touch-up sections, custom decals, short conspicuity stripes, or replacement strips on existing apparatus.

Pricing and Ordering

• $5.00 per linear foot
• $10.00 minimum purchase (2 feet minimum)
• Quantity ordered = feet of tape (Qty 1 = 1 foot, Qty 10 = 10 feet, and so on)
• Orders of more than one foot of a single color ship as a single continuous roll

Available Colors

All seven V98 colors are available by-the-foot at the same $5/ft price:

• Red — NFPA 1901 chevron lower stripe
• Fluorescent Lime — NFPA 1901 chevron upper stripe
• Fluorescent Orange — work zone, hazard, construction
• White — general conspicuity, sign backgrounds
• Blue — accessibility, hazmat, fleet branding
• School Bus Yellow — school bus body marking
• Green — emergency exit, first aid, hazmat

Specifications

• Standard: Brightness equivalent to ASTM D4956 Type 4 (high-intensity), but is not itself ASTM-typed
• Technology: Micro-cube conformable prismatic film
• Construction: Patented single-layer film — does not delaminate like multilayer reflective films tend to do over time or when impacted. Withstands power washing.
• Outdoor rating: 5 years (longer when trucks are stored indoors)
• Adhesive: Pressure-sensitive repositionable adhesive — allows reposition during initial install; bond strength builds over time. Full bond at 72 hours. Cleaner removal than typical permanent reflective films.
• Surface compatibility: Conformable to complex curves, rivets, weld lines, mild treadplate, and textured surfaces. For compound-curve surfaces (helmet domes, marine bumper balls), use the flexible-stretchable HI line.
• Brightness: Approximately 7× engineer grade; brightness class comparable to high-intensity Type 3-4
• Manufacturer: Oralite (formerly Reflexite — same company, rebranded)
• Width: 6 inches
• Sold by: the linear foot

Typical Applications

The by-the-foot format is for custom-length installs where a fixed-length roll doesn't match your need:

• Custom-length NFPA 1901 chevron stripes — order exactly the lime and red footage your apparatus committee specified, paired with our chevron starter triangles for the leading edge.
• Fire apparatus conspicuity stripes — cab side stripes, door panel stripes, equipment compartment stripes in exact lengths.
• Touch-up and replacement — replace damaged sections of existing V98 striping without buying a full roll.
• Custom shapes and decals — buy the footage you need to cut your own shapes; same material is used for our reflective shapes for diamond plate.
• Trailer side conspicuity on riveted bodies — custom lengths for fleet conversions where each unit has different stripe-length requirements.
• Hard hat brim wraps and curved equipment accents — small footage purchases for short curved sections.

Surface Prep and Installation

V98 requires a clean, dry, smooth (or moderately textured) surface:

1. Clean with isopropyl alcohol or solvent-based cleaner; remove all wax, oil, and silicone residue.
2. Dry completely; ambient temperature should be above 50°F (10°C) at the time of application.
3. Position — V98's repositionable adhesive allows lifting and repositioning during the first few minutes. Set final position before the bond builds.
4. Conform around rivets, weld lines, or treadplate by pressing the film into the surface contour with firm thumb or roller pressure. Use moderate heat from a heat gun on tight rivets if needed to help the film mold around the head.
5. Smooth with a soft cloth or squeegee from the center outward to push air toward the edges.
6. Cure — initial bond is immediate; near-final bond at 24 hours; full bond at 72 hours. Avoid washing or exposing to heavy rain for the first 24 hours after application.

Easy to cut with a sharp utility knife or shears. No edge sealing required.

For full application guidelines, see our installation page.

When to Buy By-The-Foot vs Full Roll

• By-the-foot ($5/ft) — best when you need an irregular custom length (e.g., 7 feet of red and 14 feet of lime for a specific chevron design), for touch-up and replacement work, or when a full 30' roll is more material than the project requires.
• Full 30' roll (6" V98 plain rolls) — best when you'll use 25+ feet of one color (the 30' roll typically costs less per foot than buying 30 individual feet).
• Full 150' roll (6" V98 plain rolls) — best for fleet operators or fabricators marking multiple vehicles; lowest cost per foot in the V98 family.

Durability and Outdoor Life

V98 carries a 5-year outdoor rating from Oralite:

• Typical fire-apparatus and fleet use sees 4–5 years before noticeable fade
• Outdoor life is greatly extended when trucks are parked indoors between calls
• Marine and high-salt environments may see shorter service life
• Withstands repeated power washing without lifting or delamination

Compliance and Standards

• ASTM D4956: V98 is not formally typed. Brightness performance is comparable to Type 4 (high-intensity).
• NFPA 1901 chevron: V98 Red (lower stripe) and Fluorescent Lime (upper stripe) by-the-foot is the standard combination for custom-length apparatus chevron striping applied directly to a fire-apparatus body. Confirm specific stripe-angle and coverage requirements against the current NFPA 1901 standard and your apparatus committee specification before ordering.

Related Products and Resources

• V98 Spec Sheet (PDF)
• V98 Application Instructions (PDF)
• Chevron Starter Triangles (V98)
• V98 Red full rolls (30' and 150')
• V98 Fluorescent Lime full rolls
• Full V98 Color Collection
• Reflective Shapes for Diamond Plate (same material)
• Application Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Will V98 conform to rivets, weld lines, and curves?

Yes — that's the V98 specialty. V98 molds around rivet heads, conforms across weld lines without lifting, and bends around single curves and complex curves where rigid films would tent or peel. V98 does NOT stretch to fit compound-curve surfaces (helmet domes, marine bumper balls); for those, use the flexible-stretchable HI line.

What's the difference between V82 and V98?

V98 is thicker, softer, and more conformable than V82. V98 is incredibly bright, but not as bright as V82. V82 is rated a Type 5 sheeting and can be used for traffic delineation, while V98 is used more for vehicle conspicuity.

If I order 10 feet, will I get one 10' continuous roll or ten 1' pieces?

One continuous 10-foot length. All orders of more than one foot in a single color are shipped as a single continuous roll, so you can cut to your own custom dimensions.

Why is there a $10 minimum purchase?

The $10 minimum covers the handling and shipping cost of a small order. For a single foot the minimum effectively requires ordering 2 feet ($10) or more per color.

Can I mix colors in one order?

Yes — order any combination of colors and quantities. Each color ships as its own continuous roll matching the quantity ordered for that color.

Does V98 require a primer?

No. V98's repositionable adhesive bonds to any clean, dry, smooth or moderately textured surface above 50°F. No primer is needed — just clean the surface of wax, oil, silicone, and dust.

How long does V98 take to reach full adhesive bond?

Initial bond is immediate and the film can be repositioned for the first few minutes; near-final bond at 24 hours; full bond at 72 hours. Avoid washing or exposing to heavy rain for the first 24 hours after application.