1", 2", 3", 4", 6", 24" RED Oralite V82 Type 5 Prismatic Reflective Tape

Red V82 — Oralite Type 5 Metallized Prismatic Reflective Tape

Red Oralite V82 is the red color of the Type 5 ultra-bright metallized prismatic reflective tape line — the brightest red reflective film in the Oralite (formerly Reflexite) catalog. Used by fire departments, EMS fleets, school bus operators, trailer fabricators (DOT C2 conspicuity), and any operation that needs the brightest possible red marking on flat surfaces.

Available in twelve roll combinations — six widths (1", 2", 3", 4", 6", 24") in two lengths each.

Pricing

Specifications

• Standard: ASTM D4956 Type 5
• Technology: Micro-cube prismatic with metallized back
• Construction: Single-layer film — does not delaminate like multilayer reflective films tend to do over time or when impacted
• Outdoor rating: 10 years
• Adhesive: Pressure-sensitive, aggressive permanent adhesive — peel and stick, no primer required on smooth clean surfaces
• Surface compatibility: Smooth flat surfaces and single-curve cylindrical surfaces (pipes, bollards, smooth poles, traffic cone bodies). Not suitable for compound-curve surfaces (helmet domes, marine bumper balls, sports equipment). On surfaces with rivets, V82 can be installed by punching a hole in the film at each rivet location so the material lays flat around the rivet head — a standard installer technique. For an unbroken finish that conforms over rivets without punching, use V98 conformable or flexible-stretchable HI.
• Brightness: Approximately 10× engineer grade and 3× high-intensity Type 3
• Manufacturer: Oralite (formerly Reflexite — same company, rebranded)
• Color: Red (deep saturated red with high nighttime brightness; standard color for NFPA 1901 chevron lower stripe and DOT C2 trailer conspicuity red bands)

Typical Applications

V82 Red is the go-to choice when you need maximum brightness on flat-panel applications:

• Fire and emergency apparatus chevron panels — the lower half of NFPA 1901 rear chevron panels is typically red. V82 Red on flat aluminum chevron panel substrate delivers the brightest nighttime visibility available.
• Trailer DOT C2 conspicuity — the red portion of the alternating red/white DOT C2 trailer striping pattern. For the pre-striped DOT C2 product, see our V82 DOT 10-year product.
• Fire and EMS vehicle marking — cab side stripes, door panel marking, equipment compartment stripes.
• Hazard and no-entry marking — gate fronts, emergency stop indicators, fire-equipment area marking.
• Loading dock striping (red zones) — anywhere a red high-brightness conspicuity stripe is needed on flat or single-curve surfaces.

Surface Prep and Installation

V82 requires a clean, dry, smooth surface to achieve full adhesion:

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. Apply with the release liner peeled back progressively, smoothing with a soft cloth or squeegee from the center outward to push air toward the edges.
4. Press firmly. V82's aggressive adhesive reaches near-final bond strength at 24 hours and full bond at 72 hours.
5. V82 is a thin film, but does not stretch. It will wrap around a simple curved surface like a bollard or PVC pipe, but it will not stretch to conform to compound curves. For compound curves, use a conformable film (see V98 below). For surfaces with rivets, V82 can be installed by punching holes around the rivet heads, or step up to V98 for an unbroken finish.

For full application guidelines, see our installation page.

Which V82 Color to Pick

V82 is available in our catalog in seven colors:

• Standard Yellow — fleet conspicuity, channelizers, fire-apparatus side stripes, general high-visibility yellow marking
• School Bus Yellow — formulated for school bus bodywork; brighter and more saturated than standard yellow
• Red (this product) — emergency apparatus chevron lower stripe (NFPA 1901), tractor-trailer DOT C2 red bands
• Orange — work zone, hazard marking, equipment conspicuity
• Blue — accessibility marking, hazmat indication, fleet branding
• Green — emergency exit, first aid, hazmat, fleet branding
• White — general conspicuity, sign backgrounds, DOT C2 white portion

V82 vs Other Reflective Films

Choosing between V82 and another film comes down to two questions: how bright do you need it, and how flat is the surface?

• V82 vs V98 (conformable) — V98 is conformable and molds to rivets and curves. V82 is brighter but rigid. For a fire-apparatus chevron panel built on flat aluminum, V82 gives maximum brightness. For a marked hard-hat brim or a riveted truck door, V98 conforms.
• V82 vs V92 Daybright — V92 has fluorescent daytime color tuning (especially in orange). V82 is brighter at night but doesn't fluoresce. Pick V92 for dawn/dusk daytime conspicuity; pick V82 for maximum headlight-distance nighttime brightness.
• V82 vs 3M Diamond Grade — both are top-tier prismatic. 3M Diamond Grade has wider observation angle (better off-axis visibility for overhead signs). V82 is brighter on-axis (better at long focused viewing distance).
• V82 vs High Intensity (Type 3) — V82 is approximately 3× brighter. Pick V82 when budget allows and maximum brightness matters; pick HI when cost is the primary driver.
• V82 vs Engineer Grade (Type 1) — V82 is approximately 10× brighter. Engineer Grade is for non-critical marking; V82 is for safety-critical conspicuity.

For a full reflective material comparison, see our FAQ.

Durability and Outdoor Life

V82 carries a 10-year manufacturer outdoor rating from Oralite. In real-world fleet use:

• Vehicles parked outdoors with direct sun typically see 8–10 years of effective conspicuity before noticeable fade.
• Marine and high-salt environments may see service life closer to 6–8 years.
• Shaded or indoor applications can exceed 10 years.

Color stability is strong — metallized prismatic films do not yellow or chalk the way some glass bead films can after long UV exposure.

Compliance and Standards

• ASTM D4956 — Type 5 metallized prismatic
• MUTCD — allowed for many sign sheeting applications where Type 5 is specified
• FMCSA 49 CFR 393.11 (DOT C2) — supported in the red/white striped DOT product variant

Related Products and Resources

• V82 Type 5 Spec Sheet (PDF)
• V82 Standard Yellow
• Full V82 Color Collection
• V98 Conformable Prismatic (for curved/riveted surfaces)
• Application Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Will V82 conform to rivets or curves?

V82 works on flat surfaces and on single-curve cylindrical shapes — pipes, bollards, smooth poles, and the bodies of traffic cones. V82 does NOT conform to compound-curve surfaces like helmet domes, marine bumper balls, or sports equipment. On surfaces with rivets, V82 can still be installed by punching a hole in the film at each rivet location so the film lays flat around the rivet head — this is a standard installer technique. For an unbroken finish that conforms over rivets without punching, use V98 conformable prismatic or the flexible-stretchable HI line.

Can I use V82 on a hard hat?

The flat front and side panels of a hard hat work fine with V82. The brim and any compound-curve sections (where the surface flares or rounds in two directions at once) need a conformable film — see V98 or our pre-cut hard hat kits that use the appropriate film for each section.

Is V82 Red the correct material for the lower half of an NFPA 1901 chevron panel?

Yes. Red is the standard color for the lower half of the NFPA 1901 rear chevron pattern (typically paired with yellow or lime for the upper half). V82 Red is one of the brightest red prismatic films available, making it well-suited for chevron panels mounted on flat aluminum substrates. Confirm specific chevron stripe-angle and coverage requirements against the current NFPA 1901 standard and your apparatus committee specification before ordering.

Does V82 require a primer?

No. V82's pressure-sensitive adhesive bonds directly to any clean, dry, smooth surface above 50°F. No primer is needed — just make sure the surface is free of wax, oil, silicone, and dust before applying.

How long does V82 take to reach full adhesive bond?

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.