Swarco Hitex Preformed Eco (previously known as Hitex Hiflex Preformed) products comprise of high quality synthetic resins, plasticiser, performance polymers, lead/heavy metal free pigments, aggregates, fillers and glass beads (optional).

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• Ordering References
• Features & Benefits
• Compliances/Approvals
• Technical Data
• Application Details
• Suitability of the Road Surface
• Preparation of the Road Surface
• Weather Conditions
• Installation
• System Installation Procedure
• System Installation Checks by the Installer
• Maintenance and Repair
• Aftercare

Ordering References

Features & Benefits

• Low cost solution for smaller marking repair areas
• No specialist application operatives or heavy machinery required
• Non-toxic
• Heavy metal free pigments
• Fast and easy to apply – flows readily, can be trafficked after approximately 5-10 mins
• Surface beads stay suspended
• Resistant to discolouration
• Tough and durable with a long service life
• No waste
• Can be adapted to suit particular climatic or customer performance specifications

Compliances/Approvals

HiFlex meets the following International standards: BS EN 1790, BS EN 1436, BS EN 1871, AASHTO and FHWA.

BASt certification at P7 level of 4 million wheel-overs.

The management system of Hitex Traffic Safety Ltd has been assessed and registered as meeting the requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Application Details

• The installation of HiFlex preformed material shall be as stated in the Installation Method Statement, available to download from the data sheets tab above.
• HiFlex preformed material is a torch applied preformed thermoplastic, incorporating thermoplastic resins, aggregates, glass beads (where applicable) & fillers. It is used for reinstatement of road markings and for decorative applications such as logos.
• HiFlex is supplied with surface applied glass bead/grain blend embedded within the surface of the material. This is to provide initial reflectivity or skid resistance as required.

Suitability of the Road Surface

• HiFlex preformed materials are deemed suitable for use on non-porous bitumen and concrete based highway surfaces but must be used with a suitable tack-coat primer to ensure necessary adhesion to the substrate.

Preparation of the Road Surface

• The areas to which the system is to be applied shall be clearly defined by the Purchaser prior to commencement of work on-site.
• The surface that the preformed material is being applied to must be thoroughly cleaned and dried, removing all loose material, dust, grease and foreign matter. This is best achieved by using a compressed air and gas torch or equivalent in order to lightly scorch the substrate.
• All substrates shall be inspected to ensure there is not excessive wear and that it is fit for purpose. Any surface defects in the substrate should be repaired with a suitable repair product or contact Hitex/Rawlins technical department on 0113 2455450 (option 2) or send a message to [email protected] before the preformed material is applied, as the material will assume the form of whatever it is laid on top of.
• For concrete substrates, admixtures used during the construction process can lead to surface laitance and thus reduced adhesion. Any laitance present must be removed by scabbling / blasting before applying HiFlex preformed material.
• Polished or worn concrete should be treated (i.e. by blasting or scabbling) before application of tack coat primer. The more porous the surface, the more primer will be required. Once the primer is dry the HiFlex material can be laid on top and heated to ensure the strongest possible bond is formed.
• Primer should be applied in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Particular care should be taken to allow full, natural drying to take place i.e. without assistance. Apply thinly, to avoid pools or puddles of primer, as these can cause blistering and lead to early adhesion failure of any HiFlex material applied on top.
• Suitable primers include Hitex HT Adhesion Primer. Other primers may only be used after agreement with Hitex/Rawlins Technical department on 0113 2455450 (option 2) or send a message to [email protected].

Weather Conditions

• HiFlex can be applied when the ground temperature is between 5°C and 40°C, but should not be used in periods of continuous or heavy rain.
• The time period required for the repair to cure sufficiently before trafficking depends on the substrate and air temperatures, but is typically ≤ 5 minutes. Higher ambient temperatures can increase the cure time – see the installation & aftercare sections for details.

Installation

System Installation Procedure

• The application area and immediate surrounding areas must be clean, dry and free from ice, loose aggregate, oil, grease, road salt and other loose material. This is usually achieved through using a compressed air and gas torch and lightly scorching the surface in the shape and location the preformed material will be laid.
• HiFlex Preformed material is supplied ready to apply, in boxes with pieces spray glued together on the underside, incorporating surface applied glass bead/grain blend.
• When applying HiFlex preformed material it is advised to use primer in all cases to ensure that the adhesion is maximized, as uniformed heating cannot be guaranteed without the use of a purpose-built infrared heater. Primer should be applied in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Care should be taken to avoid pools or puddles of primer, as these can cause blisters, which can lead to failure of any preformed material applied on top. Also, primer should be given a full natural drying i.e. without assistance.
• HiFlex Preformed should be removed from the packaging and gently placed onto the surface.
• HiFlex is then applied using a suitable torch burner, applying gentle and even heat to the top surface of the material. The burner should be kept moving across the surface to maintain an even heating and prevent localised burning through excessive heating.
• Heat should be applied until the material can be seen to start melting and flowing onto the underlying surface. Care should be taken to ensure that all the material is sufficiently heated to allow it to be fully bonded to the substrate. Any areas that have not been heated correctly for the right amount of time will not bond.
• The bond strength should be checked after the material has fully cooled. This is carried out by trying to pry a small section of the material from the substrate, testing a few areas over the entire material. The material should not de-bond. If it does, repeat the above heating step and recheck.
• Prolonged overheating should be avoided, as it could lead to degradation of the binder component, which will adversely affect the products performance. Overheating also risks the surface applied bead/glass grain mix sinking into the material, reducing the initial skid resistance.
• The completed installation shall be allowed to cool before opening to traffic. This will vary according to the ambient and substrate temperatures but is typically approximately 5 minutes. This approximate time will increase if substrate temperatures are hotter (e.g. Summer Time).

System Installation Checks by the Installer

• The installer shall carry out a visual inspection to check the finished levels and for any discernible faults. The above adhesion tests should also be carried out. Any remedial works will be carried out prior to opening the site to traffic.

Maintenance and Repair

• In the event of damage occurring during service, the material can be repaired by removing defective area then replacing the affected preformed material with that of the same colour and pattern and following the heating, preparation and application procedure.

Aftercare

• During the setting period no disturbance or trafficking of the application area should be permitted.
• Before opening to traffic at the end of the cooling period the installation should be inspected to ensure it is safe for trafficking.