Does my vehicle need to be ECE 104 compliant?

ECE 104 legislation came into effect July 10th 2011 and concerns the fitment of Hi-Vis retro-reflective contour markings to newly registered and newly approved large goods vehicles with a mass over 7.5 tonnes and trailers with a mass over 3.5 tonnes operating in the UK.

Vehicles registered prior to this date are not legally obliged to be retrofitted but it is strongly advised for improving the safety of your workforce and other road users.

If your vehicle falls in to this catagory and has been registered on or after July 10th 2011 it will legally be required to bear ECE 104 markings.

For more details on the types of vehicles requiring ECE 104 contour markings please consult the official legislation document.

What ECE 104 markings do I need to be compliant?

ECE 104 contour markings are highly reflective Red, White and Amber tapes which serve to brightly outline Heavy Goods Vehicles for increased night-time visibility on the road.

To enable the legislation to be enforced, these tapes bear a distinctive E-Mark which assures the authorities the reflectivity of the tape meets legal requirements.

These markings effectively illuminate the outline of a vehicle at night by reflection from the headlights of other vehicles.

• The tape must be a minimum 50mm width (new build vehicles have to allow an area of 60mm).

• The tape must bear the official "E" mark.

• Rear markings must be RED or AMBER.

• Side markings must be AMBER or WHITE.

Exemptions to ECE 104

• A vehicle which is not a goods vehicle.

• Chassis cabs.

• Tractor units (ECE104 only required on rigid vehicle cab).

• Vehicles/trailers with overall width not exceeding 2.1m.

• Vehicles/trailers with overall length not exceeding 6 metres do not require side markings (vehicle length excludes the cab).

Why are there 3M™and Reflexite® reflective tapes available?

We stock two brands of ECE 104 tapes - Reflexite and 3M, each with different benefits to the user. More information on the materials can be found in our Application & Materials FAQs

• Thinner more flexible material.

• 50mm width - ideal for under-run bars

• Doesn't require edge sealing when cut

• Triangular shaped reflective cell structure

• Brighter in appearance in daylight hours

• 55mm width

• Rigid material for ease of application

• Diamond shaped reflective cell structure

What to expect from our Hi-Vis ECE 104 Tapes?

Here's a few reasons why national fleet managers and signwriters up and down the country choose to order conspicuity markings from us:

• Easy to apply: Our ECE 104 tapes will save you lots of time, trouble and money. Visit our Application & Materials FAQs for detailed fitting instructions and you cant go wrong.

• Easy to handle: To save you time and money our tapes are available to buy per metre or  buy per 50 metre roll.and include tapes to fit ridged and curtain sided vehicles  .

• Built to last: You'll find only the best 3M™ and Reflexite ECE 104 compliant tapes. Stay compliant and smart with Stewart Signs Hi-Vis, or source something cheap that often doesnt meet requirements and will quickly start to fail.

• A great deal: Our tapes are competitively priced and demonstrably better value - dont be fooled by cheap immitations which may look the part but dont comply with the legilation. Always keep an eye open for our frequent special offers, and we offer special loyalty incentives for our growing base of  regular trade and high volume users.

• Reliable: We've been around a long time (est: 1963) and we're here to stay. We'll be there to support you when you need us, a promise backed by our satisfaction guarantee.

• Easy to order: To avoid costly errors and delays, this website is designed to make it easy for you to quickly and independently source the correct tapes for your vehicles. We'd love to hear any ideas from you as to how we can make life even easier for our you and the rest of our clients!

• Easy to deal with: You can order online or by phone. Our Hi-Vis helpdesk is there to give you advice and support Mon-Fri 9:30am - 5pm 02380 254 781 or send us an email.