CURB MARKING
There are many ways in which a curb can and should be marked. Some of these purposes are to prevent cars from backing into a sidewalk or building. Another common purpose is to alert pedestrians of where the drop off in an edge is during low light conditions. Ultimately the purpose is to add visibility to an angled portion of pavement.
Below are a few examples of uses of Curb Marking:
Sidewalk identification
Fire Lane Marking
Special Circumstances
Sidewalk Identification
The purpose of painting a curb in a bright yellow traffic paint is to make that drivers and pedestrians alike have awareness of where the curb is.
For drivers, knowing where the curb is prevents incidental damage from running into the curb or more importantly: not running into a building! High visibility traffic paint can be seen in both daytime and nighttime driving conditions. Curb paint will typically have the riser portion wear out faster due to cars’ tires impacting the surface. As a result, we recommend repainting curbs every time the parking lot is repainted.
For pedestrians, having the edge of the curb marked helps identify where not to step. Curbs can be between any height, typically between 3 and 9 inches and that seemingly small drop off can cause a huge impact for someone not paying attention. Especially in the Northeast Ohio winter, snow and slush can cover the ground making the exact edge unknown. Having a high visibility coating on the ground can help identify where the edge is.
Fire Lane Marking
Every State and Municipality will have a Fire Code that specifies the specific markings for Fire Lanes, especially in the Cleveland Metropolitan area where a mixture of dense urban areas blend into suburbs. Each City will have its own ordinances and requirements.
Fire Lanes typically mean marking out a combination of curbs, no parking zones and stencils, as well as any applicable signage. Colors may vary from the typical yellow traffic paint to a red color to signify a fire lane.
Ensuring compliance with local statutes is imperative to maintaining the safety and throughput of both parking lots and various access aisles for housing developments. Many municipalities require a minimum width of fire access roads and with that the appropriate zone or curb markings to prevent unnecessary parking. This is especially important during an emergency when a Fire Engine and other EMS vehicles have to get through an area unencumbered.
The best way to ensure EMS can respond in a timely manner is to ensure they have the right of way, by marking out these requirements ahead of time.
Special Circumstances
For many organizations, where and what to paint is both a matter of utility and creativity. A department store could mark out curbs to inform passengers where to park for pick-ups. A school could do similar in marking out zones for when students are dismissed for the day to expedite a massive outflow of vehicles at once.
Other examples include stenciling curbs with pertinent information, especially near water drains. This purpose is to ensure that no one dumps any waste where water flows back into streams and lakes.
All in all, curb marking plays another component in the larger layout of a parking lot or roadway surface. Especially in Northeast Ohio where the winters can lay down blankets of snow, covering the surface, having a layer of high visibility paint can make all the difference in hitting the curb and not.
