The Contractor’s Core Responsibilities
1. Understand the Contracted Scope
Before mobilizing, determine exactly what the customer expects. Identify
the areas being marked, the required colors, line widths, stall sizes,
symbols, curbs, fire lanes, loading zones, directional arrows, traffic
controls, quantities, material specifications, surface-preparation
requirements, and acceptance criteria.
Do not assume that a sketch, an old layout, or a customer’s verbal
instruction is correct. When the plans, written specifications, site
conditions, and verbal instructions disagree, stop and request written
clarification.
2. Identify the Governing Requirements
The governing requirements depend on the property, jurisdiction, project
documents, and intended use. They may include federal guidance, state
transportation requirements, municipal ordinances, accessibility
standards, fire codes, owner specifications, manufacturer instructions,
or project-specific drawings.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices provides national
requirements for traffic-control devices on streets, highways, and
applicable facilities open to public travel. It should not be treated as
a universal parking-lot design manual. The contractor must determine
whether the MUTCD, a state supplement, a local standard, or another
specification applies to the actual project.
3. Evaluate the Existing Site
Inspect the project before pricing or scheduling whenever possible.
Determine whether the surface is asphalt, concrete, sealcoat, previously
coated pavement, or another material. Look for contamination, loose
aggregate, curing compounds, deteriorated sealcoat, standing water,
moisture, cracks, spalling, old markings, incompatible coatings, and
traffic damage.
Record anything that could affect adhesion, appearance, production, or
warranty responsibility. Photographs taken before mobilization can
prevent disagreements about damage or conditions that existed before the
contractor arrived.
4. Verify the Layout
Verify control points, dimensions, traffic direction, drive lanes,
accessible parking locations, access aisles, pedestrian routes, loading
areas, fire lanes, curb markings, and transitions before striping.
Existing markings should not automatically be used as the new layout.
Repainting a previous error does not make it correct.
When the contractor is not responsible for design, the agreement should
identify who supplied and approved the layout. When the contractor
provides layout services, the scope should clearly state the standards,
drawings, assumptions, and approvals on which the layout is based.
5. Select a Compatible Marking System
Material selection must account for the substrate, existing markings,
traffic level, environmental conditions, required dry time, application
equipment, color, reflectivity, durability, and project specification.
A coating that performs well on one surface or in one climate may fail
quickly somewhere else.
Review the current technical data sheet and safety data sheet before
purchasing or applying the material. Confirm permitted substrates,
required preparation, recommended tip sizes, application temperature,
pavement-temperature limitations, wet-film thickness, coverage,
drying time, recoat limitations, storage requirements, and cleanup
procedures.
6. Protect the Crew and the Public
A striping crew often works near moving vehicles, pedestrians, hot
pavement, operating machinery, pressurized equipment, and active
businesses. The contractor must plan how the work area will be isolated
and how people will be kept away from wet markings and operating
equipment.
The traffic-control plan may require signs, cones, drums, barricades,
spotters, high-visibility garments, lighting, or temporary routing.
The appropriate controls depend on the site and the governing authority.
Cones alone are not automatically an adequate work-zone plan.
7. Control the Application
Professional application requires control of line width, alignment,
thickness, coverage, spray-pattern quality, edge definition, color,
bead distribution when specified, and start-and-stop points. The crew
must also monitor material condition, pressure, tip wear, filters,
machine tracking, gun height, surface temperature, wind, moisture,
drying, and traffic release.
A worn spray tip can widen the pattern and increase material use. Low
pressure can produce poor atomization and ragged edges. Excessive
pressure can increase wear, overspray, and waste. Equipment settings
should be established through testing rather than habit or guesswork.
8. Inspect and Document the Work
Final inspection should occur before the crew leaves. Check the layout,
dimensions, line width, coverage, color, symbols, accessible markings,
overspray, tracking, missed areas, wet paint, cleanup, and traffic
release. Record the material, batch or lot numbers when appropriate,
quantities, weather, pavement temperature, crew, equipment, application
date, photographs, changes, customer approvals, and unresolved
conditions.
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