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IS 136:1996 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for ready mixed paint, brushing, road marking - specification. This standard prescribes the requirements and methods of sampling and testing for ready-mixed brushing paint used for road markings. It is used by highway and traffic engineers for marking curbs, traffic islands, parking bays, and temporary delineations.
Specifies requirements and methods of test for ready mixed, brushing type paint for road marking.
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Transportation — Painting, Coatings and Surface Finishing
! For main carriageway traffic lines, thermoplastic markings have largely replaced this brushing paint due to higher durability and retro-reflectivity requirements.
! Ensure the road or curb surface is completely dry, free from dust, grease, and loose particles before application to prevent peeling.
! This paint is not recommended for application over existing thermoplastic or incompatible solvent-based markings.
AASHTO M 248-18AASHTO - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (USA)
HighCurrent
Standard Specification for Ready-Mixed White and Yellow Traffic Paints
Specifies solvent-borne, ready-mixed traffic paints with similar compositional and physical property requirements.
BS 6044:1987BSI - British Standards Institution (UK)
HighWithdrawn
Specification for pavement marking paints
A historical direct equivalent specifying properties for solvent-based road marking paints.
BS EN 1436:2018CEN - European Committee for Standardization (Europe), published by BSI in the UK
MediumCurrent
Road marking materials - Road marking performance for road users
Covers the same application but specifies on-road performance (retroreflection, durability) rather than paint composition.
TT-P-1952FU.S. General Services Administration (USA)
LowCurrent
Paint, Traffic and Airfield Marking, Waterborne
A US federal specification for traffic paint, but focuses on modern waterborne formulations, not solvent-based ones like IS 136.
Key Differences
≠IS 136 is a prescriptive, composition-based standard, whereas modern equivalents like EN 1436 are performance-based, specifying on-road results (e.g., retroreflectivity, skid resistance, wear) regardless of paint chemistry.
≠The Indian standard is based on traditional solvent-borne technology with high VOCs. Most current international standards have shifted focus to environmentally friendlier waterborne or high-solids paints.
≠IS 136 specifies daylight reflectance (luminance) but lacks detailed requirements for night-time retroreflectivity (RL), a critical safety parameter that is extensively defined in standards like AASHTO M 248 and EN 1436.
≠Durability in IS 136 is assessed through basic lab tests like flexibility and adhesion, while modern standards mandate more realistic testing, including road trials or simulated wear tests to predict service life.
Key Similarities
≈All standards share the fundamental purpose of specifying a ready-mixed paint for creating visible and durable markings on road surfaces for traffic control.
≈Core physical properties such as drying time (no pick-up), consistency (viscosity), and storage stability are specified in both IS 136 and its international counterparts like AASHTO M 248.
≈All standards provide specifications for the color of the paint, typically white and yellow, defined by chromaticity coordinates or comparison to a reference standard to ensure uniformity.
≈They all cover materials intended for application as a liquid film, which then dries or cures to form the final marking.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Drying Time (No Pick-up)
Max 15 minutes
Max 30 minutes at 23°C (for Type S)
AASHTO M 248-18
Consistency (Viscosity)
85 to 110 Krebs Units (KU)
75 to 95 Krebs Units (KU)
AASHTO M 248-18
Daylight Reflectance (White Paint)
Min 75% (Luminance Factor Y)
Min 84% (Daylight directional reflectance)
AASHTO M 248-18
Fineness of Grind
Not less than 5 (Hegman Scale)
Minimum of 3 (Hegman Scale)
AASHTO M 248-18
Bleed Resistance
Shall show no bleeding
No discoloration of the traffic paint film shall occur
AASHTO M 248-18
Weight per 10 Litres
Min 14.5 kg
Not specified as a minimum; density is reported (typically ~14 kg per 10L)
AASHTO M 248-18
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
It is intended for manual brushing application on curbs, speed breakers, traffic islands, and minor marking works where machinery isn't viable.
What testing standard is used alongside this code?+
The IS 101 series (Methods of sampling and test for ready mixed paints and enamels) is extensively used for the actual testing procedures.
Does this standard cover spray-applied road marking paint?+
No, this is specifically for brushing application. Other methods like spraying or hot-applied thermoplastic materials are covered under different specifications (like IS 164 or MoRTH specs).