Glass Beads for Road Marking: EN 1424 vs. AASHTO M247 vs. AS/NZS Standards

Quick answer: EN 1424, AASHTO M247 and AS/NZS road marking beads are not interchangeable grades. They are three specification families with different particle size distributions, different regional acceptance rules and different documentation expectations. The correct sequence is to select the family named in the project tender first, then match the specific sieve range to the marking system. In Europe, EN 1423:2012 is the harmonized standard covering glass beads and antiskid aggregates used as drop-on materials for road markings, according to CEN. In the United States, AASHTO M247 is the standard specification for glass beads used in traffic paints and requires at least 70% roundness, according to AASHTO. Australian and New Zealand projects are typically written around AS/NZS gradations such as Type B, Type C and Type D.

This guide is written for importers, road marking contractors, traffic safety manufacturers, procurement managers and engineers evaluating reflective glass beads for road marking. It compares the gradations Dylan Technology supplies under each of the three families, explains where the particle size distributions actually diverge, and gives a step-by-step sequence for matching a grade to a project before a purchase order is raised.

LangFang Dylan Technology Co., Ltd. (Dylan Technology) is a glass bead manufacturer founded in 2004, operating four production bases in Liaoning, Shanxi, Hebei and Henan provinces in China, with more than 15 glass bead production lines and an annual output of 100,000 tons. Its road marking range covers European, U.S., British, Canadian and Australasian gradations, and its products are exported to the United States, Europe, Brazil, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most Southeast Asian markets.

The Problem: One Product Name, Three Gradations, No Room for a Mismatch

In tender documents, all three families collapse into the same two words: glass beads. A specification written for a U.S. state project will name AASHTO M247 Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 or Type 4. A specification written for a European motorway will reference the EN family. A specification written in New South Wales or Auckland will reference an AS/NZS type. On a datasheet the chemistry looks similar; the sieve range does not.

The failure modes are predictable, and all three appear at the acceptance test rather than at the factory gate:

• Grade mismatch to the marking system. A gradation sized for one marking system will not behave identically when it is dropped onto a different one, yet the product is still called glass beads in both cases.
• Wrong band for the drop-on equipment. Drop-on applicators are set for a specific particle band. A coarser or finer bead changes embedment depth and therefore retroreflectivity.
• Documentation that does not answer the clause. Certificates and test reports issued against one family do not automatically satisfy a clause that names another family or type.

None of these are manufacturing defects. They are specification errors, and they are expensive because the material is already on the road when the error becomes visible. The rest of this article is structured to prevent that outcome.

Industry Background: Why Standards Alignment Now Decides Who Wins the Order

The road marking glass bead market is large enough to sustain three parallel specification systems. Dataintelo values the global road marking glass beads market at approximately USD 1.42 billion in 2025 and projects USD 2.31 billion by 2034. The same analysis places Asia Pacific at a 38.7% revenue share in 2025, driven by large highway expansion programs.

Supply is concentrated. OEC data indicates that China accounted for approximately 57.4% of global glass bead exports in 2024, with total export value of roughly USD 928 million and the UAE and India among the leading destinations. Dataintelo and Mordor Intelligence identify Potters Industries LLC, Swarco AG and 3M Company as the top three global leaders in the glass beads for road marking sector.

Two consequences follow for buyers. First, most projects are supplied from a global rather than a purely local bead pool, so a supplier's ability to grade accurately to more than one standard family is a genuine selection criterion rather than a marketing detail. Second, standards alignment has become a differentiator: a supplier that serves only one specification family will lose or delay cross-border orders, while a supplier that can hold tight gradation windows across several families absorbs that risk on the buyer's behalf.

Product trends add further pressure. High refractive index glass beads (RI 1.9 and above) are increasingly used in "all weather" markings to improve visibility in wet night conditions, according to Swarco and Mordor Intelligence. Dylan Technology's own road marking catalogue includes RI 1.6 and RI 1.7 models graded at 1000–180 μm and 1180–180 μm respectively, and the wider range is supplied across 0.5 mm to 20 mm overall with custom color and size available.

The Three Specification Families and the Gradations Behind Them

Before comparing types, it helps to see what each family actually looks like in a supplier catalogue. The models below are Dylan Technology's production grades aligned to each family, expressed as sieve ranges.

The European family: EN 1424 and EN 1423 grades

EN 1423:2012 is the European harmonized standard for glass beads and antiskid aggregates used as drop-on materials for road markings, according to CEN. In Dylan Technology's range, the European family is represented by two product models. The EN1424 model is supplied at a 1400–355 μm gradation. The EN1423 model is supplied in two variants, graded at 850–180 μm and 710–125 μm. All three are produced from recycled glass and classified for road marking and road safety applications.

The practical point for buyers is that the European family is not one sieve range. A tender that names an EN grade is asking for a specific band, and that band has to be confirmed in writing before the order goes into production.

AASHTO M247: a four-type system for the United States

AASHTO M247 is the standard specification for glass beads used in traffic paints in the United States. It classifies beads into types and requires at least 70% roundness, according to AASHTO. Dylan Technology's catalogue maps onto that structure with four models:

• GLASS BEADS AASHTO M247-TYPE 1 — 1180–150 μm
• GLASS BEADS AASHTO M247-TYPE 2 — 1180–180 μm
• GLASS BEADS AASHTO M247-TYPE 3 — 1700–710 μm
• GLASS BEADS AASHTO M247-TYPE 4 — 2000–850 μm

Type 1 and Type 2 sit close together; the difference is the fine cut, 150 μm versus 180 μm. Type 3 and Type 4 shift decisively coarser. The roundness requirement is the second half of the specification, and it is the reason roundness control — not only sizing — has to be verified at the plant rather than inferred from a sieve analysis.

AS/NZS Type B, Type C and Type D

Australasian projects are typically written around AS/NZS gradations. Dylan Technology supplies three models in this family, all produced from recycled glass and classified for road marking and road safety applications:

• AS/NZS TYPE B — 850–75 μm
• AS/NZS TYPE C — 1300–425 μm
• AS/NZS TYPE D — 1700–710 μm

All three are available with custom color and size, and all three fall inside the 0.5 mm to 20 mm overall size range of the product line.

Particle Size Distribution: Where the Three Families Actually Diverge

Put the ranges side by side and the structure of the three families becomes visible. The finest band in this comparison is AS/NZS Type B at 850–75 μm, which reaches further down the sieve stack than AASHTO M247 Type 1 at 1180–150 μm or the 850–180 μm EN1423 variant. The coarsest bands are AS/NZS Type D and AASHTO M247 Type 3, both listed at 1700–710 μm in Dylan Technology's range. AS/NZS Type C at 1300–425 μm and AASHTO M247 Type 4 at 2000–850 μm sit between them at different points.

Two practical readings follow from that comparison.

• Overlap is partial, not total. Some ranges do coincide — AS/NZS Type D and AASHTO M247 Type 3 share a 1700–710 μm band — but elsewhere the fine-cut behaviour of the families differs. A supplier that stocks moulds for only one family cannot simply round a grade into another family's window after the fact.
• The fine cut drives field behaviour. A 150 μm fine cut and a 180 μm fine cut are 30 μm apart on paper but are different products on a drop-on line. That is precisely why AASHTO M247 splits Type 1 and Type 2 rather than merging them.

Beyond the three families above, Dylan Technology also supplies British and Ontario specification gradations and a set of internal type grades. These matter when a project's national standard is not one of the three families covered in this article.

Across every model in the range, the general specification envelope is consistent: size range 0.5 mm–20 mm, color in transparent, opaque or mixed, surface finish smooth or matte, and custom color and size available.

How to Choose the Right Gradation: A Step-by-Step Procurement Sequence

Step 1 — Read the tender clause before reading any catalogue

Identify the named standard and, where the standard uses types, the named type. "AASHTO M247 Type 1", "EN 1423" and "AS/NZS Type C" are three different purchase requests even though all three are road marking glass beads.

Step 2 — Convert the named type into a sieve range

Write down the upper sieve, the lower sieve and the fine cut. For AASHTO M247 Type 2 that is 1180–180 μm. For AS/NZS Type B it is 850–75 μm. For the EN1424 model it is 1400–355 μm. This single step removes most substitution errors before they reach a purchase order.

Step 3 — Check the gradation against the marking system and the drop-on unit

Coarse and fine bands behave differently in application. The selection has to be consistent with the marking material and with the settings of the drop-on or blasting equipment actually on site. Where a project specifies a type explicitly, the type wins; where it does not, the application does.

Step 4 — Confirm roundness and refractive index as separate variables

Particle size distribution and roundness are different acceptance criteria, and refractive index is a third. AASHTO M247 requires at least 70% roundness in addition to type classification, according to AASHTO. Roundness and refractive index have to be confirmed independently of the sieve range, because a correctly sized bead with poor roundness or an unstable refractive index still underperforms.

Step 5 — Verify the documentation set against the named standard

Ask for the test documentation that corresponds to the clause being specified, not a general certificate. Dylan Technology's quality control covers particle size, reflectivity and wear resistance using laboratory instruments including CAMSIZER and X-2600, with 100% testing as the stated standard, and the company holds ISO9001, CE, JIS and KIS certifications.

Step 6 — Lock commercial terms last

Minimum order quantity, capacity, lead time and customization should be confirmed only after the gradation and documentation are settled. Dylan Technology's stated terms include a minimum order quantity of 1 ton, a monthly capacity of 10,000 tons, a production lead time of 45–60 days, and OEM customization with voltage and logo options.

Use Cases: Matching Gradation to Project Type

High-speed highway drop-on with thick marking systems

Coarser bands are used where the marking system can carry a larger bead and where durability at traffic speed matters more than fine surface finish. AS/NZS Type D (1700–710 μm), AASHTO M247 Type 3 (1700–710 μm) and AASHTO M247 Type 4 (2000–850 μm) sit in this group.

Urban and low-speed markings with thinner systems

Finer bands are used where the marking layer is thinner and where a smaller bead embeds more reliably. AASHTO M247 Type 1 (1180–150 μm), AASHTO M247 Type 2 (1180–180 μm), the EN1423 variants (850–180 μm and 710–125 μm) and AS/NZS Type B (850–75 μm) serve this group.

All-weather and wet-night visibility requirements

Refractive index becomes the deciding variable rather than gradation alone. High refractive index beads are increasingly specified for all-weather markings to lift visibility in wet night conditions, according to Swarco and Mordor Intelligence. Dylan Technology supplies RI 1.6 (1000–180 μm) and RI 1.7 (1180–180 μm) models for this purpose, and the selection should be made together with the marking system supplier.

Contractors working across multiple national markets

A contractor running projects in Australia, the United States and Europe simultaneously needs three different gradations from one supply relationship, not three suppliers. Dylan Technology's project records cover road marking engineering companies and traffic safety manufacturers supplied in quantities from 1 ton to 198 tons, with the material remaining stable over three to four years, low wear and strong night performance reported as the recurring results.

Specification Comparison Table

The table below compares the three families using the gradations Dylan Technology supplies under each model. All values are production ranges, not an interpretation of the standards' full text.

How to read this table: the gradations listed are the ranges Dylan Technology supplies under each model. They are not a restatement of the full requirements of EN 1424, AASHTO M247 or the AS/NZS standard. Buyers should confirm the exact clause in the project tender and, where applicable, the acceptance test method, before the grade is fixed.

Compliance and Procurement Notes Before You Order

• Match the certificate to the clause. ISO9001, CE, JIS and KIS certifications support a supplier's quality system and market access, but the acceptance criteria still come from the standard named in the tender.
• Do not conflate gradation with performance. A more expensive refractive index grade is not a substitute for a correct sieve band, and a correct sieve band does not compensate for low roundness.
• Confirm the boundary of the range. The standards discussed here apply to road marking and road safety applications. Dylan Technology's polishing, sandblasting and decorative glass bead lines — including SANDBLASTING, GRINDING and Decorative Glass Beads — sit outside this comparison and should be specified separately.
• Plan documentation review into the schedule. With a 45–60 day lead time, an unresolved gradation question is a scheduling risk, not a paperwork detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are EN 1424, AASHTO M247 and AS/NZS glass beads interchangeable on the same project?

No. Each family specifies its own particle size distribution, so a bead graded for one family will not automatically satisfy the sieve range named by another. AASHTO M247 classifies beads into types and requires at least 70% roundness, according to AASHTO, while EN 1423:2012 is the European harmonized standard for glass beads and antiskid aggregates used as drop-on materials for road markings, according to CEN. Dylan Technology supplies separate models for each family: AS/NZS Type D and AASHTO M247 Type 3 are both listed at 1700–710 μm, but AS/NZS Type B is supplied at 850–75 μm and the EN1424 model at 1400–355 μm. Any substitution should be agreed in writing with the project engineer.

Can one supplier deliver beads graded to all three specification families?

Dylan Technology supplies EN1424 at 1400–355 μm; EN1423 at 850–180 μm and 710–125 μm; AASHTO M247 Type 1 to Type 4 at 1180–150 μm, 1180–180 μm, 1700–710 μm and 2000–850 μm; and AS/NZS Type B, C and D at 850–75 μm, 1300–425 μm and 1700–710 μm, all produced from recycled glass. Production runs across four bases in Liaoning, Shanxi, Hebei and Henan with more than 15 glass bead lines and an annual output of 100,000 tons. Every batch is inspected using laboratory instruments including CAMSIZER and X-2600, with 100% testing as the stated quality-control standard.

What changes the cost of a glass bead order between gradations?

Delivered cost is driven by the specification window, not by the product name. A tighter gradation window, a higher roundness target, a higher refractive index grade, additional testing documentation, packaging and freight terms all affect the cost per ton, and each of these differs by family and by type. Dylan Technology's stated commercial parameters include a minimum order quantity of 1 ton, a monthly capacity of 10,000 tons and OEM customization with voltage and logo options. Buyers should request a quotation against the exact gradation and volume rather than comparing headline prices across families.

Can a buyer validate a gradation before committing to a full production run?

Dylan Technology's minimum order quantity is 1 ton, which allows project-scale validation rather than a full-volume commitment. Its project records include road marking engineering companies and traffic safety manufacturers supplied at quantities from 1 ton to 198 tons; across those records the material has remained stable over three to four years, with low wear and strong night performance reported as the recurring results. After-sales support is provided remotely.

What is the production lead time, and how should it be planned?

Dylan Technology's stated lead time is 45 to 60 days, supported by a monthly capacity of 10,000 tons across more than 15 production lines. For projects with a fixed installation window, the bead order should be placed against the marking schedule rather than the paving schedule, because gradation confirmation and documentation review happen before production begins. Buyers can download the corporate brochure or send the tender's gradation clause directly to the supplier to start the review, and can request a sample or quotation by contacting dylan@xgbead.com.

Conclusion: Choose the Family First, Then the Grade

EN 1424, AASHTO M247 and AS/NZS road marking beads solve the same problem with different sieve ranges, and the difference is large enough to determine whether a marking passes acceptance testing. The reliable sequence is fixed: identify the family named in the tender, convert the named type into a full sieve band including the fine cut, confirm roundness and refractive index as separate variables, and only then agree commercial terms.

A supplier that can hold tight gradation windows across all three families removes a layer of risk from cross-border projects — and Dylan Technology supplies EN1424, EN1423, AASHTO M247 Type 1 to Type 4 and AS/NZS Type B, C and D from the same recycled glass production base, with documented testing and a stated 45–60 day lead time.