Lettering, reflective striping & chevrons for fire departments
Fire Truck Graphics Built for Visibility and Pride
Fire truck graphics combine your department’s identification, like lettering, logos, unit numbers and gold-leaf style accents, with the retroreflective striping and rear chevrons that make apparatus visible at night. RoadRunner Wraps designs, produces and installs fire apparatus graphics for career and volunteer fire departments across Maryland, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. We work from your department’s apparatus specification so the finished truck looks right and meets your striping requirements.
What We Do for Fire Departments
- Department lettering and logos. Department names, engine and unit numbers, station IDs, seals and patches.
- Gold-leaf style lettering. The traditional gold look, produced in vinyl or printed on reflective film, at a fraction of the cost of real gold leaf.
- Retroreflective striping. Side and front stripes laid out to your apparatus spec.
- Rear chevrons. Alternating-color chevron panels for the rear of the apparatus.
- Support and command vehicles. Chief’s vehicles, utility trucks, brush trucks and ambulances, so your whole fleet matches.
- Community and recruiting graphics. Smoke alarm reminders, “Volunteers Wanted” messages and anniversary graphics, often on support vehicles.
Updating graphics during a refurbishment? We can remove old lettering and striping and replace it with a fresh layout.
Contact Info
Address:
RoadRunner Wraps
11215 Old Baltimore Pike
Beltsville, MD 20705
Phone:
301-937-3777
Email:
info@rwraps.com
Contact Us
NFPA Reflective Striping Requirements at a Glance
For apparatus built to NFPA 1901, which was consolidated into NFPA 1900 effective January 1, 2024, the retroreflective striping requirements are:
| Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Sides | At least one 4-inch retroreflective stripe covering at least 50% of the cab and body length on each side, not counting the pump panel area |
| Front | At least one 4-inch retroreflective stripe covering at least 25% of the width of the front |
| Rear | Chevron striping covering at least 50% of the rear-facing vertical surfaces, in alternating 6-inch stripes that slope down and away from the centerline at a 45-degree angle |
| Chevron colors | NFPA 1901 called for red alternating with yellow, fluorescent yellow or fluorescent yellow-green. NFPA 1900 gives departments more flexibility, as long as the colors are retroreflective and contrasting. |
| Materials | Retroreflective materials must conform to ASTM D4956 Type I sheeting at minimum. Many departments choose higher-performance prismatic sheeting. |
| Stabilizers | Stabilizers that extend beyond the body should be marked with retroreflective material to show the hazard. |
This is a plain-English summary, not the standard itself. Requirements depend on the edition your apparatus was built to, and your apparatus specification and authority having jurisdiction have the final word. Send us your spec and we’ll lay out your graphics to match it. Sources: FAMA Retroreflective Striping and Chevron Buyer’s Guide and FAMA, “NFPA 1900: What’s New and Why”.
Decorative Graphics
Decorative graphics carry your department’s identity. They don’t need to be reflective, so you have more freedom with color and finish.
- Metallic gold vinyl. A durable, cut-vinyl alternative to traditional gold leaf for names and numbers.
- Printed gold-leaf look. Printed artwork that recreates the shading of burnished gold leaf, including scrolls and outlines.
- Full-color logos and seals. Department patches, memorial graphics and community messages, printed in full color.
Reflective Materials
Reflective materials bounce headlight beams back toward the driver, so your apparatus shows up at night and in bad weather.
- Reflective graphic films like 3M Scotchlite and ORAFOL ORALITE can be cut into lettering and stripes, or printed for a reflective gold-leaf look.
- Prismatic sheeting like 3M Diamond Grade is among the brightest options, often used for chevrons and conspicuity striping.
- Proper edge sealing. Some prismatic materials need their cut edges sealed to keep moisture out. We handle that during installation.
Design Tips for Fire Apparatus Graphics
- Keep working areas clear. Graphics should never cover warning lights, compartment latches, pump panel controls or anything crews need to reach quickly.
- Make unit numbers readable. Large, high-contrast unit numbers help dispatch, mutual-aid crews and the public identify apparatus on scene.
- Build one fleet standard. A consistent layout for lettering, striping and seals makes every vehicle recognizable, from engines to the chief’s SUV.
- Plan for the future. Choose a layout that’s easy to update when unit numbers, station assignments or department names change.
More ideas: our guide to effective wrap designs for fire trucks.
How Our Fire Truck Graphics Process Works
1
Send Your Spec
Share your apparatus specification, photos of the truck and any existing artwork. Call 301-937-3777 or use our form.
2
Layout & Proof
We create a layout showing lettering, striping and chevron placement. Your department approves it before anything is produced.
3
Production
We produce your graphics in the reflective and decorative materials called for in the layout.
4
Installation
Our certified installers apply your graphics. Tell us how long the apparatus can be out of service and we’ll plan around it.
How Much Do Fire Truck Graphics Cost?
Fire apparatus graphics are quoted per vehicle because no two trucks or specs are the same. The main factors are the size of the apparatus, how much reflective striping and chevron area it needs, the amount of lettering and gold-leaf style detail, and whether old graphics need to be removed first. We offer fleet discounts for departments outfitting multiple vehicles. Request a free quote with your spec and a few photos.
Fire Truck Graphics in Maryland, DC and Virginia
RoadRunner Wraps is based at 11215 Old Baltimore Pike in Beltsville, MD, between Washington, DC and Baltimore. We work with career and volunteer fire departments throughout the region, including Prince George’s, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Howard, Baltimore and Frederick counties in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. See all of our service locations. We also wrap ambulances and police vehicles.
Fire Truck Graphics FAQs
Do fire trucks need reflective striping?
Apparatus built to NFPA 1901 or NFPA 1900 need retroreflective striping: at least one 4-inch stripe along 50% of each side and 25% of the front, plus rear chevrons covering at least 50% of the rear-facing surfaces. Check your apparatus spec for the edition that applies.
What colors can rear chevrons be?
NFPA 1901 called for red alternating with yellow, fluorescent yellow or fluorescent yellow-green. NFPA 1900, effective January 1, 2024, gives departments more flexibility, as long as the colors are retroreflective and contrasting.
What’s the difference between NFPA 1901 and NFPA 1900?
NFPA 1900 took effect January 1, 2024 and combined NFPA 1901 (automotive fire apparatus), NFPA 1906 (wildland fire apparatus), NFPA 1917 (automotive ambulances) and NFPA 414 (aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles) into one standard.
Can you recreate our department’s gold-leaf lettering?
Yes. We can recreate your lettering style from photos or existing artwork in metallic gold vinyl or as printed gold-leaf style graphics, including on reflective film.
Do you do graphics for ambulances and support vehicles?
Yes. We do graphics for ambulances, chief’s vehicles, utility trucks and other support vehicles so your whole fleet matches.
How much do fire truck graphics cost?
Fire apparatus graphics are quoted per vehicle based on the truck’s size, the amount of reflective striping and chevrons, lettering detail and any removal of old graphics. Fleet discounts are available. Send us your spec and photos for a free quote.
Get a Free Fire Truck Graphics Quote
RoadRunner Wraps handles design, production and installation in-house, with award-winning designers and certified installers. Send us your apparatus spec and we’ll show you a layout.
Or call 301-937-3777.
Recent Comments