Traffic safety is nothing to take lightly, especially on high-speed roadways. Thanks to MASH, all roadside equipment and barriers are crash tested for the optimal safety of all drivers. Here you will learn more about MASH compliant.
What is MASH Compliant?
The Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) is a national set of guidelines for crash-testing construction equipment such as concrete barriers, attenuators, and traffic control devices. MASH was implemented in 2009 and replaced the NCHRP Report 350, but the enforcement and implementation of the guidelines were left up to each state. This means the compliance is nationally uniform while the rules and regulations are set by the Department of Transportation (DOT) per state.
Although regulations vary by state, there are universal compliances that need to be met by all states. No matter what kind of hardware is being tested for MASH, it must be tested using MASH evaluation techniques.
Also, any hardware approved under NCHRP Report 350 will most likely apply to MASH and won’t need further testing. In 2015, a memorandum was passed that required all hardware that has seen modifications since approval under NCHRP needed to be MASH tested before receiving federal funding.
Although being approved under MASH takes a lot of work and detail, there is no doubt that it has helped save the lives of drivers around the country. Purchasing equipment from a MASH certified seller will ensure your workplace is up-to-date with the ever-changing MASH regulations.
Importance of MASH Compliant
Having heavy metal equipment alongside roadways creates a lot of potential danger. In case drivers were to swerve off the road and hit any of these traffic devices, the MASH approval would decrease the dangers of impact. The benefits of complying with MASH include:
- Increased protection of drivers
- Understanding how to create more safe barriers
- Keeping roads safe
To get hardware tested by MASH, it gets sent to a test lab where they crash vehicles at high speeds into the devices. The impact is observed to see how much damage is taken by the vehicle. If the damage poses too much threat, the hardware will need to be changed for safety improvement. MASH compliance could be the difference between life and death during a high-speed crash which is why it is crucial for every road system.
Traffic Devices and MASH
MASH does not only require permanent equipment to be approved but temporary equipment like traffic devices as well. Every road construction site, no matter the length of the project, must use MASH approved devices.
Message signs, arrow boards, portable traffic signals, and all other devices have to go through the same compliance testing as any other hardware installed near roads. Carolina Traffic Devices has you covered with a full variety of MASH compliant traffic devices for sale and rent.
Why Carolina Traffic Devices?
The MASH regulations can be a headache to follow, so we are here to help. Our team is thoroughly experienced with all traffic devices and can guide you to products that fit your project. We ensure all of our equipment is MASH approved so you can keep your job site safe. If you want to learn more about our products, contact us today.
