The Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) is a national set of guidelines for crash testing permanent and temporary highway safety features. Enacted in 2009, it sets uniform standards to be applied individually by each state and recommends evaluation criteria to assess test results. MASH, which replaces NCHRP Report 350, is first and foremost a way of measuring occupant risk, structural adequacy, and vehicle trajectory. It applies to products like attenuators, crash cushions, barriers, and traffic control devices – both temporary and permanent.
A Tangled Web of State-Level Implementation
Since the federal government left the enforcement and implementation of MASH standards up to the individual states, each respective department of transportation (DOT) has its own rules and regulations regarding MASH. It’s not a matter of some states being more stringent than others, but rather of applying the standards differently to fit each state’s climate for road work. This can create a headache for road construction companies who do business across multiple states; they must figure out which equipment is approved under MASH or grandfathered in under previous standards, which also varies by state. Even companies who do business in a single state can be subject to ongoing interpretations and implementations at the state level.
MASH varies in implementation across different states, but there are a couple of elements of MASH that remain consistent nationwide. First, all testing of new hardware must be completed using MASH evaluation techniques. Second, hardware approved under NCHRP Report 350 is typically approved under MASH also, and rarely needs to be retested. In 2015, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a memorandum stating that all modifications to NCHRP 350-approved devices will start to require MASH testing to receive Federal-aid eligibility. This signified an important milestone in the widespread implementation of MASH. Its complete replacement of NCHRP Report 350 rolled out in phases throughout 2019.
An Important Step Forward in Road Safety
While MASH standards may have presented new challenges to contractors and engineers, they represent an important step in improving the safety of America’s roadways. MASH was enacted in response to a number of preventable fatalities and ensuing litigation. It adapted outdated safety standards to fit today’s vehicles, which are bigger than those of the past with a higher center of gravity. In addition, they fit today’s faster roads.
However, there remains a disconnect between what companies are supposed to do and not do based on MASH standards. Not only do they vary quite a bit by state, but there are also new regulations from time to time, which create some level of confusion.
Navigate MASH Complexity with People You Can Trust
Many construction companies benefit from having an advisor to help them navigate the vast and ever-changing world of MASH. The next time MASH standards have your brain in a mash, we hope you’ll give us a call at Carolina Traffic Devices. CTD isn’t simply a place to buy and rent traffic control devices; it’s a place to engage an expert team with deep experience in keeping customers MASH-compliant by deploying the right equipment. We make sure our products meet your project’s safety requirements, your business needs for budgets and timelines, and MASH standards for equipment compliance. Contact us today to get started.