The National Precast Concrete Association reminds producers of barrier and temporary work zone devices of a year-end deadline for having such products tested according to criteria the Federal Highway Administration and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials established in a 2016 agreement. New requirements cover a) bridge rails, transitions, all other longitudinal barriers, including portable models installed permanently; and, b) portable barriers and other temporary work zone devices.
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| Rio Vista, Calif.-based Lindsay Transportation Solutions enlisted the Texas Transportation Institute to prove Quickchange Moveable Barrier Concrete Reactive Tension System Fiber Series performance per 2016 MASH requirements. Photographed at seven frames per second, the pick up impacts the structure at over 60 mph and slows to 35 mph. |
Products manufactured after December 2019 must be tested to the FHWA’s 2016 Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Existing devices or structures fabricated before that date and successfully tested to 2009 MASH or NCHRP Report 350 guidelines can be used throughout their normal service lives. Modifications of eligible hardware that have a positive or neutral safety performance effect can continue to be evaluated using finite element analysis. NPCA encourages highway-grade and longitudinal barrier producers to review their 2016 MASH compliance strategies with department of transportation representatives, and offers additional insight on agency requirements at www.precast.org/mash.