MASH presents uniform guidelines for crash testing permanent and temporary highway safety features and recommends evaluation criteria to assess test results.
MASH updates and replaces NCHRP Report 350 . This manual is recommended for highway design engineers, bridge engineers, safety engineers, researchers, hardware developers, crash test laboratories, and others concerned with safety features used in the highway environment. Products addressed in MASH include longitudinal barriers , transitions , end terminals , crash cushions , breakaway supports , truck mounted attenuators , and work zone traffic control devices . The crash performance is judged on structural adequacy, occupant risk, and vehicle trajectory.
Key Points
All new testing will be done following MASH evaluation techniques.
Hardware accepted under NCHRP Report 350 is appropriate for replacement and new installation. Retesting is not required .
As of January 1, 2011, all new products must be tested using MASH crash test criteria for use on the National Highway System (NHS).
Significant Changes between NCHRP 350 and MASH
Topic
NCHRP 350
MASH
Small car test vehicle
820C vehicle (1,800 lbs.)
1100C vehicle (2,420 lbs.)
Small car impact angle
20°
25°
Light truck test vehicle
2000P (4,400 lbs.)
2270P (5,000 lbs.)
Gating terminals and crash cushion impact angle
15°
5° - 15°
Variable message signs and arrow board trailers
No mention Added to TMA crash test matrix
Support structure and work zone traffic control device testing
Only small car tested
Small car and light truck tested
Windshield damage criteria
Subjective/Qualitative
Objective/Quantitative
Vehicle rebound in crash cushion tests
None
Required
