Are My Traffic Cones and Drums MASH-Compliant?

Navigating the transition from NCHRP-350 to MASH-2016 (Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware) can be confusing, especially regarding smaller, everyday work zone items like traffic cones and drums. If you are a safety manager or procurement officer, knowing the classification of your equipment is essential for project compliance.

What is a Category 1 Device?

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) classifies temporary traffic control devices into specific categories based on their weight and potential impact severity. Traffic cones and plastic drums are almost exclusively classified as Category 1 devices. Category 1 devices are defined as lightweight, small, and generally low-impact equipment. Because these items typically weigh less than 100 pounds, they are designed to be moved easily and pose a minimal hazard to vehicles during a collision.

Are Cones and Drums Subject to MASH Testing?

This is where the confusion often arises. Category 1 devices are not required to undergo full-scale crash testing to prove MASH-2016 compliance in the same way that high-speed sign stands or crash cushions are.

• Self-Certification: Under FHWA guidelines, manufacturers of Category 1 devices are allowed to "self-certify" that their products meet the safety requirements.
• The Compliance Requirement: While they do not require an official FHWA eligibility letter, they must still be manufactured in accordance with established safety standards. For your project to be "MASH-compliant," your cones and drums must simply be of a type that has historically been proven to be crashworthy.

How to Ensure Your Project is Compliant

Even though Category 1 devices do not need the rigorous crash-testing documentation required for larger hardware, you are still responsible for site safety. To maintain compliance:

1. Check for "Crashworthy" Design: Ensure your cones and drums are made of impact-resistant, high-visibility materials that meet the MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) standards.
2. Avoid Unmodified Attachments: Adding non-standard weights, heavy lights, or rigid aftermarket attachments to a drum or cone can alter its "Category 1" status. If you modify a device so that it becomes heavy or rigid, it may no longer be considered crashworthy.
3. Documentation: Keep manufacturer spec sheets on file. Even if they don't have a MASH letter, the manufacturer’s documentation stating the device is "Crashworthy" or "Designed for use in accordance with MUTCD" is your primary defense during a project inspection.