Memorandum

PURPOSE

The purpose ofthis memorandum is to provide clarification on technical and implementation issues pertaining to the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), 2016 Edition.

INFORMATION

In December 2015, the AASHTO/FHWA joint implementation agreement for AASHTO MASH was successfully balloted by AASHTO's former Standing Committee on Highways and approved by FHWA. The agreement was executed to define actions needed for full implementation of MASH by December 31 , 2019. The agreement establishes sunset dates for AASHTO MASH compliance for various types of safety hardware as well as defines FHWA and AASHTO's responsibilities in implementing MASH..

Since the release of the Memorandum pertaining to the AASHTO/FHWA Joint Implementation Agreement for AASHTO MASH, dated January 7, 2016, we have received many questions on how FHWA and AASHTO are moving forward with the joint implementation agreement. In response, FHWA's Office of Safety and AASHTO's Technical Committee on Roadside Safety (TCRS) established a joint AASHTO/FHWA technical working group of staff from State transportation departments, FHWA, and accredited crash testing laboratories. The working group · developed responses to the most common questions received on MASH implementation. The responses can be viewed at (https://design. transportation.org/mash-implementatioDL).

SUMMARY

Please share this memorandum with your State DOT. AASHTO TCRS and FHW A will continue to monitor the implementation of AASHTO's MASH and will provide clarification as needed on the above referenced website. If you need further information, please contact William P. Longstreet at 202-366-0087.