Safety equipment for road work on highways must comply with TMA (Truck Mounted Attenuator) standards defined by CEN/TS 16786 in Europe and MASH 2016 in the United States. These standards specify crash-test requirements, energy absorption performance, and minimum vehicle weights — typically 10,200 kg in Denmark for speeds above 90 km/h.
What are TMA systems?
Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMA systems) are protection modules — usually mounted on or trailed behind a truck — fitted with an energy-absorbing unit designed to decelerate a colliding vehicle to 0 km/h over a short distance. They serve three primary safety functions:
- Reduce the severity of injuries to motorists in rear-end collisions
- Minimise the risk of injury to workers near the protection module
- Absorb impact energy and protect the work zone behind the unit
NTS supplies truck-mounted attenuator systems (TMA), including the BLADE EU TMA certified to CEN/TS 16786 100K for European 100 km/h compliance, and trailer-mounted attenuators such as the TTMA-200 for highway road-work convoys.
Which European standard applies? CEN/TS 16786
The European technical specification CEN/TS 16786 classifies TMA systems into three speed classes based on impact velocity:
- Speed class 50 — 50 km/h impact
- Speed class 80 — 80 km/h impact
- Speed class 100 — 100 km/h impact
Test parameters cover vehicles weighing 900 kg and 2,000 kg at various speeds and angles, including frontal impacts and offset impacts at 10° angles. Read more: What is CEN/TS 16786?
Which American standard applies? MASH 2016
The Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH 2016) is the current American standard, replacing earlier NCHRP Report 350 protocols with stricter requirements:
- Increased weights for test vehicles: small cars from 816 kg to 1,100 kg; pickup trucks from 2,000 kg to 2,270 kg
- Mandatory tests for non-centered and angled impacts
- Test Level 2: approximately 70 km/h; Test Level 3: approximately 100 km/h
Read more: What is MASH 2016?
What are the Danish requirements for TMA systems?
In Denmark, TMA systems used on highways must have a ready-to-drive weight of at least 10,200 kg when deployed on roads with speed limits of 90 km/h or higher. Operational requirements include:
- Braking on both front and rear axles when stationary
- Direct radio communication between drivers when multiple TMA systems are in use
What safety distances are required between the TMA and the work site?
Safety distances vary by lane and road type:
- 10 metres — third lane and beyond
- 60 metres — first and second lanes (where heavy vehicles travel)
- 60 metres — expressways
When is a partial barrier vs. a total barrier used?
For acute, traffic-hazardous incidents such as lost cargo, large struck animals, or potholes, two barrier strategies are available:
- Partial barrier — At least one lane remains open to traffic. Used when traffic volume is moderate and the obstruction is contained.
- Total barrier — All lanes in one direction are closed. Used when the obstruction spans multiple lanes or when worker safety requires full closure.
The choice depends on traffic volume, number of affected lanes, and expected duration of the work.
What's next for road work safety in Denmark?
Denmark is in a transition period: traditional barrier wagons are gradually being replaced by certified TMA systems. This shift reflects the broader trend across European road authorities toward harmonised crash-tested protection, driven by CEN/TS 16786 compliance and rising expectations for worker safety on highways and expressways.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum weight for a TMA in Denmark?
10,200 kg ready-to-drive weight for use on roads with speed limits of 90 km/h or higher.
What is the difference between CEN/TS 16786 and MASH 2016?
CEN/TS 16786 is the European technical specification using speed-class categorisation (50, 80, 100 km/h). MASH 2016 is the American standard using test-level categorisation with stricter vehicle-weight requirements than its predecessor NCHRP Report 350.
Are NTS TMA systems certified to MASH 2016?
The BLADE EU TMA distributed by NTS is certified to the European CEN/TS 16786 100K specification. Contact NTS to confirm certification status for the latest MASH-compliant configurations.