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Main ContentBuild a Crashworthy Work Zone Sign StandLloyd H. Rue Where there are cars, there will be collisions.
How do we lessen the chances of injuries when there are collisions with sign stands in our work zones? We make sign stands 'crashworthy.' Once upon a time, work zone devices were not held to a crashworthy standard. Crashworthy work zone devices now, and for the last decade, follow an industry standard. Making a crashworthy device can be complicated. The ultimate proof for a crashworthy device is testing at highway speeds with test vehicles. One test criteria examines whether there is an intrusion into the occupant compartment. A gaping hole in the windshield, for example, would cause the test to fail. Numerous types of crashworthy sign stands can be purchased from suppliers. Often these sign stand designs are patented. Patented or proprietary devices usually are more costly than those fabricated in a local shop. Thanks to recent research, there is a crashworthy, non-patented sign-stand design that uses commonly available materials. The sign-stand design (among other devices tested) is outlined in a research report from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Report 553: Crashworthy Work-Zone Traffic Control Devices. And, the Federal Highway Administration issued an acceptance letter on the device (September 8, 2006, WZ-240). The following figures show the basic dimensions and components for the design. One figure shows dimensions for a 5-foot mounting height, while the other figure shows dimensions for a 7-foot mounting height. Either plywood or aluminum sign substrates may be use. If you need new sign stands for your county or city crews, here is a non-patented design that you may use.  Figure 9.8 – Details of the strong dual-upright sign support system with sign panel mounted at a height of 1.5 m (5 ft) View a larger verion of figure 9.8 (PDF, 112K)  Figure 9.9 – Details of the strong dual-upright sign support system with sign panel mounted at a height of 2.1 m (7 ft) View a larger verion of figure 9.9 (PDF, 116K)
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When there are collisions, people will get hurt.