Delineators
Delineator Recovery Angle & Impact Rating 2026
Cojo
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6 min read
A delineator that does not stand back up after a strike has missed its job. Recovery angle and crash-test rating are the two specs that predict whether the post survives a hit and stays where the channelization needs it. This guide covers the federal crash-test programs, the angle math, and what numbers actually matter on a parking lot.
The 60-word direct answer: Recovery angle is the maximum lay-down angle a flex post can return from to vertical after impact. Most parking-lot flex posts run 60 to 90 degrees of recovery. Federal crash testing follows NCHRP Report 350 or the newer MASH protocols at 31 mph and 62 mph impact speeds.
Recovery angle is the largest deflection from vertical that a delineator can sustain and still spring back to upright when the load releases. A post with 90-degree recovery can be pushed flat to the pavement and bounce back. A post with 30-degree recovery stays bent if pushed past 30 degrees.
Two factors drive recovery angle:
Cold weather reduces recovery angle. A post rated 90 degrees at 70 degrees Fahrenheit may only recover from 60 degrees at 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Manufacturer data sheets typically publish recovery angle at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and provide a low-temperature derate.
NCHRP Report 350 is the older federal crash-test protocol for traffic-control devices. Published in 1993, it set the test conditions for impact speeds (31 mph and 62 mph), test vehicle masses, and acceptance criteria.
MASH (Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware) replaced NCHRP 350 starting in 2011. MASH uses heavier test vehicles (more representative of the modern fleet) and stricter occupant-injury criteria. After December 31, 2019, federally aided projects must use MASH-compliant devices for new installations.
What MASH tests for delineators:
| Test Level | Vehicle | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| TL-1 | 2,425-lb car / 5,000-lb pickup | 31 mph |
| TL-2 | 2,425-lb car / 5,000-lb pickup | 44 mph |
| TL-3 | 2,425-lb car / 5,000-lb pickup | 62 mph |
Crash testing tests whether a vehicle striking the device:
For parking-lot strike speeds, all of these are typically a non-issue. The relevant question is post-only: does the device recover and stay functional after repeated 5-to-15-mph hits?
That is where cycle testing matters more than crash testing for parking-lot specs. Manufacturer cycle ratings publish the number of strike cycles before the polymer loses memory. Typical urethane flex posts are rated 300 to 1,000 strike cycles. Premium engineered urethanes run 2,000-plus cycles.
For impact-recovery detail, see flex post recovery after vehicle impact.
For parking-lot delineators, the spec checklist:
| Spec | Typical Parking-Lot Floor | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery angle (70 F) | 60 degrees minimum | 90 degrees-plus |
| Recovery angle (20 F derate) | 45 degrees minimum | 70 degrees-plus |
| Cycle rating | 500 strikes minimum | 2,000-plus strikes |
| Crash-test compliance | NCHRP 350 or MASH TL-1 | MASH TL-3 |
| Polymer | Urethane or copolymer | Engineered urethane |
Polymer memory is temperature-dependent. As ambient temperature drops:
For Oregon snow zones (Bend, Hood River, La Grande), Cojo specifies engineered urethane posts with manufacturer-published cold-temperature derates and usually pairs them with spring bases for additional lay-down recovery. For Bend-specific install detail, see delineator installation in Bend.
A post rated 90 degrees at 70 F that derates to 50 degrees at 0 F is still functional in Bend winter conditions. A post rated 60 degrees at 70 F that derates to 30 degrees at 0 F starts taking permanent set after the first hard freeze.
Industry Baseline Range
| Spec Tier | Cost Premium per Post | Typical Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Standard urethane, solid base | $0 (baseline) | 30 to 60 degree recovery, 300 cycle |
| Standard urethane, spring base | $20 to $40 | 60 to 90 degree recovery, 1,000 cycle |
| Engineered urethane, spring base | $30 to $70 | 90-plus degree recovery, 2,000-plus cycle, MASH TL-3 |
Through 2026, MASH TL-3 flex posts have moved from premium-only to mainstream. The cost premium over standard urethane has narrowed because volume is up, especially as more Oregon municipalities require MASH-compliant devices on public-roadway-adjacent installs.
In April 2026, Cojo replaced 14 standard urethane flex posts in a Bend retail-strip parking lot where the existing posts had taken set after the December 2025 freeze and never returned to vertical. The replacement spec moved to engineered urethane with spring bases, MASH TL-3 rated. Per-post cost ran $115 to $135 installed including base. The site's 7-year replacement plan should now align with the polymer's 2,000-cycle memory rating rather than failing at the first cold snap.
That site illustrates the cold-temperature spec gap: standard urethane was correct for the strike load but wrong for the climate. The engineered urethane upgrade is the local-conditions correction.
When reading a flex post cut sheet, look for these data points:
Cut sheets that publish only "flexible" without recovery angle or cycle data should not be accepted for permanent parking-lot installation.
Cojo selects flex posts and bases based on strike load, climate, and replacement budget. We document recovery angle, cycle rating, and crash-test compliance on every submittal. Contact Cojo for a site walk, or browse our striping services.
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