RSA refers to Richtlinien für die verkehrsrechtliche Sicherung von Arbeitsstellen an Straßen (Guidelines for securing work sites on roads in accordance with traffic law) and defines traffic management for road works sites in Germany. RSA 21 was published in February 2022 and replaces RSA 95.
Some changes concern the reflectivity class of reflective materials used on installations for marking road works or other temporary obstacles, like barriers, markers and temporary traffic signs.
The scope of RSA is defined as follows:
They apply to the securing of work sites on and along roads in accordance with traffic law. "Work sites on roads are those sites where public or actual public traffic areas are temporarily closed off for work and those sites which are outside the public traffic area but which have an impact on traffic". (RSA 21, sec. 1.1 (1)
Changes for reflective materials on barriers and temporary traffic signs
• On road barriers:
Road barriers, such as plastic road barrier fences, are required to use reflective films with min. reflectivity class RA2 (applies to barriers placed across the road). Road barriers in a longitudinal direction, however can be equipped with RA1 reflective film.
• On markers:
Markers refers to warning posts with stripe or chevron pattern used to guide traffic around construction sites. These markers are required to use reflective films with min. reflectivity class RA2. Markers used in stationary traffic (e.g., car parks) however, can be equipped with RA1 reflective films.
• On temporary traffic signs:
Temporary traffic signs need to be equipped with reflective sheeting with min. reflectivity class RA2. Exception: Signs used at road work sites in stationary traffic (e.g., car parks) can be equipped with RA1 reflective films.
These guidelines only apply to work sites on and along public roads. Barriers and signs for work sites on private property or company premises are not affected by RSA 21.
No transition period is specified in the guidelines.
