Guide · 5 min
How to sign a roadwork zone: the minimum kit that prevents accidents and fines
A work zone on the road has three duties: warn early, channel traffic clearly and protect the people working. Each piece of the signaling kit covers one of those functions — and an incomplete kit is finding #1 in road-safety inspections. This guide builds the kit by function, with the SIMAQ line.
Channeling: cones, drums and posts
The 28" cone with double reflective banding is the universal piece for tapers and short closures. Where the detour stays overnight or for weeks, the drum (91 cm, 2 reflective bands) is more visible and stable; the delineator post with its 6 kg base marks long continuous lines without invading the lane.
- Short daytime taper → cones.
- Overnight or weeks-long closure → drums.
- Long continuous line (trench edge, median) → delineator posts.
Warning: tape and mesh
'CAUTION' tape marks the pedestrian perimeter; the 1 m orange mesh physically closes trenches and excavations — the difference between a pedestrian 'seeing' the hole and not being able to fall in it. Red/white adhesive reflective tape turns any edge, rail or parked machine into a night-visible surface.
Protecting the crew: vests and speed control
Everyone on the road wears a reflective vest — mesh is the crew standard and the CE EN471 Class 2 polyester version applies where the contract demands it. Where traffic lives with the works (neighborhoods, parking, accesses), the 122 cm speed hump physically slows vehicles, with a low-noise design for residential areas.
The kit per closure type
- Hours-long spot job: 8-12 cones + caution tape + vests.
- Trench open for days: perimeter mesh + drums on the road + reflective tape on edges.
- Weeks-long detour: drums + delineator posts + humps at accesses + a light tower for night shifts.
Takeaway
Build the kit by function — channel, warn, protect — and size it by how long the closure stays on the road. Every piece is in stock in the SIMAQ signaling line, with specs and codes on each product page.
Frequently asked
Cone or drum: which one?
Rule of thumb: cones for short maneuvers and hours-long closures; drums when signaling stays overnight or traffic is heavy — more mass, more reflective area, less blow-over from truck wind.
Does regulation require a set number of cones per closure?
It depends on the country and the traffic-management plan approved for your project — taper length rules. Our sales team helps you size the kit against your plan before you buy.
