Refer to: HSA-10/WZ-114

Ms. Kathy Rogalla

Marketing Displays International

38271 W. Twelve Mile Road

Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3041

Dear Ms. Rogalla:

Thank you for your letter of requesting Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) acceptance of your company's portable sign stands as crashworthy
traffic control devices for use in work zones on the National Highway
System (NHS). Accompanying your letter were drawings and product
literature illustrating each of the stands. The stands, or ones similar
to them, have been previously accepted by FHWA You requested that we
find these devices acceptable for use on the NHS under the provisions of
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350
"Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway
Features."

**Introduction**

The FHWA guidance on crash testing of work zone traffic control devices
is contained in two memoranda. The first, dated July 25, 1997, titled
"[INFORMATION]{.underline}: Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety
Features," established four categories of work zone devices: Category I
devices were those lightweight devices which could be self-certified by
the vendor, Category II devices were other lightweight devices which
needed individual crash testing, Category III devices were barriers and
other fixed or massive devices also needing crash testing, and Category
IV devices were trailer mounted lighted signs, arrow panels, etc. The
second guidance memorandum was issued on August 28, 1998, and is titled
"[INFORMATION]{.underline}: Crash Tested Work Zone Traffic Control
Devices." This later memorandum lists devices that are acceptable under
Categories I, II, and III.

A brief description of the devices follows. Additional details are
shown, along with details of other accepted MDI stands, in the enclosed
table.

MDI Model #s **5018SS and 5018NS** (SS is a Single Spring stand and NS
refers to No Spring). These stands, which hold 36x36 or 48x48 rollup
signs, are similar to the MDI 4818 stand which was found acceptable in
our letter WZ-28, dated March 3, 2000 (see enclosed table for
reference). The aluminum mast extends to the top of the sign and holds a
flag bracket.

MDI Model #'s **5012SS and 5012 NS.** These are "compact" stands as
discussed in our memorandum WZ-85 dated November 15, 2001. The signs are
held at a height of 12 inches above the pavement, and the only structure
above that height is the fiberglass bracing. You have requested their
use with both 36x36 inch and 48x48 inch roll-up signs.

MDI Model \# **3612 DLK** was accepted using a 36x36 inch roll up sign.
Your request is to find it acceptable using a 48x48 inch roll up sign.
This stand also qualifies as a "compact" stand.

**Findings**

The sign stands and sign sizes you have requested appear to be within
the bounds of previously tested stands. They should perform in an
acceptable manner. Therefore, the devices described above and shown in
the enclosed drawings for reference are acceptable for use on the NHS
under the range of conditions that the comparable signs were tested,
when proposed by a State. Also, the "compact" sign stands are acceptable
subject to the following conditions:

-   Mounting height is between 300 mm to 460 mm (12 to 18 in) from the
    ground to the bottom of the sign.

-   Square tube legs and the short mast should be no larger than 32 mm
    (1-1/4 in) on a side.

-   Maximum vertical mast of steel or aluminum is no taller than
    necessary to grip the bottom of the vertical fiberglass brace. The
    mast may not extend to the middle or top of the sign. The grip
    should be a quick-release type that would allow the vertical
    fiberglass brace to pull out quickly, releasing the sign.

-   Fiberglass bracing of the roll-up sign should be no wider than 32 mm
    (1-1/4 in).

-   The horizontal fiberglass brace should be no thicker than 4.76 mm
    (3/16 in).

-   The vertical fiberglass brace should be no thicker than 6.35 mm (1/4
    in).

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA letters
of acceptance:

-   Our acceptance is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of
    the devices and does not cover their structural features, nor
    conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

-   Any changes that may adversely influence the crashworthiness of the
    device will require a new acceptance letter.

-   Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed,
    that in-service performance reveals unacceptable safety problems, or
    that the device being marketed is significantly different from the
    version that was crash tested, it reserves the right to modify or
    revoke its acceptance.

-   You will be expected to supply potential users with sufficient
    information on design and installation requirements to ensure proper
    performance.

-   You will be expected to certify to potential users that the hardware
    furnished has essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties,
    and geometry as that submitted for acceptance, and that they will
    meet the crashworthiness requirements of FHWA and NCHRP Report 350.

-   To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance,
    designated as number WZ-114 shall not be reproduced except in full.
    This letter, and the test documentation upon which this letter is
    based, is public information. All such letters and documentation may
    be reviewed at our office upon request.

-   MDI's sign stands may include patented components and if so are
    considered \"proprietary.\" The use of proprietary work zone traffic
    control devices in Federal-aid projects is generally of a temporary
    nature. They are selected by the contractor for use as needed and
    removed upon completion of the project. Under such conditions they
    can be presumed to meet requirement \"a\" given below for the use of
    proprietary products on Federal-aid projects. On the other hand, if
    proprietary devices are specified for use on Federal-aid projects,
    except exempt, non-NHS projects, they: (a) must be supplied through
    competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the
    highway agency must certify that they are essential for
    synchronization with existing highway facilities or that no equally
    suitable alternative exists or; (c) they must be used for research
    or for a distinctive type of construction on relatively short
    sections of road for experimental purposes. Our regulations
    concerning proprietary products are contained in Title 23, Code of
    Federal Regulations, Section 635.411, a copy of which is enclosed.

> Sincerely yours,
>
> A. George Ostensen

Program Manager, Safety

Enclosure

FHWA:HSA-10:NArtimovich:tb:x61331:4/4/02

File: WZ114MIDIMarchFin.wpd

cc: HSA-10 (Reader, HSA-1; Chron File, HSA-10;

N. Artimovich, HSA-10)

  ------------- --------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------------- ---------
  MODEL \#      LEGS            BASE      SIGN       UPRIGHT   MAST          HT TO TOP
                                          HEIGHT                             

  4818          ALUM FIXED      2 SPRING  18\"       ALUM      ALUM          86\"

  4812          ALUM FIXED      2 SPRING  12\"       ALUM      ALUM          80\"

  4815RB        AL. TELESCOPING 2 SPRING  14.5\"     ALUM      ALUM          82.5\"
                89\"                                                         

  4814DLK       AL. TELESCOPING 2 SPRING  14.5\"     ALUM      FIBERGLASS    82.5\"
                71\"                                                         

  4814HDK       AL. TELESCOPING 2 SPRING  14.5\"     ALUM      FIBERGLASS    82.5\"
                88\"                                                         

  50SM \*       STEEL FIXED     2 SPRING  18\"       STEEL     STEEL         86\"
                82\"                                                         

  30SM-PAKD     STEEL TELESCOPE WELD      12\"       STEEL     FIBERGLASS?   80\"
                72\"                                                         

  40SMU         STEEL TELESCOPE 1 SPRING  12.75\"    STEEL     FIBERGLASS    80.75\"
                72\"                                                         

  4814CS        AL. TELESCOPING 2 SPRING  13\"       XTRA AL.  FIBERGLASS    81\"
                71\"                                                         

  30CAM         STEEL TELESCOPE WELD      12.75\"    STEEL     FIBERGLASS    80.75\"
                72\"                                                         

  40CAM         STEEL TELESCOPE 1 SPRING  12.75\"    STEEL     FIBERGLASS    80.75\"
                72\"                                                         

  4814SSCK      AL. TELESCOPING 1 SPRING  12.75\"    ALUM      FIBERGLASS    80.75\"
                72\"                                                         

  4814NSCK      AL. TELESCOPING WELD      12.75\"    ALUM      FIBERGLASS    80.75\"
                72\"                                                         

  3612DLK\*\*   AL. TELESCOPING 2 SPRING  12\"       ALUM      FIBERGLASS    73\"
                64\"                                                         

  The five                                                                   
  models below                                                               
  are those                                                                  
  considered in                                                              
  this letter                                                                
  of                                                                         
  acceptance,                                                                
  WZ-114                                                                     

  5018SS        Aluminum fixed  1 Spring  18\"       Alum      Alum          86 "

  5018NS        Aluminum fixed  Weld      18\"       Alum      Alum          86\"

  5012SS        Aluminum fixed  1 Spring  12\"       Alum      Fiberglass    81\"
                \*\*\*                                                       

  5012NS        Aluminum fixed  Weld      12\"       Alum      Fiberglass    81\"
                \*\*\*                                                       

  3612 DLK      Aluminum fixed  2 Springs 12\"       Alum      Fiberglass    80\"
                \*\*\*                                                       
  ------------- --------------- --------- ---------- --------- ------------- ---------

\* Tested head-on at TTI, \*\* 36\" sign support \*\*\*Qualify as
"compact" stands