USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Safety
                        Roadway Departure Safety
                        Reduce Crash Severity
                        Hardware Eligibility Letters


            
            In This Section
        Roadway Departure Safety
                Strategic Approach
                                Strategic Plan
                Crash Emphasis Brochures
                Focused Approach
                Noteworthy Practices
                Partner Resources
                Keep Vehicles on the Road
                                Pavement Friction
                Horizontal Curve Safety
                Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes
                Nighttime Visibility
                Provide for a Safe Recovery
                                SafetyEdge
                Clear Zones
                Reduce Crash Severity
                                Overview
                Hardware Eligibility Letters
                Focus on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures (FoRRRwD)
                                Overview
                All Public Roads
                Proven Countermeasures
                Systemic Approach
                Safety Action Plans
                FoRRRwD Resources
                
                Safety Eligibility Letter B-226
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Longitudinal Barriers and Bridge Rails
                          **Code:**
            B-226
                          **Date:**
            11/18/2011
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            MASH
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Conti / PennState Univ.
                          **Device Description:**
            Conti Half Shape Concrete Bridge Rail
                          **View PDF:**
            b226.pdf (1.2 MB)
    
    "FHWA Logo"

1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

November 18, 2011

In Reply Refer To:
HSST/B-226

Hemal Shah, PE
Conti Enterprises, Inc
2045, Lincoln Highway
Edison, NJ 08817

Dear Mr. Shah:

This letter is in response to your request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to review a roadside safety system for eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program.

Name of system:
			Conti Half Shape Concrete Bridge RailType of system:
			Temporary bridge railingTest Level:
			MASH Test Level 3Testing conducted by:
			Pennsylvania Transportation InstituteDate of request:
			October 28, 2011Date of request:
			December 17, 2010Date initially acknowledged:
			October 28, 2011You certify that the device described herein meets the crashworthiness criteria of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Association"s (AASHTO) Manual on Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Based on your testing, you asked that we find the device(s) eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program.  Eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval or endorsement by the FHWA for any particular purpose or use.

**Decision:**
The following device is eligible, with details provided below:

Conti Half Shape Concrete Bridge Rail**Requirements**
Roadside safety devices should meet the guidelines contained in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). The FHWA Memorandum "Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety Features" of July 25, 1997 provides further guidance on crash testing requirements of longitudinal barriers.

This Conti designed half section concrete barrier is a pre-cast steel reinforced concrete barrier with following critical dimensions

Width at Base = 15"
	Width at top = 6"
	Length of each Section = 19'-8"
	5” X 5” Anchor Bolt Pockets at Base = 7-Ea within each section
	Reinforcement: Structural steel rebar and Light weight wide flange section beams
	Approximate Weight: 6,350-lbs per section
	Approximate Volume: 41-cuftPlease refer to the enclosed drawing, "Exhibit-A" for the detailed fabrication shop drawing. This shop drawing provides all necessary details to fabricate and to inspect and verify the barrier being used during application.  Concrete within the pre-cast barrier is 4000-psi design strength (28-days).

During the preparation of the crash test it was determined that the HS-l barrier system needed to be tested according to the MASH guidance at TL-3. The TL-3 test level is designed to document the safety system's capability to safely contain and redirect vehicles traveling at high speeds. The MASH 3-11 test uses a pickup truck designated as vehicle 2270P (2270 kg). The vehicle impacts the determined critical impact point of the length of need barrier at a designated impact speed of 100 km/h at a nominal angle of 25 degrees.

The length of need (LON) of the constructed barrier system at the crash testing facility was 98 ft, consisting of 5 consecutive HS-l barrier sections pinned together and each section was bolted onto a simulated 9-inch concrete bridge deck constructed at the test facility. The critical impact point (CIP) on the constructed barrier system was determined to be 4.3 ft downstream of the joint between the third (middle) and fourth barrier sections. The approach angle of the vehicle was set at 25 degrees. The test vehicle was a 2002 Dodge RAM 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, meeting the MASH criteria for the 2270P vehicle.

The test vehicle impacted the barrier system at a speed of 98.2 km/h (61 mi/h) and a 24.08-degree angle 5.1 ft from the joint of the third and fourth barrier. The test vehicle was safely redirected by the barrier system with an exit angle of 4.8 degrees well within the designated exit box. The test vehicle suffered minor damage throughout the impact. No measurable deformation of the passenger compartment was detected. No penetration of any kind or obstruction of view of the driver was detected. The test article had suffered minor damage and very small deformation. The impacted barrier segment developed a crack in the lower left comer of the barrier at the joint between the impacted (third) and adjacent upstream (fourth) barrier. Maximum permanent and dynamic penetrations occurred at the same location and were measured at 0.012 m (0.47 in).

**Findings**
Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached form is eligible for reimbursement and should be installed under the range of conditions tested, when such use is acceptable to a highway agency.

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

This finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the systems 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 system will require a new letter.
	Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service performance reveals unacceptable safety problems, or that the system being marketed is significantly different from the version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter.
	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 review, and that it will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA and the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware.
	To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility is designated as number B-226 and shall not be reproduced except in full.  This letter and the test documentation upon which it is based are public information.  All such letters and documentation may be reviewed at our office upon request.
	This letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by the FHWA to use, manufacture, or sell any patented system for which the applicant is not the patent holder.  The finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate system, and the FHWA is neither prepared nor required to become involved in issues concerning patent law.  Patent issues, if any, are to be resolved by the applicant.
	The Conti HS barrier is not yet patented, but you consider the design as proprietary intellectual property.  If proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Federal-aid projects, except exempt, non-NHS projects, (a) they must be supplied through competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the highway agency must certify that they are essential for synchronization with the 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.Sincerely yours,

			*/* Signature of Michael S. Griffith */*

			Michael S. Griffith
			Director, Office of Safety Technologies
			Office of Safety U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us