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# Safety Eligibility Letter B-85F

**Hardware Type:**

**Code:**

**Date:**

07/29/2013

**Testing Criteria:**

**Manufacturer:**

**Device Description:**

**View PDF:**

b85f.pdf (494.56 KB)

## Safety Eligibility Letter B-85F

**Download Version**PDF

U.S. Department of Transportation**Federal Highway Administration**

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

July 29, 2013

In Reply Refer To:  HSST/B-85F

Mr. Don Gripne    Trinity Highway Products, LLC2325 Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas  75207 

Dear Mr. Gripne,

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

**Decision:**  The following device is eligible, with details provided in  the form which is attached as an integral part of this letter:
                      - Thrie Beam roadside barrier with King Size King  Block using 70% High Density Polyethylene.

Based on a review of crash test results submitted by the  manufacturer certifying the device described herein meets the crash test and  evaluation criteria of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program  (NCHRP) Report 350, the device is 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. 

The FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United  States Government do not endorse products or services and the issuance of a  reimbursement eligibility letter is not an endorsement of any product or  service.

**Requirements**  To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, roadside  safety devices should meet the crash test and evaluation criteria contained in  the NCHRP Report 350 or the American Association of  State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety  Hardware (MASH).

**Description**  The device and supporting documentation are described in  the attached form.  This modification  allows the use of the 70% HDPE material in the King Size King Block. This  material was previously crash tested with w-beam guardrail.

**Summary and Standard Provisions**  Therefore, the system described and detailed in the  attached form is eligible for reimbursement and may be installed under the  range of conditions that standard Thrie Beam guardrail was crash-tested under  NCHRP Report 350.   

Please note the following standard provisions  that apply to FHWA eligibility letters:
                      - This finding of eligibility does not cover other structural features of  the systems, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
                      - Any changes that may influence system  conformance with NCHRP Report 350 criteria will require a new reimbursement  eligibility letter.
                      - Should the FHWA discover that the qualification  testing was flawed, that in-service performance reveals safety problems, or  that the system is significantly different from the version that was crash  tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter.
                      - You are expected to supply potential users with  sufficient information on design and installation requirements to ensure proper  performance.
                      - You are expected to certify to potential users  that the hardware furnished has the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and  geometry as that submitted for review, and that it will meet the crash test and evaluation criteria of the NCHRP Report  350.
                      - To  prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility is designated as  number B-85F 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 FHWA does not become  involved in issues concerning patent law. Patent issues, if any, are to be  resolved by the applicant.
                      - The King Blocks for W-beam and Thrie beam barriers are patented products and considered proprietary.  If proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Federal-aid 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 |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Enclosures

## Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement EligibilityOf Highway Safety Hardware

| Submitter    | **Date of Request:**                                             | June 19, 2013             |    New     Resubmission |
|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| **Name:**    | Don Gripne                                                       | Signature: /s/ Don Gripne |
| **Company:** | Trinity Highway Product, LLC                                     |
| **Address:** | 5216 Brassfield Dr. SE, Olympia, WA 98501                        |
| Country:     | USA                                                              |
| **To:**      | Michael S. Griffith, DirectorFHWA, Office of Safety Technologies |

I request the following devices be considered eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aidhighway program.
| System Type                                            | Submission Type                                              | Device Name/Variant  | Testing Criterion | Test Level |
|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------|------------|
| 'B': Barriers (Roadside,      Median, Bridge Railings) |  Physical Crash Testing FEA & V&V Analysis | KING KING SIZE BLOCK | NCHRP Report 350  | TL3        |

By submitting this request for review and evaluation by the Federal Highway Administration, I certify  that the product(s) was (were) tested in conformity with the NCHRP Report 350 (Report 350) and that  the evaluation results meet the appropriate evaluation criteria in the Report 350.

Identification of the individual or organization responsible for the product:
| **Contact Name:** | Brian Smith                             | Same as Submitter  ☐   |
|-------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------|
| **Company Name:** | Trinity Highway Products, LLC           | Same as Submitter  ☐   |
| **Address:**      | 2525 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207 | Same as Submitter  ☐   |
| **Country:**      | USA                                     | Same as Submitter  ☐   |

## PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

| **Modification to Existing Hardware Non-Significant – Effect is positive or Inconsequential**

The Thrie Beam King Block (known as the King Size King Block or King King Block) had an FHWA letter, CC-85Cissued on January 13,2003. This letter was issued based on Pendulum Test KB-110 by Southwest Research. TheTest Report is dated December 12, 2002. The title is: Impact Evaluation of A Recycled Plastic/Rubber CompositeBlockout. The composition of the recycled material for the block consisted of 52% of high density polyethylene(HPDE) and 45% Ground Rubber. Letter B-85 E dated May 8, 2007 was issued based on a full scale crash test forthe King Block with 70% HOPE. This test was conducted by SwRI. The report is NCHRP Report 350 Test 3-11Full-Scale Crash Evaluation of a G4-1 S Guardrail with Modified King-block Blockouts. The Test No. is SwRI X06,SwRI Project No 18.12886 dated December 18, 2006.

The King Block used with W-beam guardrail has had several changes to the composition since it was first tested.Letter B-85 was issued based on a pickup test. The composition was 67% HPDE and 30% Ground Rubber.Letter B-85A was issued on July 10,2001 based on a Pendulum Test. The composition was changed to 52%HOPE and 45% Ground Rubber.

FHWA letter B-850 was issued for a composition changed based on a Pendulum Test. The Composition waschanged from 68.5% and 30% Ground Rubber.

FHWA letter B-8SE dated May 8, 2007 was issued based on a full scale crash test with a composition material of70% HOPE, 28.7% Ground Rubber, 0.3% Blowing Agent, and 1% Color Concentrate.

This request is for acceptance of the Thrie Beam King Block with the composition that is the same that is usedwith the King Block for W-Beam. This composition would be 70% HOPE, 28.7% Ground Rubber, 0.3% BlowingAgent, and 1% Color Concentrate. The shape and configuration of the Thrie Beam King Block will continue tobe the same as in FHWA letter CC-8SC. The depth can also be increased to 12" for the MGS Transition or othersystems requiring a 12" deep thrie beam block.

This modification is considered Non-significant, Effect is Positive or Inconsequential.   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

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## CRASH TESTING

A brief description of each crash test and its result:

 
| Required Test Number | Narrative Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Evaluation Results |
|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| 3-10 (820C)          | N/A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |               |
| S3-10 (700C)         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | WAIVER REQUEST     |
| 3-11 (2000P)         | The tet vehicle impacted the longitudinal barrier 1.30 m (4.25 ft)      downstream of post 10 at 23.4 degrees, and laterally deflected the      barrier 1.04 m (3.4 ft) (dynamically). Impact velocity of the test      vehicle was measured using high-speed film analysis, and was      determined to be 1 07.9 km/hr (67.0 mph).

Report 350 states that the recommended impact severity        for Test 3-11 is 139. KJ (-1 0.8 kJ/+ 11.3 kJ). The actual impact         severity of test X06 was 247.2 kJ, a deviation of +9.1 kJ from the        nominal impact severity recommended in NCHRP Report 350.

Given the impact severity of 147.2 kkJ, the equivalent impact speed      of a 2000 kg vehicle impacting the longitudinal barrier at exactly 25 degrees would be 103.3 km/hr (64.2 mph). | PASS               |
| 3-20 (820C)          | N/A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |               |
| S3-20 (700C)         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | WAIVER REQUESTED   |
| 3-21 (2000P)         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | WAIVER REQUESTED   |

Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with MASH by the following accredited crash test  laboratory (cite the laboratory's accreditation status as noted in the crash test reports.):
| **Laboratory Name:**                                | Southwest Research Institute                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| **Laboratory Contact:**                             | Oliver Harrison                              | Same as Submitter ☐ |
| **Address:**                                        | 6220 Culebra Road      San Antonio, TX 78238 | Same as Submitter ☐ |
| **Country:**                                        | USA                                          | Same as Submitter ☐ |
| **Accreditation Certificate      Number and Date:** | ISO 17025      1110.02 March 31,2014         |

## ATTACHMENTS

Attach to this form:
                      - 1) A copy of the full test report, video, and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test conducted insupport of this request.
                      - 2) A drawing or drawings of the device(s) that conform to the Task Force-13 Drawing Specifications[ Hardware Guide Drawing Standards ]. For proprietary products, a single isometric line drawing isusually acceptable to illustrate the product, with detailed specifications, intended use, and contactinformation provided on the reverse. Additional drawings (not in TF-13 format) showing details thatare key to understanding the performance of the device should also be submitted to facilitate ourreview.

***FHWA Official Business Only:***
| Eligibility Letter | AASHTO TF13   | Key Words |
|--------------------|---------------|-----------|
||
| B-85F              | July 29, 2013 | None      | Thrie Beam Blackout Recycled Materials |