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                Safety Eligibility Letter SS-41A
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Sign Supports, Mailboxes, and Delineator Posts
                          **Code:**
            SS-41A
                          **Date:**
            01/28/1998
                                  **Manufacturer:**
            Richard Strizki
                          **Device Description:**
            Design revisions to New Jersey Breakaway Sign System.
                          **View PDF:**
            ss41a.pdf (485.52 KB)
    
    
United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway AdministrationJanuary 26, 1998
  Refer to: HNG-14/SS-41A
  Richard Strizki, P.E.
    Box 66K, RR #1
    Uniondale, Pennsylvania 18470
  Dear Mr. Strizki:
  This is in reply to your October 26, 1997, letter requesting Federal Highway 
    Administration (FHWA) acceptance of design revisions of your New Jersey Breakaway 
    Sign System (NJ-BSS).  You included drawings and text explaining the revised 
    method for connecting the signpost to the base plate.  You stated that this 
    improvement will allow correct installation in spite of minor misalignment 
    of the bolts or variation in post depth.  In response to our request, on January 
    6 you sent us revised drawings, which show the correct orientation of the 
    load concentrating washers.
  According to your drawings and description (see Enclosure 1), the principal 
    changes to the NJ-BSS are as follows:
  The brackets at the vase of the signpost are removed.  They are replaced 
      by four "connecting tubes" which are welded to the outside of the post flanges.
    A base plate [made of 690 Mpa (100,000 psi), minimum, steel] is added 
      to the design.  This base plate has eight holes:  the four inner holes are 
      for the bolts that hold the base plate to the bottom of the signpost (the 
      bolts pass through the "connecting tubes" discussed above.)  The four outer 
      holes are for the breakaway couplings.  It is your intent that the four 
      "load concentrating washers" be attached to the base plate "in the shop" 
      rather than installed separately in the field, thus improving quality control.  
      This base plate may also be used as a template in the construction of the 
      foundation to ensure that the anchor bars or bolts are in the correct alignment.Your letter also described and illustrated an alternate method of installing 
    the anchors.  This method eliminates the need for a leveling plane (see Enclosure 
    2).
  You also sent a drawing which showed the NJ-BSS in sue with "Break-Safe" 
    couplings.  These couplings are a proprietary device distributed by Transpo 
    Industries.  This drawing, along with other details, are shown in Enclosure 
    3.
  The changes you proposed to the NJ-BSS, which, as indicated, are described 
    and illustrated in the enclosures, are not expected to change the breakaway 
    performance of the NJ-BSS from that of the version previously found acceptable.  
    Therefore, the revised NJ-BSS is acceptable for use on the National Highway 
    System, (NHS) when requested by a State.  All other conditions in our two 
    previous letters on the New Jersey couplers remain in effect.  These letters 
    are:
  SS-23, dated March 14, 1991, to FHWA Region 1;
  SS-41, dated November 8, 1993, to you.
  We understand that you have given Transpo Industries the exclusive right 
    to use the revisions to the NJ-BSS covered in this letter.  If the modified 
    NJ-BSS is patented it will be considered as a proprietary product.  To be 
    used in Federal-aid projects, except exempt, non-NHS projects, proprietary 
    products:  (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 
    alternate 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,
  Dwight A. Horne, Chief
                                                                                        
    Federal-Aid and Design Division
  4 Enclosures
  Supplemental Geometric and Safety Design Acceptance Letter SS-41A
  Enclosure 1:  Page 1 of 3
  Improved Version of the New Jersey 
    Breakaway Sign System
  Purpose:
  The purpose of this device is to provide horizontal and vertical adjustment 
    for any misalignment of breakaway coupling centers or the like, between the 
    post base and concrete footing.  Therefore, the use of this device will eliminate 
    present erection and replacement problems encountered with low profile breakaway 
    ground-mounted sign supports.
  In addition, the use of this device will reduce erection and material costs 
    of the present low profile breakaway system.  It will also eliminate these 
    parts, the washer retainer, the hex studs, and permit the load concentrating 
    washers to be securely attached to the base plate.  This attachment of the 
    L.C. washers in the stop by qualified employees rather than in the field will 
    make the system more fool proof or reliable.
  Description:
  The front and side elevation of the sketches shows the arrangement of the 
    breakaway couplings with the base plate, leveling plate and anchor bars.  
    The initial placement of the anchor bars into the footing can be done with 
    the leveling plate and breakaway couplings attached to both the anchor bars 
    and base plate.  (Note:  See later description for No leveling plate.)  
    This will assure the proper alignment of the anchor bars with respect to the 
    breakaway couplings and base plate.
  These members should then be securely supported on the concrete form, after 
    setting the base plate to the proper elevation and leveling it.  The holes 
    in the base plate for the post attachment bolts can be utilized in providing 
    the support.  The base plate is made from material having a minimum yield 
    of 100,000 psi to limit its thickness and weight.
  The footing is then poured to the top of the leveling plate around the outside.  
    Grout is then placed inside the leveling plate as shown in the sketches.
  After the concrete footing has cured, the post then can easily be installed.  
    This is accomplished by inserting the post attachment bolts into the connecting 
    tubes and then passing them through the oversized holes in the base plate.  
    The oversized holes in both the connecting tubes and base plate compensate 
    for any misalignment or variation in the post size.  Shims or washers can 
    be placed on the bottom of the connecting tubes, which can be circular, square, 
    rectangular, or multisided in cross section, to level the post if necessary.  
    The washers and nuts are then placed on the attachment bolts and tightened 
    by the turn of the nut method.  This completes the post installation to the 
    footing.
  In the event of a vehicle impact on the post, the grout and broken couplings 
    are removed and new couplings are screwed on the anchor bars and the leveling 
    plate is again filled with grout and the post reinstalled.
  By Richard Strizki, P.E.
  8/6/97
  Enclosure 2:  Page 1 of  3
  Description of Improved Version of the New Jersey Breakaway 
    Sign Support System Without Leveling Plate
  The following is an addition to [the previous] pages of the "Improved 
    Version of the New Jersey Breakaway Sign System."  This addition eliminates 
    the need for the leveling plate.  This elimination is shown on the two sketches 
    dated 8/12/97.  On these sketches a galvanized washer is placed between the 
    bottom of the breakaway coupling and bottom-threaded portion of the anchor 
    bar.  The diameter of this washer is such that it will not permit its movement 
    below the bottom thread of the anchor bar.  A close fitting P.V.C. sleeve 
    is then slipped over the top of the breakaway coupling.  This sleeve is then 
    brought down to the top of this washer.  The function of the P.V.C. sleeve 
    is to prevent any bonding action between the lower barrel of the breakaway 
    coupling and the concrete.  Thereby allowing easy removal of this portion 
    of the breakaway coupling after vehicle impact using the coupling’s wrenching 
    flats to unscrew it.
  The entire assembly consisting of the breakaway couplings connected to the 
    base plate, along with the P.V.C. sleeve and washer installed on it and the 
    anchor bar attached are then placed on the footing form.  This assembly is 
    then set to the proper elevation, leveled, and secured to the footing form.  
    The post attachment holes in the base plate may be used for this securing 
    of the assembly.
  Then the footing is filled with concrete and allowed to cure before the signpost 
    is attached using the post attachment bolts.  The oversized holes in the connecting 
    tubes on the post and in the base plate provided ample allowance for any misalignment 
    or post variation.
  By:  Richard Strizki, P.E.
  2/23/97
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