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                Safety Eligibility Letter CC-26J
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Barrier Terminals and Crash Cushions
                          **Code:**
            CC-26J
                          **Date:**
            08/16/2011
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Energy Absorption
                          **Device Description:**
            TL-3 REACT 350 II
                          **View PDF:**
            cc26j.pdf (548.8 KB)
    
    Safety Eligibility Letter - CC-26j


			 

			**Download Version**PDF [549 KB]

			

			DOT logoU.S. Department of Transportation**Federal Highway Administration**

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

			August 16, 2011

			In Reply Refer To: HSSD/CC-26J

			

	 Barry D. Stephens, P.E.
	  Sr. Vice President Engineering
	  Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
	  3617 Cincinnati Avenue
	  Rocklin, CA 95678
Dear Mr.Stephens:

   This letter is in response to your request for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) acceptance of a roadside safety device for use on the National Highway System (NHS).
Name of device/system:

					REACT 350® IIType of device/system:

					Redirective non-gating impact attenuatorTest Level:

					NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3 (TL-3)Testing conducted by:

					E-TECH Testing ServicesDate of request:

					December 10, 2010Date initially acknowledged:

					December 22, 2010Date final package received:

					July 22, 2011Task Force 13 Designator:

					SCI 16cYou  requested that we find this device 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."
**Requirements**
  Roadside safety devices should meet the  guidelines contained in the NCHRP Report 350, "Recommended Procedures for  the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features" or the AASHTO  Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware. FHWA Memorandum "ACTION: Identifying  Acceptable Highway Safety Features" of July 25, 1997, provides further guidance  on crash testing requirements of longitudinal barriers.
**Decision:**
  The  following device was found acceptable, with details provided below:
REACT 350® II Redirective Non-gating Impact Attenuator**Description**
  The REACT 350® II Redirective Non-gating Impact  Attenuator (REACT 350® II) uses an array of different energy absorbing  cylinders with varying wall thicknesses to dissipate impact energy as per FHWA  acceptance letters CC-26 (dated March 3, 1995) and CC-26I (dated April 18,  2008).  The current design presented in  this submission requests FHWA review and acceptance of a shorter six cylinder  system which is a self-restoring, redirective, non-gating crash cushion that  can be used in temporary or permanent installations for both single-direction  and bi-directional traffic applications when appropriately transitioned and  anchored.  The six-cylinder design  includes slightly thicker cylinders in the front and additional internal energy  absorbing segments in the first and last two cylinders creating a more robust  design as per NCHRP 350 compliance report prepared by E-TECH Testing Services,  Inc.  The crash test report describes the  REACT 350® II as well as the two full-scale crash tests conducted on this new  attenuator. Design details are provided as enclosure to this correspondence.
   .**Crash Testing**
  To validate a shorter design, full-scale NCHRP 350 crash  testing was conducted on the following two tests.  The crash test  summaries are enclosed for reference.
*NCHRP  350 Test 3-30*: This test  utilizes a 820C vehicle (100KPH/0 deg/ w/4 offset).  The purpose of this test was to evaluate  occupant risk and vehicle trajectory criteria for a small 820C passenger  vehicle under a head-on centered, one quarter vehicle width offset, impact on  the test article.  The curb mass of the  vehicle was 827 kg, and the final test inertial mass was 827 kg.  The actual impact conditions were 97.7 km/h  (60.7 mph) and 0 deg. the impact severity was 304.3 kJ which was within the  NCHRP 350 recommended tolerance of 316.4 (-24.8/ +25.8) kJ.  The maximum dynamic deflection of the test  article was 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) and the post-test deflection was 0.8-meter  (2.6 feet).
   *NCHRP  350 Test 3-31*: This test is  a capacity test utilizing a 2000P vehicle (100KPH/0 deg).  The purpose of this test was to evaluate the  occupant risk and vehicle trajectory criteria for a large 2000P passenger  vehicle under a head-on centered impact aligned with the nose of the system.  The curb mass of the vehicle was 2063 kg (4548  lbs.) and the final test inertial mass was 2021 kg (4674 lbs.).  The actual impact conditions were 97.0 km/h  (60.7 mph) and 0 deg. the impact severity was 733.7 kJ which was within the  NCHRP 350 recommended tolerance of 771.7 (-60.4 / +62.9) kJ.  The maximum dynamic deflection of the test  article was 4.0 meters (13.1 feet) and the post-test deflection was 1.0-meter  (3.3 feet) immediately after the test.In  addition, other required testing is hereby requested to be waived, as follows:
   Test Number
    Test Level
    Requested Comparison3-32
    TL3
    Not necessary since Test 3-30 considered worst case because in 3-32 car yaws quickly, resulting in lower ORV values3-33
    TL3
    Not necessary since Test 3-31 considered worst case because in 3-33 pickup yaws quickly, resulting in lower ORV values3-36
    TL3
    Not necessary since shorter configuration does not affect system performance.  Vehicle sees same wire ropes and the cylinder wall thickness (stiffness) has increased, improving performance3-37
    TL3
    Not necessary since shorter configuration does not affect system performance.  Vehicle sees same wire ropes and the cylinder wall thickness (stiffness) has increased, improving performance (see reference test 270687-VAN9)3-38
    TL3
    Not necessary since shorter configuration does not affect system performance.  Vehicle sees same wire ropes and the cylinder wall thickness (stiffness) has increased, improving redirective performance. (see reference test 472380-8)3-39
    TL3
    Not necessary since shorter configuration does not affect system performance.  Vehicle sees same wire ropes and the cylinder wall thickness (stiffness) has increased, improving redirective performance.**Findings**
  Based upon the successful completion of the provided NCHRP  350 tests and consideration of requested waiver of testing, we concur the six  cylinder TL-3 REACT 350® II self restoring, redirective, non-gating crash  cushion can be used in temporary or permanent installations for both unidirectional  and bidirectional traffic applications when appropriately transitioned and  anchored. Therefore, the system as described above may be used on the NHS when  such use is acceptable to the contracting authority.
Please note the following standard provisions that apply to  FHWA letters of acceptance:
This acceptance provides a AASHTO/ARTBA/AGC Task  Force 13 designator that should be used for the purpose of the creation of a  new and/or the update of existing Task Force 13 drawing for posting on the  on-line 'Guide to Standardized Highway Barrier Hardware' currently referenced  in AASHTO 'Roadside Design Guide'.
  This acceptance is limited to the  crashworthiness characteristics of the devices/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 device/system 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/system being marketed is significantly different  from the version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or  revoke our 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  it will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA and the NCHRP Report  350.
  To prevent misunderstanding by others, this  letter of acceptance is designated as number CC-26J 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.
  The REACT 350® II is a patented product and  considered proprietary.  If proprietary  devices/systems are specified by a highway agency 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 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.
  This acceptance letter shall not be construed as  authorization or consent by the FHWA to use, manufacture, or sell any patented  device/system for which the applicant is not the patent holder.  The acceptance letter is limited to the  crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate device/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.Sincerely yours,
			      
			      */* Signature of Michael S. Griffith */*
			      
			      Michael S. GriffithDirector, Office of Safety TechnologiesOffice of SafetyEnclosures U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

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