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                Safety Eligibility Letter B-34E
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Longitudinal Barriers and Bridge Rails
                          **Code:**
            B-34E
                          **Date:**
            07/11/2002
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Armorcast Products Company
                          **Device Description:**
            Modified Guardian Design @TL-3
                          **View PDF:**
            b34e.pdf (585.93 KB)
    
    
  
July 11, 2002
  
HSA-10/B34E
  
Sidney D. Chase
  Armorcast Products Company
  13230 Saticay Street
  North Hollywood, California 91605
  Dear Ms. Chase:
  Dr. Dean Alberson's June 11 letter 
    to Mr. Richard Powers of my staff requested Federal Highway Administration 
    acceptance of a modified "350 kit" for use with the Guardian Barrier.   This 
    modification eliminates the steel straps used to support the 2-inch diameter 
    Schedule 40 steel pipes and attach them to the sides of the barrier.  Instead, 
    these pipes are now bolted together through the plastic barrier using 1⁄2-inch 
    diameter threaded rods.  In addition, rubber spacers are used to extend the 
    upper pipe rails beyond the face of the barrier, placing them approximately 
    over the lower pipe rails, which have been recessed into the barrier.  The 
    connection of the pipe rails at the joints is identical to the previously 
    accepted design, as are the overall dimensions of the plastic barrier segments.  
    Details of the modified design 
    are shown as an enclosure to this letter.
  Because the only significant difference 
    from the original Guardian is the method of attaching the 350 kit to the barrier, 
    the modified design can be considered equivalent and the Guardian barrier 
    may be used on the National Highway System (NHS) as an NCHRP Report 350 test 
    level 3 (TL-3) traffic barrier.  However, since the new attachment detail 
    has not been crash tested, I recommend that an informal in-service evaluation 
    be conducted to verify satisfactory field performance.  Chapter 7 of NCHRP 
    Report 350 outlines the requirements for an appropriate in-service evaluation 
    of roadside hardware.
  The acceptance is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the 
    device and does not cover other structural features, or conformity with the 
    Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
  Any design changes that may adversely influence the crashworthiness of 
    the device will require a new acceptance letter.
  Should the FHWA discover that an in-service performance evaluation reveals 
    unacceptable safety problems, or that the device being marketed is significantly 
    different from the version that was accepted for use on the NHS, 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.
  To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance shall 
    not be reproduced except in full.  This letter is considered public information. 
    All such letters and documentation may be reviewed at our office upon request.The Guardian Barrier is a patented 
    device and is thus 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) 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.
  Should you have any questions concerning 
    this letter, please call Mr. Powers at (202) 366-1320.
  
Sincerely yours,
(original signed by Harry W. Taylor)
for
Carol H. Jacoby, P.E.
  Director, Office of Safety Design
2 Enclosures U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

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