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                Safety Eligibility Letter B-82A
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Longitudinal Barriers and Bridge Rails
                          **Code:**
            B-82A
                          **Date:**
            02/27/2003
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            BRIFEN USA, Inc
                          **Device Description:**
            Rescinded "Buy America" provision
                          **View PDF:**
            b82a.pdf (50.86 KB)
    
    
February 27, 2003
HSA-10/B82A
Mr. Jerry Emerson
BRIFEN USA, Inc.
P.O. Box 94220
Oklahoma City, OK 73143
Dear Mr. Emerson:
In your January 24 letter to Mr. Richard Powers of my staff,
you advised him that all steel components of the Brifen Wire Rope Safety Fence
(WRSF) are now manufactured from domestic steel in your Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
plant.  Accordingly, the reference to 23
CFR Section 635.410  (Buy America
requirements) contained in Mr. Frederick G. Wright's April 10, 2001 acceptance
letter for the Brifen WRSF is hereby rescinded.  Section 635.411 (Material or product selection) remains
applicable since the Brifen WRSF is a proprietary product.
You stated in your letter that actual barrier deflections on
your first U.S. installation on the Lake Hefner Parkway in Oklahoma City have
been significantly less than the approximate 8 feet noted on your certification
test.  You reported the maximum actual
deflection, based on over 140 impacts, was less than 5 feet and that most were
much less. This was attributed to the use of the socketed post system in the
Lake Hefner Parkway installation in lieu of driven posts in the test
installation. One can also assume that most actual impacts were at angles less
than the 25-degree angle specified for the certification test and upon which
the design deflection distance is established. 
Since the Brifen system is symmetrical, deflections will be similar for
hits on either side of the barrier, an attribute desirable for a median
barrier.
I would appreciate your continuing to provide us information
on in-service performance of the Brifen system, especially as more
installations are completed nationwide.
Sincerely yours,
(original
signed by Harry W. Taylor)
for:
Michael S. GriffithActing Director, Office of Safety DesignOffice of Safety U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

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WASHINGTON, DC 20590

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