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                Safety Eligibility Letter B-265
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Longitudinal Barriers and Bridge Rails
                          **Code:**
            B-265
                          **Date:**
            09/28/2016
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            New York State Thruway Authority
                          **Device Description:**
            Modified 3 Tube Bridge Rail (BR208)
                          **View PDF:**
            b265.pdf (3.45 MB)
    
    Safety Eligibility Letter B-265

			**Download Version**PDF [3.65MB]

			

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

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

September 28, 2016
In Reply Refer To: 
  HSST-1/B-265 REVISED
Mr. Rajesh Taneja
New York State Thruway Authority
200 Southern Blvd., P.O. Box 189
Albany, NY 12201-0189
Dear Mr.Rajesh Taneja:
This letter is in response to your July 21, 2016 request  for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to review a roadside safety  device, hardware, or system for eligibility for reimbursement under the  Federal-aid highway program. This FHWA  letter of eligibility is assigned FHWA control number B-265 and is valid until  a subsequent letter is issued by FHWA that expressly references this device.
***Decision***
The following devices are eligible, with details provided  in the form which is attached as an integral part of this letter:
Modified Three-Tube Bridge Rail (BR208)***Scope of this  Letter***
To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, modified  roadside safety devices should meet the crash test and evaluation criteria  contained in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report  350. However, the FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States  Government do not regulate the manufacture of roadside safety devices.  Eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program does not  establish approval, certification or endorsement of the device for any  particular purpose or use.
This letter is not  a determination by the FHWA, the Department of Transportation, or the  United States Government that a vehicle  crash involving the device will result in any particular outcome, nor is it a  guarantee of the in-service performance of this device. Proper manufacturing,  installation, and maintenance are required in order for this device to function  as tested.
This finding of eligibility is limited to the  crashworthiness of the system and does not cover other structural features, nor  conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
***Eligibility for  Reimbursement***
FHWA previously issued an eligibility letter for the roadside  safety system described in your pending request. Your pending request now  identifies a modification to that roadside safety system.
The original roadside safety device information  is provided here:
Name of system:
BR208 Bridge RailType of system:
  Longitudinal BarrierDate of original request:
  April 18, 2003Date of original FHWA eligibility letter:
  April 22, 2003FHWA Control number:
  B118The pending modification(s) consists of the following  changes:
Changing the  post type from a W8×24 to W6×25.
Decreasing  the post spacing from 9.84 feet on center to 4 feet on center.
Increasing  the overall top-of-rail height from 42 inches to 45 inches.
Eliminating the block out sections for lower rails and changing the rail  sections to TS 6 × 6 × 3/16 inch for all three rails. The design also includes a 1/2-inch thick shim  plate between the post and rails, which was not included in the model. With the shim plate the resulting distance  from the traffic face of the rails to the front flange of the posts is 6.5  inches, which is 1⁄2 inch less than the BR208.
Replacing  the 3/4-inch diameter stud bolts that fasten the rails to the posts in the  original system with 3/4-inch diameter round-head bolts for the top and middle  rails. The lower rail in the modified  design is supported on an L5 × 5 × 5/8 inch angle section with a single  3/4-inch diameter bolt passing vertically through the tube and angle support  bracket. The support is fastened to the  post using two 3/4-inch bolts with nuts and washers.
Increasing  the number of mounting bolts used to fasten the bridge rail to the top of the  curb from 4 bolts to 5 bolts. Â The  additional bolt is placed on the traffic side of the mount-plate (tensile side)  in-line and at the midpoint of the other two mounting bolts.
Increasing  the embedment depth for the anchor bolts from 14 inches to 16.75 inches.
Increasing  the curb width by 3/4-inch (i.e., increasing from 19.5 inches to 20.25 inches).FHWA concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash  testing laboratory as stated within the attached form.
***Full Description  of the Eligible Device***
The device  and supporting documentation, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA) report,  reports of the base-line crash tests or other testing done, videos of base-line  crash testing, and/or drawings of the device, are described in the attached  form. The NYSTA is expected to be responsive to users or other agencies relying  on this eligibility letter on questions that may arise from this documentation  and if necessary provide the same data that was submitted to FHWA for review.
***Notice***
If a  manufacturer makes any modification to any of their roadside safety hardware  that has an existing eligibility letter from FHWA, the manufacturer must notify  FHWA of such modification with a request for continued eligibility for  reimbursement. The notice of all  modifications to a device must be accompanied by:
Significant modifications – For these modifications, crash test results must be submitted with accompanying documentation and videos.
  Non-signification modifications – For these modifications, a statement from the crash test laboratory on the potential effect of the modification on the ability of the device to meet the relevant crash test criteriaFHWA's determination of continued eligibility for the modified hardware will be based on whether the modified hardware will continue to meet the relevant crash test criteria.
Any user or agency relying on this eligibility letter, is  expected to use the same designs, specifications, drawings, installation and  maintenance instructions as those submitted for review.
Any user or agency relying on this eligibility letter, is  expected to ensure that the hardware used has the same chemistry, mechanical  properties, and geometry as that submitted for review, and that it will meet  the test and evaluation criteria of the NCHRP Report 350.
Issuance of this  letter does not convey property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege. This letter is based on the premise that information  and reports submitted by you are accurate and correct. We reserve the right to modify or  revoke this letter if: (1) there are  any inaccuracies in the information submitted in support of your request  for this letter, (2) the qualification testing was flawed, (3) in-service  performance or other information reveals safety problems, (4) the system is  significantly different from the version that was crash tested, or (5) any  other information indicates that the letter was issued in error or otherwise does  not reflect full and complete information about the crashworthiness of the  system.
***Standard Provisions***

      To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of       eligibility designated as FHWA control number B-265 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 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.
           If the subject device is a patented product it may be       considered to be 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 Michael S. Griffith
			Michael S. Griffith
Director,  Office of Safety Technologies
              Office of SafetyEnclosures U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

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