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                Safety Eligibility Letter WZ-235
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Work Zone Devices
                          **Code:**
            WZ-235
                          **Date:**
            05/03/2006
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            CRSIGNS Inc.
                          **Device Description:**
            RubberSteel
                          **View PDF:**
            wz235.pdf (238.24 KB)
    
    
Skip to contentSkip to contentUnited States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway AdministrationDOT logo
U.S. Department of Transportation
**Federal Highway Administration**
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20590**May 3, 2006**
**Refer to: HSA-10/WZ-235**

Mr. Randy Held
	CRSIGNS Inc.
	5004 Steelhead Street
	Juneau, Alaska  99801
	
Dear Mr. Held :
Thank you for your email  correspondence of November 28, 2005, requesting Federal Highway Administration  (FHWA) acceptance of your company's RubberSteeltm method for overlaying sign panels as crashworthy, for use in work zones  on the National Highway System (NHS).  You provided a sample, and requested that we find this system 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."
**Introduction**
The FHWA guidance on crash testing  of work zone traffic control devices is contained in two memoranda. The first, dated July 25, 1997, titled "INFORMATION:  Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety Features," established four categories of  work zone devices: Category I devices are those lightweight devices which are  to be self-certified by the vendor, Category II devices are other lightweight  devices which need individual crash testing but with reduced instrumentation,  Category III devices are barriers and other fixed or heavy devices also needing  crash testing with normal instrumentation, and Category IV devices are trailer  mounted lighted signs, arrow panels, etc. for which crash testing requirements  have not yet been established. The  second guidance memorandum was issued on August 28, 1998, and is titled "INFORMATION:  Crash Tested Work Zone Traffic Control Devices." This later memorandum lists devices that are acceptable under  Categories I, II, and III. Our new  acceptance process was outlined in our memorandum "FHWA Hardware Acceptance  Procedures – Category 2 Work Zone Devices" dated November 11, 2005.

A brief description of the devices  follows:
The "RubberSteeltm"  material is a flexible, magnetic attractive panel that can be applied to sign  substrates. Magnetic sheeting panels  that carry alternate legends or symbols may then be placed on the sign as the  traffic situation warrants. The system  can also be use to obscure the entire sign when not needed.
Your request was to permit the use  of signs consisting of RubberSteeltm affixed to corrugated plastic  substrates. As no crash tests have been conducted on this product, you asked  that the FHWA accept the use of the RubberSteeltm modified signs *on  sign stands that have been successfully crash tested with conventional rigid  substrates* such as wood and solid aluminum.
**Findings**
The RubberSteeltm  material weights approximately 6.85 ounces per square foot. For a sign measuring 36 x 36 inches, the  weight of a solid aluminum substrate (0.080 inches thick) is approximately 8.7  pounds. A similar sized sign of  corrugated plastic with RubberSteeltm weighs approximately 7.0  pounds. As most plywood sign substrates  are heavier than solid aluminum, they too would be substantially heavier than a  corrugated plastic substrate with RubberSteeltm applied.
Because the modified signs would  weigh no more than the conventional solid sign substrates they would replace,  they can be expected to perform at least as well when impacted when mounted on  the following categories of sign supports:
1) Roadside signs on  ground-mounted breakaway supports, whether used in work zones or in permanent  installations, meeting the MUTCD minimum height requirement. Sign supports in this category may be found  on the FHWA web site at:http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_guide/road_hardware/breakaway/signsupports.cfm
2) On portable work zone sign  stands *which have been successfully tested with rigid substrates* including plywood and solid aluminum.  These include X-foot print and H-footprint stands that have identified  breakaway features at the base, and are mounted at least 5 feet above the  ground. Sign stands in this category may be found on the FHWA web site at:http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_guide/road_hardware/cat2.cfmThe results of the testing of the  original sign stands and supports met the FHWA requirements and, therefore, the  portable stands and permanent sign supports described above, modified with  RubberSteeltm material, are acceptable for use under the range of  conditions the original sign stands were tested, when proposed by a State.
Please note the following standard  provisions that apply to the FHWA letters of acceptance:
Our       acceptance is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the       devices 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       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 being marketed is significantly different from the version that was       crash tested, 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, and that they will meet the crashworthiness       requirements of the FHWA and the NCHRP Report 350.
To       prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance, designated       as number WZ-235 shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter, and the test documentation       upon which this letter is based, is public information. All such letters and documentation may       be reviewed at our office upon request.
RubberSteel       tm material is patented and 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" given below for the use of proprietary products on Federal-aid       projects. On the other hand, if       proprietary devices 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 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.
This acceptance letter shall not be construed as  authorization or consent by the FHWA to use, manufacture, or sell any patented  device for which the applicant is not the patent holder. The acceptance letter is limited to the  crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate device, 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,

		
		**/original signed by George Ed Rice, Jr/****for**

John R. Baxter, P.E.
						Director, Office of Safety Design 
Office of Safety

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