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                Safety Eligibility Letter WZ-234
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Work Zone Devices
                          **Code:**
            WZ-234
                          **Date:**
            07/10/2006
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            TrafFix Devices
                          **Device Description:**
            Phoenix Base, Phoenix Sign Stand, Traffic Super Buster, Traffix Big Buster.
                          **View PDF:**
            wz234.pdf (1.96 MB)
    
    
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**Refer to: HSA-10/WZ-234**

Mr. Jan Miller
	TrafFix Devices, Inc.
	220 Calle Pintoresco
	San Clemente, California  92672
	
Dear Mr.  Miller :
Thank you for your letter of March  16, 2006, requesting the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) acceptance of  a number of variations to your company's traffic control devices for use in  work zones on the National Highway System (NHS). You requested that we find these modified devices 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.
You requested acceptance to all  appropriate current NCHRP-350 performance criteria for these TrafFix Devices  Inc., (TDI) Class II Temporary Traffic Control Devices based on the attached  drawings. Crash test reporting on these  products were contained in the FHWA acceptance letters, WZ-24, WZ-46, WZ-73,  WZ-108, and WZ-216.

Specific requests with background  and discussion as follows:
**Request 1:** 
Acceptance of 2 variations  of "Super High Level" portable dual spring sign stands, for mounting Rigid  Signs, Semi-Rigid Signs and Roll-up fabric signs at 7 ft above grade to the  bottom of the sign. See enclosed drawings for reference.
**1a)** Previously Tested and Accepted "Big Buster" with  extended mast top mast for use with Roll-up fabric and Semi-rigid signs of  LDPE/Laminate or corrugated 16 and 10mm plastic, and
**1b)** Larger  scaled "Super Buster" version of Big Buster, geometrically similar, for use  with Rigid 5/8" plywood and various thicknesses of solid aluminum as well as  Semi-rigid and Roll-up signs.
**Background:**
Various highway agencies are  requiring 7 ft mounting heights for long and short duration projects as well as  for ground mounted and portable installations. They are interested in using  existing, accepted products, particularly those that may offer some component  interchangeability.
**Discussion:**
It is generally understood that  the greatest risk for sign mounting on both portable as well as ground mounted  signs is over 18" and under 5 feet above grade to the bottom of the sign. Raising the sign height an additional 2 feet  allows greater clearance for smaller and larger vehicles. Given the use of same  stand materials and conformity to same basic relative product geometry, (height/  weight/ footprint/ spring strength) we can safely extrapolate that the product  will perform comparably, particularly given an additional 
2-foot margin of safety.The "Big Buster" High-Level, dual  spring aluminum sign stand has been tested and accepted for use with the  requested standard sign materials, 5/8" plywood to roll-up signs, and Sizes,  48" x 60" and smaller, with signs mounted at 5'- 5' 6" feet above grade to the  bottom. (Ref. WZ's-24, 73, 108 and 113)  Because signs at lower mounting heights are known to be less safe, the  existing successful testing on the Big Buster truly represents the "worst case  scenario."
**Conclusion:**
Based on the body of testing done  by TDI on this family of products, known testing on the behavior of impacted  signs at higher mounting heights, the enclosed drawings, and the typical safety  matrix extrapolation procedures used in this process, we believe your requests  are reasonable and appropriate.**Request 2:** 
Acceptance for your Phoenix, molded rubber  Multi-Purpose sign stand base for use with 48" and smaller Roll-up fabric signs  and light weight .030" sheeted plastic vertical 
barricade or sign panels,  typically under 300 sq. inches of material, all mounted at 12" above grade,  attached by sewn pocket, rivet or small bolt-set to a 1 3⁄4" w x 1⁄4" thick  fiberglass pultrusion, pressure-attached to stand base by optional  bracket.
**Background:**
In the interest of economy,  interchangeability and a need for additional Safety Signs, Pedestrian Crossing  Signs and Barricade items, you are requesting to broaden the applications for  use of this product to include light weight rollup material, 0.030-in  polyethylene, and 10 mm corrugated panels measuring 12 x 36 inches or  smaller. The mast will typically be a  1⁄4" x 1 3⁄4" fiberglass mast, tall enough to support the sign.
**Discussion:**
Test Data indicate that Category  II portable signs offer less risk of occupant compartment penetration when  significantly lighter weight substrates and smaller signs are used. In all cases, this 33 lb stand base will  accommodate a roll-up or polyethylene sign and frame assembly, no more than a  total of 8 lbs, with a center of gravity approximately 4" inches above grade.The "Phoenix" molded rubber,  multi-purpose stand base has been tested and accepted for use from single post  sign stanchions to bases for Type III barricades, with a variety of mast  materials, square steel or plastic posts, and standard sign materials from 48"  diamond-shaped, 0.080" thick solid aluminum and smaller to plastic and roll-up  signs, mounted at various heights. (Ref. WZ's-73, 108, 113 and 189) Because all previous successful testing was  done with heavier mast, heavier signs, and with much higher centers of gravity,  it is safe to say they represent "worst case scenarios."
**Conclusion:**
Based on testing done by TDI on  this family of products, known testing on the behavior of impacted comparable  products, the enclosed drawings, and the typical safety matrix extrapolation  procedures used in this process, we believe your requests are reasonable and  appropriate.**Request 3:** 
Acceptance of TrafFix  Devices standard fold-up barricades with 12" x 24" top panels, the traditional  8" x 24" bottom panel and a standard barricade light. (Chart below)
**Background:**
Recent requests for more reflective  panel surface and additional sign/arrow uses have resulted in an increase in  popularity of folding barricade products with larger top panels. The lower  panel remains the typical standard size.  A standard barricade light attachment option is also desired, used with  a bolt protector.You have successfully tested a  wide array of fold-up barricade configurations, with various leg materials,  plastic and metal, all with standard 8" x 24" top panels, A/C barricade lights,  including impacts with a 48" diamond-shaped plastic sign. 
(Ref. WZ's-24, 46, and 216)
**Discussion:**
The significant difference  between the previously accepted product and the requested items is the height  of the Top Panel; 12" h x 24" wide vs. the standard 8" h x 24" w. The previously tested and requested items  have much in common.
All feature the same legs and  barricade light. All have the same  height to the top of the top panel. All  panels are either Injection or blow molded plastic. Weight difference is negligible (+ 1-2 lbs). Further, the product users will typically  ballast the item with either your San-Fil bottom panels, also tested, or  another approved ballast method.It could be stated that the  additional material would be an asset, strengthening the product in the  90-degree impact mode. Given the recent  test of a barricade with a 48" diamond-shaped plastic sign, we concur your  requests are a reasonable extrapolation.  The various product series are as follows:
Product
Description
Weight
8" x 24"
Weight
12"x 24"35000 Series
12ga. steel legs w/injection molded panels
17.4 lbs.
18.9 lbs.14ga. steel legs w/injection molded panels
14.9 lbs.
16.4 lbs.36000 Series
Blow molded plastic legs w/injection molded panels
12.0 lbs.
13.5 lbs.37000 Series*
Blow molded plastic legs and panels
12.0 lbs.
13.5 lbs.39000 Series
Injection molded plastic legs and panels
10.2 lbs.
11.7 lbs.
**Conclusion:**
Given the significant  amount of testing performed on this common item, and based on the body of  testing done by TDI on this family of products, known testing on the behavior  of impacted comparable products, the enclosed drawings, and the typical safety  matrix extrapolation procedures used in this process, we concur that your  requests are reasonable and appropriate.**Findings**
We concur that the  devices described in the various requests above and detailed in the enclosed  drawings are acceptable for use on the NHS under the range of conditions  tested, when proposed by a State.
Please note the following standard  provisions that apply to 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-234 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.
Certain       TrafFix Devices Inc., devices are 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/**

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

7 Enclosures
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