USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Safety
                        Roadway Departure Safety
                        Reduce Crash Severity
                        Hardware Eligibility Letters


            
            In This Section
        Roadway Departure Safety
                Strategic Approach
                                Strategic Plan
                Crash Emphasis Brochures
                Focused Approach
                Noteworthy Practices
                Partner Resources
                Keep Vehicles on the Road
                                Pavement Friction
                Horizontal Curve Safety
                Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes
                Nighttime Visibility
                Provide for a Safe Recovery
                                SafetyEdge
                Clear Zones
                Reduce Crash Severity
                                Overview
                Hardware Eligibility Letters
                Focus on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures (FoRRRwD)
                                Overview
                All Public Roads
                Proven Countermeasures
                Systemic Approach
                Safety Action Plans
                FoRRRwD Resources
                
                Safety Eligibility Letter WZ-148
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Work Zone Devices
                          **Code:**
            WZ-148
                          **Date:**
            03/21/2003
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            X-Cessories Squared
                          **Device Description:**
            Revision to Type III Barricade from WZ-51
                          **View PDF:**
            wz148.pdf (615.13 KB)
    
    



April 1, 2003
Refer to: HSA-10/WZ-148
Mr. Larry Leahy
Xcessories Squared
P.O. Box 135 
Auburn, Illinois  62615
Dear Mr. Leahy:
This is in response to your letter of January 14 requesting
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) acceptance of a modification to your company's
Type III Barricades as crashworthy traffic control devices for use in work
zones on the National Highway System (NHS). 
Accompanying your letter were drawings of the modified barricade and a
discussion of the changes. You requested that we find these 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 were those lightweight devices which could be
self-certified by the vendor, Category II devices were other lightweight
devices which needed individual crash testing, Category III devices were
barriers and other fixed or massive devices also needing crash testing, and
Category IV devices were trailer mounted lighted signs, arrow panels, etc.  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.
Barricade descriptions:
Our letter to you WZ-51, dated September 8, 2000,
summarized a number acceptable Type III barricades framed with perforated
square steel tube elements.  One style
of barricade uses gusset plates attached to either side of the skid.  The barricade's “uprights” are secured
between these two gusset plates The X-Cessories Squared Shear Bolt Model TL132 employs
rectangular gusset plates having two horizontal backing lugs, one on either
side of a single 3/8 inch cross bolt in order to secure the plate to the bottom
skid.  The TBB-3 model uses a
trapezoidal plate with two 3/8 inch cross bolts for the same purpose.  You requested acceptance of the TBB-3,
modified to the single bolt, double lug connection to the skid (as on the TL132
model.)  The revised shear pin barricade
bracket is designated TBB3-C.
Findings
We concur that this minor change to the gusset plate
connection will not significantly affect the performance of the barricade and,
therefore, the barricade connection described above and detailed in the
enclosed drawings is 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 FHWA and NCHRP Report 350.
To
     prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance, designated
     as number WZ-148 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.
X-Cessories
     Squared barricades may contain patented or “proprietary” devices. 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 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.
This
     acceptance letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by
     the FHWA to use, manufacture, or sell any patented device.  Patent issues are to be resolved by the
     applicant and the patent owner.Sincerely yours,
Michael S.
Griffith
Acting
Director, Office of Safety Design
Office
of Safety
Enclosures U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us