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                Safety Eligibility Letter WZ-310
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Work Zone Devices
                          **Code:**
            WZ-310
                          **Date:**
            11/30/2011
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            TrafFix Devices
                          **Device Description:**
            Quad Drop Sign Stand
                          **View PDF:**
            wz310.pdf (510.51 KB)
    
    Safety Eligibility Letter WZ - 310
            
            	
          	DOT logo
            	U.S. Department of Transportation**Federal Highway Administration
                400 Seventh St., S.W.Washington, D.C.  20590**
                
          	
			 
			**Download Version**PDF [511 KB]
                
        	November 30, 2011
          In Reply Refer To: **HSST/ WZ-310**
            Jan Miller
Business Development Manager
160 Ave. La Pata
San Clemente, California 92673
          Dear Mr.Miller:
          This letter is in response to your request for the Federal  Highway Administration (FHWA) to review a roadside safety system for  eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program.
Name of system:
                Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign StandType of system:
                Compact Sign StandTest Level:
                NCHRP Report 350 TL-3Testing conducted by:
                N/ADate of request:
                March 7, 2011Date initially acknowledged:
                 April 1, 2011You certify that the device described herein meets the  crashworthiness criteria of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program  (NCHRP) Report 350 "Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance  Evaluation of Highway Features."  Based  on your evaluation, you asked that we find the device eligible for  reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program.  Eligibility for reimbursement under the  Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval or endorsement by the  FHWA for any particular purpose or use.
**Decision:**
The following devices was found eligible, with details provided below:
Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand**Requirements**
  Roadside safety devices should meet the guidelines  contained in the NCHRP Report 350 or the American  Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing  Safety Hardware (MASH).   The FHWA  Memorandum "Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety Features" of July 25, 1997  provides further guidance on crash testing requirements of roadside safety hardware.**Description**
  The Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand is a variation of the  many TrafFix Devices Inc. (TDI) and industry standard sign stands known as "compact  stands" for exclusive use in displaying roll-up signs, up to 48" diamond or 16  sq. ft. or smaller, of standard configuration.
Based on the data, drawings and images provided, you  requested we find the Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand eligible for Federal-aid  funding because it meets the defined product class of Compact Signs Stand as  described in FHWA HSA-10/WZ-85:
"Compact"  sign stands are "X-Footprint" sign stands of steel or aluminum with a short  mast...the mounting height of a 1220 mm × 1220  mm (48"x48") diamond sign is  300 mm to  450 mm (12" to 18") only...with no metal elements at a height that can impact the windshield during a  crash."
Per Drawing 1, enclosed for reference, the Quad-Drop  compact aluminum sign stand has a standard type of "mini mast" allowing for display  of standard sizes and configurations of roll-up sign at 12" above grade.  The entire mast extends to approx 14" above  grade allowing for no mass of steel to extend above bumper height which could  potentially contact a vehicle windshield upon impact.
The TDI proprietary design feature involves the leg  releasing and securing mechanism which facilitates the rapid deployment and  retrieval of the sign stand and roll-up sign.   The Q-D2 sign and stand system replaces the typical hard-locking  pull-pin leg deployment system widely used today.  Functionally, the mechanisms are equivalent  as all stands have leg-locking systems.  We  concur that this modification from the "industry-standard" approach is not a  factor regarding impact performance.
          **Findings**
          We concur that the Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand meets our  criteria for a "compact sign stand" per FHWA Acceptance Letter WZ-85.  Therefore, the system described in the  request above and detailed in the enclosed drawings is form is eligible for  reimbursement and should be installed under the range of conditions such stands  are tested, when such use is acceptable to a highway agency.
          Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA eligibility  letters:
          This finding of       eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the systems       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 system will require a new       letter.
            Should the FHWA discover       that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service performance       reveals unacceptable safety problems, or that the system being marketed is       significantly different from the version that was crash tested, we reserve       the right to modify or revoke this letter.
            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       review, and that it will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA       and NCHRP Report 350.
            To prevent       misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility is designated as       number WZ-310 and 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 at our office 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.  The finding of eligibility       is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate system,       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.
            TrafFix Devices Aluminum Sign Stands are patented products and       considered proprietary.  If       proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on       Federal-aid projects, except exempt, non-NHS 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.
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.   The eligibility letter is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics  of the candidate system, 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,
***Signature of Mike S. Griffith***
            Michael S. Griffith
            	Director, Office of Safety Technologies
                Office of Safety U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

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