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                Safety Eligibility Letter SS-03
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Sign Supports, Mailboxes, and Delineator Posts
                          **Code:**
            SS-03
                          **Date:**
            10/03/1986
                                  **Manufacturer:**
            Allied Tube & Conduit Corp.
                          **Device Description:**
            QWIK-PUNCH tube system  - max size 	2 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. x 12 ga. post set in reinforced sleeve base.
                          **View PDF:**
            ss03.pdf (115.6 KB)
    
    
United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway AdministrationOctober 3, 1986
  Refer to: HNG-14/SS-03
  Mr. Ronald C. Steininger
    Senior Market Manager
    Mechanical Tube Division
    Allied Tube and Conduit Corporation
    16100 South Lathrop
    Harvey, Illinois 60426
  Dear Mr. Steininger:
  Your September 10 letter requested FHWA acceptance of several sizes of Allied 
    Tube and conduit Corporation’s QWIK-PUNCH sign supports for use on Federal-aid 
    highway projects.  You enclosed a copy of an Ensco report dated June 1986 
    containing information on a series of 12 full-scale crash tests.  The results 
    were evaluated based on impact performance specifications for small sign supports 
    contained in the AASHTO "Standard Specifications for Structural Supports 
    for Highway Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals" (Specifications) and the 
    National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report (NCHRP) No. 230.
  Your tests were conducted on two types of QWIK-PUNCH post installations.  
    Your yielding breakaway system type consists of a square anchor having either 
    knockouts or perforations on all four tube faces placed inside an 18-inch 
    long square sleeve also having either knockouts or perforations on all four 
    tube faces and driven into the soil with only tree inches of material remaining 
    above ground.  A square tube post was then placed in the above so the bottom 
    of the post was 12 inches below the ground.  The post was anchored to the 
    foundation with a grade 2 bolt.  Your direct embedment type consisted simply 
    of a square tube having knockouts or perforations on all four tube faces directly 
    embedded in the ground to a depth of 48 inches.  We note the posts were tested 
    in both S-1 (strong) and S-2 (weak) soils as defined in NCHRP Report 230.  
    The tests were conducted with 1,800-pound vehicles.  You have stated the steel 
    posts conform to the Standard Specifications for Hot-Rolled Carbon Sheet Steel, 
    structural quality ASTM Designation A-570-79.
  Based on our review of the information you supplied, we find the QWIK-PUNCH 
    sign supports listed in the enclosure meet the provisions on the new, but 
    yet unpublished, 1985 AASHTO specifications.  We also inter this system meets 
    the 1975 AASHTO specifications since the 1985 AASHTO specification is more 
    demanding.
  At the present time, FHWA has not yet adopted the 1985 AASHTO specification.  
    Once the AASHTO publishes their specification, we intend to proceed with the 
    process to officially adopt a new specification.  We will issue a Notice of 
    Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register, providing a public 
    comment period, review and evaluate any comments we receive, and then issue 
    a Final Rule.  The effective date of implementing a new specification for 
    Federal-aid highway work is not expected to be until at least mid 1987.
  This acceptance is limited to breakaway characteristics of the system and 
    does not cover its structural features.  Presumably, Allied Tube and Conduit, 
    will supply potential users with sufficient information on structural design 
    and installation requirements, including the need to size the sign panel and 
    support for expected wind loading, to ensure proper support performance.
  We anticipate that the States will require certification from Allied Tube 
    and Conduit, that materials furnished have essentially the same chemistry, 
    mechanical properties, and geometry as the materials used in the tests and 
    that the support will meet the change in momentum requirements of the AASHTO 
    specification.
  Sincerely yours,
  L. A. Staron, Chief
                                                                                        
    Federal-Aid and Design Division
  Enclosure
  Allied Tube and Conduit Corporation
  QWIK-PUNCH Tube Sizes Acceptable 
    for use on
  Federal-Aid Projects when requested 
    by a State
  A.                 
     Yielding Breakaway Type
  POST
      ANCHOR
      SLEEVESize
        O.D. (Inches)
      Gauge
      Size
        O.D. (Inches)
      Gauge
      Size
        O.D. (Inches)
      Gauge or Wall Thkns.
      Number Permitted Within 8-foot path1.  2 1⁄4
      12
      2 
          1⁄2
      12
      3*
      3/16"
      One2.  2 1⁄4
      14
      2 
          1⁄2
      12
      3*
      3/16"
      One3.  2
      12
      2 
          1⁄4
      12
      2 
          1⁄2
      12
      Two4.  2
      14
      2 
          1⁄4
      12
      2 
          1⁄2
      12
      Two5.  1 3⁄4
      12
      2
      12
      2 
          1⁄4
      12
      Two6.  1 3⁄4
      14
      2
      12
      2 
          1⁄4
      12
      Two7. 1 1⁄2
      12
      1 
          3⁄4
      12
      2
      12
      TwoB.                 
     Direct Embedment Type
  Post Size O.D. (Inch)
      Gauge
      Number Permitted Within an 8-foot Path1.  2 1⁄4
      12
      One2.  2 1⁄4
      14
      One3.  2
      12
      One4.  2
      14
      Two5.  1 3⁄4
      12
      Two6.  1 3⁄4
      14
      Two7. 1 1⁄2
      12
      Two*This sleeve has solid, unpunched walls below ground level.
TABLE 2-1
  1758 ALLIED TEST MATRIX
  Test 
          Number
      Date
      Vehicle
      Target 
          Speed (mi/hr)
      Actual 
          Speed (mi/hr)
      V 
          (ft/s)
      Sign 
          Type
      Soil 
          Type1
      2/17/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      20.0
      19.8
      -10.4
      Test 
          Series 1(1)
      Weak2
      2/17/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      20.0
      20.0
      -9.7
      Test 
          Series 1
      Strong3
      2/19/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      60.0
      60.9
      -5.5
      Test 
          Series 1
      Weak4
      2/20/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      60.0
      60.7
      -6.1
      Test 
          Series 1
      Strong5
      3/6/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      20.0
      19.0
      -11.5
      Test 
          Series 2 (2)
      Weak 
          (5)6
      3/6/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      60.0
      58.6
      -6.4
      Test 
          Series 2
      Strong 
          (6)7
      3/7/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      20.0
      19.9
      -8.2
      Test 
          Series 3 (3)
      Weak8
      3/7/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      20.0
      20.3
      -8.9
      Test 
          Series 3
      Strong9
      3/17/86
      1980 
          Renault LeCar
      60.0
      62.2
      -8.5
      Test 
          Series 3
      Strong10
      3/18/86
      1980 
          VW Rabbit
      60.0
      60.6
      -6.3
      Test 
          Series 3
      Weak11
      3/21/86
      1980 
          Dodge Colt
      20.0
      20.9
      -12.4
      Test 
          Series 4 (4)
      Strong 
          (7)12
      3/21/86
      1980 
          Dodge Colt
      60.0
      62.3
      -7.0
      Test 
          Series 4
      Strong 
          (8)1                    
     Single Leg Telescoping Square Sign
  2                    
     Dual Leg Telescoping Diamond Sign
  3                    
     Single Leg Direct Embedment Square Sign
  4                    
     Dual Leg Direct Embedment Diamond Sign
  5                    
     Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 1, Test 2)
  6                    
     Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 3, Test 4)
  7                    
     Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 7, Test 8)
  8                    
     Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 9, Test 10)
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