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                Safety Eligibility Letter CC-57D
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Barrier Terminals and Crash Cushions
                          **Code:**
            CC-57D
                          **Date:**
            12/18/2015
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Trinity Highway Products
                          **Device Description:**
            QuadGuard Elite System Modification
                          **View PDF:**
            cc57d.pdf (1.71 MB)
    
    Safety Eligibility Letter CC-57D

			**Download Version**PDF [1.70 MB]

			

			DOT logoU.S. Department of Transportation**Federal Highway Administration**

			1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.Washington, D.C. 20590

December 18, 2015
In Reply Refer To: 
  HSST/CC57D
Mr. Bret Eckert P.E.
  Engineering Applications Manager
  Trinity Highway Products
  3617 Cincinnati Avenue
  Rocklin, CA 95677
Dear Mr. Eckert:
This letter is in response to your August 1, 2014 request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to review a roadside safety device, hardware, or system for eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program.  This FHWA letter of eligibility is assigned FHWA control number CC-57D and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by FHWA that expressly references this device.
**Decision**
The following devices are eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an integral part of this letter:
QuadGuard Elite System Modification***Scope of this  Letter***
To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, modified  roadside safety devices should meet the crash test and evaluation criteria  contained in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report  350. However, the FHWA, the Department  of Transportation, and the United States Government do not regulate the  manufacture of roadside safety devices. Eligibility for reimbursement under the  Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval, certification or  endorsement of the device for any particular purpose or use.
This letter is not  a determination by the FHWA, the Department of Transportation, or the  United States Government that a vehicle  crash involving the device will result in any particular outcome, nor is it a  guarantee of the in-service performance of this device. Proper manufacturing,  installation, and maintenance are required in order for this device to function  as tested.
This finding of eligibility is limited to the  crashworthiness of the system and does not cover other structural features, nor  conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
***Eligibility for  Reimbursement***
FHWA previously issued an eligibility letter for  the roadside safety system described in your pending request. Your pending  request now identifies a modification to that roadside safety system
The original roadside safety device information is provided  here:
Name of system:
QuadGuard	EliteType of system:
  Crash CushionDate of original request:
  September 8, 1998Date of original FHWA eligibility letter:
December 30, 1998FHWA Control number:
CC-57The modification(s)  to the QuadGuard covered by this letter are:
Modified the bolt type used to attach the nose belt  support legs to the nose belt from elevator head style to hex head style.
  Modified the diaphragm chain protective coating from  purchasing the chain in black, uncoated condition and hot dipped galvanizing  after cutting to length to purchasing galvanized chain. The chain remains the same size and grade  with identical properties.
  Modified the wire rope clamp used for the cylinder  retention cables by changing the clamp rod diameter from 7/16" to  1/2". The wire rope clamp retains  is size for 1/2" cable and provides increased clamping force with the larger  rod diameter and correspondingly sized nuts.
  Improved the fit between the diaphragm components by  lengthening the diaphragm side plate from 20 7/8" to 21". This modification provides for a improved fit  between the QuadBeam panel and cylinder edge guard.
  Modified the part number of the bolt used to attach the  nose belt to the nose cylinder. There is  no change to the size or type of bolt.
  Improved the assembly of the Hit Indicator post by  increasing the hole diameters and providing fastener clearance in the post  tubing from 1/2" to 9/16" and 1/4" to 5/16", respectively.
  Improved the diaphragm lower reinforcements horizontal  fillet weld by increasing total weld length on each surface from 17" to  18".
  Improved the hinge pivot attachment on the wide system  diaphragm hinge plates by adding 1/8" fillet welds to the outside surfaces  of the hinge pair.
  Modified the QuadGuard Elite Backup Assembly by  eliminating the backup cable support bracket and corresponding fasteners from  the backup assembly. The rear cylinder  cable will continue to be wrapped around the lower portion of the  diaphragm/tension strut backup. This  method of wrapping the cable around the lower diaphragm has been the standard  method of retaining the cylinders in all other bays in the QuadGuard Elite.
  Modified the QuadGuard Product and Assembly Manuals to  the current Trinity Highway format.
  Improved the method of ensuring consistent preloading  of the fender panel rear tension springs from compressing 1/16" to  1/8", to tightening the nut on mushroom washer bolt until it reaches end  of threads. This method eliminates nut  loosening and maintains consistent fender panel end gap. The protective coating on the fender panel  springs was improved from power coated to mechanically galvanized. The spring rate will be unchanged yielding  superior corrosion protection.FHWA concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash  testing laboratory as stated within the attached form.

***Full Description  of the Eligible Device***
The device and supporting documentation, including reports  of the crash tests or other testing done, videos of any crash testing, and/or  drawings of the device, are described in the attached form.
***Notice***
If a  manufacturer makes any modification to any of their roadside safety hardware  that has an existing eligibility letter from FHWA, the manufacturer must notify  FHWA of such modification with a request for continued eligibility for  reimbursement. The notice of all  modifications to a device must be accompanied by:

  Significant modifications – For these modifications, crash        test results must be submitted with accompanying documentation and        videos.
    Non-signification modifications – For these modifications, a        statement from the crash test laboratory on the potential effect of the        modification on the ability of the device to meet the relevant crash test        criteria.FHWA's determination of continued  eligibility for the modified hardware will be based on whether the modified  hardware will continue to meet the relevant crash test criteria.
You are expected to supply potential users with sufficient  information on design, installation and maintenance requirements to ensure  proper performance.
You are expected to certify to potential users that the  hardware furnished has the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry  as that submitted for review, and that it will meet the test and evaluation  criteria of the NCHRP Report 350.
Issuance of this  letter does not convey property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege.  This letter is based on the premise that information and reports submitted by  you are accurate and correct. We reserve the right to modify or revoke  this letter if: (1) there are any  inaccuracies in the information submitted in support of your request for  this letter, (2) the qualification testing was flawed, (3) in-service  performance or other information reveals safety problems, (4) the system is  significantly different from the version that was crash tested, or (5) any  other information indicates that the letter was issued in error or otherwise  does not reflect full and complete information about the crashworthiness of the  system.

***Standard Provisions***

To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility designated as FHW A
control number CC-57D 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 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.
  lflhe subject device is a patented product it may be considered to be proprietary. If
proprietary systems 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 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 ofroad for experimental purposes.Our regulations concerning proprietary products are contained in Title 23, Code of Federal
Regulations, Section 63 5 .411.
Sincerely yours,
			Signature of George E. Rice, Jr.
			Michael S. Griffith
Director,  Office of Safety Technologies
              Office of SafetyEnclosures U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

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