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 B-166
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Longitudinal Barriers and Bridge Rails
                          **Code:**
            B-166
                          **Date:**
            12/21/2007
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Anro Products Inc.
                          **Device Description:**
            Omni products, guardrail plastic spacer block
                          **View PDF:**
            b166.pdf (226.79 KB)
    
    HSSD/B-166


DOT logo
U.S. Department of Transportation
**Federal Highway Administration**
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20590Decemeber 21, 2007
In Reply Refer To:  
HSSD/B-166

Mr.  Robert Slagter
President
Anro  Products, Inc.
2752  SW Bear Paw Trail
Palm  City, FL 34990
	
Dear Mr. Slagter:
In your letter of July 11, 2007,  you requested the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) acceptance of your  company’s Plastic Spacer Block for use on the National Highway System (NHS)  with test level 3 (TL-3) steel strong post W-beam guardrail systems under the  provisions of National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350  “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway  Features”. You indicated in your letter  that this device will be marketed under the name Omni Products and it will be  referred to as such in this letter. To  support your request, you provided Midwest Roadside Safety Facility test report  dated June 22, 2007, entitled “Performance Analysis of the Anro Timber Products  Plastic Spacer Block Test No. ANRO-1”. You  also provided test videos and lectronic photographs.
**Requirements**
Longitudinal  barriers should meet the guidelines contained in the NCHRP Report 350,  “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway  Features”. The FHWA Memorandum “ACTION:  Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety Features” of July 25, 1997, provides  further guidance on crash testing requirements of longitudinal barriers. Additional information on acceptance of  blockouts to NCHRP 350 criteria is found in the FHWA Memorandum “ACTION:  Blockouts for Use with Strong-Post W-Beam Guardrail Systems” of January 27,  1998.
**Product  description**
Your  company’s Plastic Spacer Block for steel strong post W-beam systems is composed  of 50 percent polyethylene and 50 percent polypropylene. It measures 191 mm x 102 mm x 356 mm (7.5”x  4”x14”). A 9.53 mm x 102 mm x 254 mm  (0.38”x 4”x 10”) groove is routed on the back face of the block to align it  with the face of the steel strong post. The  block has two octagonal voids located symmetrically about the centerline, and  holes to accommodate the fastening hardware. Design details of Omni Products Plastic Spacer  Block are provided in the Enclosure.
**Test  article installation**
  For  the bogie test of the article, the Omni Products Plastic Spacer Block was  mounted on a 
W  152 x 13.4 steel strong post secured in a rigid foundation. The plastic spacer block was mounted at a  height of 550 mm (22”), measured from the center (bolt) of the block to the  travel surface. A 305 mm (12”) long  piece of 12 gauge W-beam guardrail was mounted on the front of the spacer  block, using standard fastening hardware.
For  the baseline bogie test, a 203 mm x 152 mm x 360 mm (8”x 6”x 14”) Southern  Yellow Pine wood spacer block was selected.  A 10 mm x 100 mm x 360 mm (0.39” x 3.9” x 14.2”) slot was routed on the  back face of the block, to align it and to accept the steel strong post. The post was secured in a rigid foundation. The wood spacer block was mounted at a height  of 550 mm (22”), measured from the center (bolt) of the block to the travel  surface. A 305 mm (12”) long piece of 12  gauge W-beam guardrail was mounted on the front of the spacer block, using  standard fastening hardware.
**Testing**
  You  tested your company’s Plastic Spacer Block in a bogie test, and compared this  test to the baseline bogie test conducted with a standard Southern Yellow Pine  wood block. You also compared the force versus deflection diagrams generated by  the bogie tests of the Omni Products Plastic Spacer Block and the standard wood  block with those produced by the previously accepted Anro Block design  (acceptance letter B-107 of September 5, 2003).
According  to the information you provided, there was no substantial difference in  performance between the standard wooden block and the Omni Products Plastic  Spacer Block in the bogie vehicle tests conducted.
We  noted that there was a difference in both the weight and impact speed of the  bogie vehicles used in the in the two tests (992 kg and 32.2 km/h in the test  with wood block vs. 614 kg and 40.14 km/h in the test with Plastic Spacer  Block). Despite this discrepancy in  weight and impact speed, we found that the impact severities in these tests  were comparable.
The  plastic block sustained minor damage due to the impact of the bogie vehicle. According to the test report, most of the  damage to the block occurred after the main load transfer from the bogie to the  post and block during the initial impact, and was the result of the bogie  vehicle riding up and over the post subsequent to the initial impact event. Further, a comparison of the force versus  deflection diagrams generated by the bogie tests of the Omni Products Plastic  Spacer Block, and the previously-accepted Anro Block design, shows that the  Omni Products Plastic Spacer Block performed in a manner very similar to the  Anro Block design, while reaching a slightly higher peak load.
After  analyzing the information you have provided, we concur that the Omni Products  Plastic Spacer Block, as described above, may be used with NCHRP 350 TL-3 strong  steel post 
  W-beam  guardrail systems, at all appropriate locations on the NHS, when selected by  the contracting authority, subject to the provisions of Title 23, Code of  Federal Regulations, Section 
  635.411  as they pertain to proprietary products. Note that this acceptance of the Omni Products  Plastic Spacer Block is explicitly limited to applications with W-beam  guardrail on strong steel posts,  as was used in the test. Acceptance is  also contingent on the production version of the Omni Products Plastic Spacer  Block being identical to the prototype units tested.
**Standard provisions**
  Please note the following standard provisions that apply to the  FHWA letters of acceptance:
This acceptance is limited to the  crashworthiness characteristics of the device and does not cover its 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 B-166 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.
  The  Omni Products Plastic Spacer Block is a patented product and considered  proprietary. If proprietary devices are  specified by a highway agency 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 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 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,
        Signature of George E. Rice, Jr
      George E.  Rice, Jr. 
        Acting  Director, Office of Safety Design
      Office  of SafetyEnclosures
FHWA:HSSD:NArtimovich:tb:x61331:12/19/07
File:  s://directory folder/nartimovich/B166AnroBlockout.doc
cc:HSSD (Reader, HSA; Chron File, HSSD;  N.Artimovich, HSSD; M.Bloschock, HSSD; M.McDonough,  HSSD)
ANRO Plastic Blockout (ANRO-1)
Title 23, Code of Federal  Regulations
**§ 635.411 Material or product  selection.**
(a) Federal funds shall not  participate, directly or indirectly, in payment for any premium or royalty on  any patented or proprietary material, specification, or process specifically  set forth in the plans and specifications for a project, unless:
(1) Such patented or  proprietary item is purchased or obtained through competitive bidding with  equally suitable unpatented items; or
(2) The State transportation  department certifies either that such patented or proprietary item is essential  for synchronization with existing highway facilities, or that no equally  suitable alternate exists; or
(3) Such patented or  proprietary item is used for research or for a distinctive type of construction  on relatively short sections of road for experimental purposes.
(b) When there is available  for purchase more than one nonpatented, nonproprietary material, semifinished  or finished article or product that will fulfill the requirements for an item  of work of a project and these available materials or products are judged to be  of satisfactory quality and equally acceptable on the basis of engineering  analysis and the anticipated prices for the related item(s) of work are  estimated to be approximately the same, the PS&E for the project shall  either contain or include by reference the specifications for each such  material or product that is considered acceptable for incorporation in the  work. If the State transportation department wishes to substitute some other  acceptable material or product for the material or product designated by the  successful bidder or bid as the lowest alternate, and such substitution results  in an increase in costs, there will not be Federal-aid participation in any  increase in costs.
(c) A State transportation  department may require a specific material or product when there are other  acceptable materials and products, when such specific choice is approved by the  Division Administrator as being in the public interest. When the Division  Administrator's approval is not obtained, the item will be nonparticipating  unless bidding procedures are used that establish the unit price of each  acceptable alternative. In this case Federal-aid participation will be based on  the lowest price so established.
(d) Appendix A sets forth the  FHWA requirements regarding (1) the specification of alternative types of  culvert pipes, and (2) the number and types of such alternatives which must be  set forth in the specifications for various types of drainage installations.
(e) Reference in  specifications and on plans to single trade name materials will not be approved  on Federal-aid contracts.
(f) In the case of a  design-build project, the following requirements apply: Federal funds shall not  participate, directly or indirectly, in payment for any premium or royalty on  any patented or proprietary material, specification, or process specifically  set forth in the Request for Proposals document unless the conditions of  paragraph (a) of this section are applicable.
[41 FR 36204, Aug. 27, 1976,  as amended at 67 FR 75926, Dec. 10, 2002] 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