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                Safety Eligibility Letter CC-35M
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Barrier Terminals and Crash Cushions
                          **Code:**
            CC-35M
                          **Date:**
            03/29/2016
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Trinity
                          **Device Description:**
            QuadGuard System Modification
                          **View PDF:**
            cc35m.pdf (908.13 KB)
    
    Safety Eligibility Letter CC-35M

			**Download Version**PDF [1.41 MB]

			

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

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

March 29, 2016
In Reply Refer To: 
  HSST/CC-35M
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-35M 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® System, Family Product Lines, 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:
Name of system:
QuadGuard®Type of system:
  Crash CushionDate of original request:
  February  20, 1996Date of original FHWA eligibility letter:
June 21, 1996FHWA Control number:
CC-35The pending modification(s) consists of the following changes:
The QuadGuard® CZ  plate length was reduced from 136 5/8" to 134 5/8" by removing 2" from the back end beyond  the tension strut backup to allow concrete barriers to be placed closer to the  backup. The QuadGuard® system itself and  the number of and location of the anchors is unchanged.
  Holes used for QuadGuardÂ® Elite attachment  features were added to all QuadGuard® family diaphragms to allow diaphragm interchangeability  between all QuadGuard® family product lines.  The QuadGuard® Elite diaphragms incorporate holes for attachment of  QuadGuard® Elite specific features and were as-tested and accepted for use.  This modification added the holes to the other QuadGuard® family diaphragms to  provide the interchangeability.
  The cartridge centering brackets used in the  QuadGuard® family diaphragms that use cartridge box type energy absorbers and  QuadGuard® Elite system restoration limiting chain brackets were modified to  become one universal bracket that satisfies both functions. The bracket in the QuadGuard® family  diaphragms maintains cartridge box centering within the diaphragm until system  crush begins and captures the cartridge and is not an energy absorbing element  of the system. In the QuadGuard® Elite  diaphragm systems, the chains and brackets are not part of the energy absorbing  element of the system but are used to limit diaphragm movement during system  self-restoration following an impact. The modified bracket incorporates the physical size and weld length  requirement from both diaphragm types into a singular bracket to provide  interchangeability between all QuadGuardÂ® family diaphragms.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 FHWA       control number CC-35M 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.
     If the 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 of road for  experimental purposes. Our regulations  concerning proprietary products are contained in Title 23, Code of Federal  Regulations, Section 635.411.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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