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 WZ-244
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Work Zone Devices
                          **Code:**
            WZ-244
                          **Date:**
            06/12/2008
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Plastic Safety Systems
                          **Device Description:**
            Updates to previously issued acceptance letters
                          **View PDF:**
            wz244.pdf (71.5 KB)
    
    
Skip to contentSkip to contentUnited States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway AdministrationDOT logo
U.S. Department of Transportation
**Federal Highway Administration**
1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590June 12,  2008
**In Reply Refer To: 
HSSD/WZ-244**

Mr. Chuck Mettler
	Engineering Manager
	Plastic Safety Systems, Inc.
	2444 Baldwin Road
Cleveland, OH 44104
	
Dear Mr. Mettler:

This letter is in response to your request for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) acceptance of modifications to your company’s various Type III barricade devices in one letter. These devices and their modifications had been found acceptable for use on the National Highway System (NHS) under the provisions of National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features.”

Plastic Safety Systems Type III (PSS Type III) barricades were found acceptable in the following FHWA acceptance letters:

*Letter*
		*Date Issued*
		*Description*WZ-61
		December 13, 2000
		8 foot wide PSS Type III Plastic Barricade.WZ-85
		November 15, 2001
		Generic Type III Barricade, HDPE rails.WZ-102
		April 12, 2002
		8 foot wide PSS Type III Plastic Barricade with lightweight warning light and modified rail spacing.WZ-152
		April 10, 2003
		Type III barricade with “ANCHOR” base system.WZ-166
		November 12, 2003
		12 foot wide PSS Type III Plastic Barricade, 5 feet high.
				6 foot wide PSST Type III Plastic Barricade, 7 feet high.
				8 foot wide PSST Type III, Telespar frame, 5 feet high.WZ-166
		Amendment #1May 17, 2005
		8 foot wide PSS Type III Plastic Barricade, 7 feet high.WZ-173
		April 19, 2004
		The Wave HDPE molded plastic rails, 8 feet wide.WZ-196
		February 25, 2005
		Up to 25 square feet of lightweight signs.WZ-233
		April 13, 2006
		Type III Barricades with lightweight warning lights.Specific modifications include:
**WZ-152:** Two anchor feet internally ballasted with up to 45 pounds per side. The anchor feet may now be modified with an extension allowing the anchor feet to be 60 inches long and ballasted with up to 60 pounds per side.
	**WZ-61, WZ-152, and WZ-166:** Two uprights either 3.38 inches by 3.38 inches square extruded HDPE, 1.75 inches by 1.75 inches square tube in 5 foot and 7 foot lengths, or "Mast" blow-molded uprights in 5 foot lengths.
	**WZ-85 and WZ-173:** Three plastic barricade boards 12 feet or smaller either extruded or blow molded “Wave” HDPE.
	**WZ-166:** The uprights on the 12 foot and 10 foot barricades may be mounted within 24 inches from the ends of the boards.
	**WZ-166 amendment #1:** Include barricade widths 8 feet and shorter on 7 feet tall uprights.
	**WZ-85 and WZ-196:** Added lightweight signs attached and up to 25 square feet.
	**WZ-85 and WZ-233:** Added lightweight warning lights attached to the backside of the uprights.**Findings**This letter consolidates the findings of earlier FHWA acceptance letters affecting PSS Type III barricades. The Type III barricades and modifications in the FHWA acceptance letters listed above are acceptable for use on the NHS under the range of conditions tested with or without one or two lightweight warning lights, when proposed by a State.

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA letters of acceptance:

This acceptance is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the device 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 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/system being marketed is significantly different from the version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke our 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 it will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA and the NCHR Report 350.
	To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance is designated as number WZ-244 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.
	The Plastic Safety Systems, Inc. devices are patented products and considered proprietary. If proprietary devices/systems 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/system for which the applicant is not the patent holder. The acceptance letter is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate device/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 David A. Nicol, P.E.
David A. Nicol, P.E.
   Director, Office of Safety Design
Office  of SafetySafety Home | FHWA Home | Feedback
United States Department of Transportation - **Federal Highway Administration** 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