0 May21 , 2019 

 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer .To: 

HSST-l /SS-180 REVISED 

Mr. Greg Kirchgesner 

Xcessories Squared 

P.O. Box 135 

Auburn, IL 62615 

Dear Mr. Kirchgesner: 

This letter supersedes the original eligibility letter SS-180 dated April 15, 2016, and is in 

response to your May 7, 2019 resubmittal of the same device for the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHW A) 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 FHW A control number SS-180 REVISED and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued 

by FHW A that expressly references this device. 

Decision 

The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an 

integral part of this letter: 

• MASSH-400 Sign Support 

Scope of this Letter 

To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, new roadside safety devices should meet the crash 

test and evaluation criteria contained in the American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

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 crash worthiness of the system and does not cover other 

structural features, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 
2 

Eligibility for Reimbursement 

Based solely on a review of crash test results and certifications submitted by the manufacturer, 

and the crash test laboratory, FHWA agrees that the device described herein meets the crash test 

and evaluation criteria of the AASHTO's MASH. Therefore, the device is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program if installed under the range of tested 

conditions. 

Name of system: MASSH-400 Sign Support 

Type of system: Sign Support 

Test Level: MASH TL-3 

Testing conducted by: TTI 

Date of original request: January 26, 2016 

Date of resubmission: May 7, 2019 

FHWA concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash testing laboratory on 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 

This eligibility letter is issued for the subject device as tested. Modifications made to the device 

are not covered by this letter. Any modifications to this device should be submitted to the user 

(i.e., state DOT) as per their requirements. 

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 AASHTO's MASH. 

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 crash worthiness of the system. 

Standard Provisions 

• To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility designated as FHWA 

control number SS-180 REVISED shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter and 
3 

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 FHW A to use, 

manufacture: or sell any patented system for which the applicant is not the patent holder. 

• This FHW A eligibility letter is not an expression of any Agency view, position, or 

determination of validity, scope, or ownership of any intellectual property rights to a 

specific device or design. Further, this letter does not impute any distribution or licensing 

rights to the requester. This FHW A eligibility letter determination is made based solely 

on the crash-testing information submitted by the requester. The FHW A reserves the 

right to review and revoke an earlier eligibility determination after receipt of subsequent 

information related to crash testing. 

• Ifthe 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, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 1 of 5 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

of Highway Safety Hardware 

... 

...

... 

·e 

Cl/

.0 

:::J 

VI 

Date of Request: May 06, 2019 ONew (.) Resubmission I 

Name: Greg Kirchgesner 

Company: 

Address: 

Xcessories Squared and Allied Tube & Conduit 

P.O. Box 135 Auburn, IL 62615 and 16100 South Lathrop Ave. Harvey, IL 60426 

Country: USA 

To: 

Michael S. Griffith, Director 

FHWA, Office of Safety Technologies 

I request the following devices be considered eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid 

highway program. 

Device & Testing Criterion - Enter from right to left starting with Test Level 

System Type Submission Type Device Name/ Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'SS': Breakaway Sign 

Supports, Mailboxes, & 

other small si n su arts 

@Physical Crash Testing 

0 Engineering Analysis 

MASSH-400 

AASHTOMASH TL3 

By submitting this request for review and evaluation by the Federal Highway Administration, I certify 

that the product(s) was (were) tested in conformity with the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety 

Hardware and that the evaluation results meet the appropriate evaluation criteria in the MASH. 

Individual or Organization responsible for the product: 

Contact Name: Greg Kirchgesner Same as Submitter [;8] 

Company Name: Xcessories Squared and Allied Tube & Conduit Same as Submitter [;8] 

Address: P.O. Box 135 Auburn, IL 62615 and 16100 South Lathrop Ave. I 1... ... •-• • II ,.if\. A -, ," Same as Submitter [;8] 

Country: USA Same as Submitter [;8] 

Enter below all disclosures of financial interests as required by the FHWA 'Federal-Aid Reimbursement 

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) was contracted by Xcessories Squared and Allied Tube & Conduit to 

perform full-scale crash testing of the MASSH-400 system. There are no shared financlal Interests in the 

MASSH-400 system by TTI, or between Xcessories Squared and Allied Tube & Conduit and TTI, other than costs 

involved in the actual crash tests and reports for this submission to FHWA. 
Version 10.0 {05/16) 

Page 2 of 5 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

New Hardware or 

@ Significant Modification 

Modification to 

() Existing Hardware 

The MASSH-400 is a Multi-directionally Activated Sign Support Hardware system for 4• square sign posts. The 

crash tested system included two 13" triangular slip bases spaced 96" apart, each holding a 4" x 8ga x 6' 

galvanized steel post, an omni-directional hinge Joining the bottom post and a 4" x 8ga x 6'-6" galvanized steel 

top post. A 144" x 72" aluminum extruded sign panel was secured to each post using 7 stainless steel clamps 

with stainless steel bolts. All other hardware in the assembly was structural grade steel. All steel materials 

were hot dip galvanized with the exception of the posts which were fie-coat galvanized then coated with 

chromate conversion coating and clear organic polymer topcoat. 

CRASH TESTING 

By signature below, the Engineer affiliated with the testing laboratory, agrees in support of this submission that 

all of the critical and relevant crash tests for this device listed above were conducted to meet the MASH test 

criteria. The Engineer has determined that no other crash tests are necessary to determine the device meets 

the MASH criteria. 

Engineer Name: Roger Bligh 

\ Digitally signed by Roger Bligh 

Date: 2019.05.07 09:00:12 -05'00' Engineer Signature: Roger Bligh 

Address: TTI, 3135 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3135 Same as Submitter D 

Country: USA Same as Submitter D 

A briet description ot each crash test and its result: 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 3 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-60 (1100() 

TTI test report No. 690900-XSDl-3 provides 

details and results of this test run as crash 

test no. 690900-XSDl on October 28,201 S. 

The 11 DOC vehicle used in this test was a 

2009 Kia Rio weighing 2435 lbs. The impact 

speed was 19.5 mph and the impact angle 

was Odegrees. The impact point was the 

right quarter-point of the vehicle aligned 

with the centerline of the left sign support. 

The MASSH-400 slip base readily activated 

and released the Impacted support post 

from its foundation. The sign panel and 

released support rotated about the hinge 

assembly on the opposite support post, 

thus rotating away from the vehicle. The 

sign support did not penetrate or show 

potential for penetrating the occupant 

compartment, or to present undue hazard 

to others in the area. No occupant 

compartment deformation or intrusion 

occurred. The 11 OOC remained upright 

during and after the collision event. 

Maximum roll and pitch angles were each 2 

degrees. Occupant risk factors were within 

the preferred limit specified in MASH. The 

11 OOC vehicle came to rest behind the sign 

support system 75 ft. from the point of 

impact. 

PASS 

3-61 (1100() 

TTI test report No. 690900-XSDl-3 provides 

details and results of this test run as crash 

test no. 690900-XSD2 on October 28, 2015. 

The 11 OOC vehicle used In this test was a 

2009 Kia Rio weighing 2435 lbs. The impact 

speed was 61 .7 mph and the impact angle 

was Odegrees. The impact point was the 

right quarter-point of the vehicle aligned 

with the centerline of the left sign support. 

The MASSH-400 slip base readily activated 

and the hinge assembly on the impacted 

post activated as designed. The sign panel 

twisted, rotated about the hinge assembly 

on the opposite support, and then 

detached from the support. The sign 

support did not penetrate or show potential 

for penetrating the occupant compartment, 

or to present undue hazard to others. No 

occupant compartment deformation or 

intrusion occurred. The 11 OOC remained 

upright during and after the collision event. 

Maximum roll and pitch angles were each 2 

degrees. Occupant risk factors were within 

the preferred limit specified In MASH. The 

11 OOC vehicle came to rest behind the sign 

support system 286 ft. from the point of 

impact. 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-62 (2270P) 

TT! test report No. 690900-XSD1-3 provides 

details and results of this test run as crash 

test no. 690900-XSD3 on October 29,201 S . • 

The 2270P vehicle used In this test was a 

2010 Dodge Ram weighing 5006 lbs. The 

impact speed was 63.1 mph and the impact 

angle was Odegrees. The impact point was 

the right quarter-point of the vehicle 

aligned with the centerline of the left sign 

support.The MASSH-400 slip base readily 

activated and the hinge assembly activated 

as designed. The sign panel twisted and 

rotated about the hinge assembly on the 

opposite support. The impacted sign 

support and top two sections of the sign 

panel detached from the sign panel and, 

subsequently, the remaining sign panel 

sections and upper portion of the support 

on the opposite side of Impact detached 

from the lower support at the hinge point. 

The detached pieces did not penetrate or 

show potential for penetrating the 

occupant compartment, or to present 

undue hazard to others in the area. No 

occupant compartment deformation or 

intrusion occurred. The 2270P remained 

upright during and after the collision event. 

Maximum roll and pitch angles were 1 and 2 

degrees, respectively. Occupant risk factors 

were within the preferred limit specified in 

MASH. The 2270P vehlcle came to rest 

behind the sign support system 320 ft. from 

the point of impact. 

PASS 

Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with MASH by the followlng accredited crash test 

laboratory (cite the laboratory's accreditation status as noted in the crash test reports .): 

Laboratory Name: Texas A&M Transportation Institute 

Laboratory Signature: Digitally signed by Darrell L. Kuhr\ 

'Date: 2019.05.D? 10:37:16 -os·9cY 

Address : 

Texas A&M Transportation Institute 

3135 TAMU 

College Station, TX 77843-3135 

Same as Submitter D 

Country: USA Same as Submitter D 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

ISO 17025 Laboratory 

A2LA Certificate Number 2821 .01 

Valid until April 30, 2019 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 5 of 5 

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ATTACHMENTS 

Attach to this form : 

I) Additional disclosures of related financial interest as indicated above. 

2) A copy of the full test report, video, and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test conducted in 

support of this request. 

3) A drawing or drawings of the device(s) that conform to the Task Force-I 3 Drawing Specifications 

[Hardware Guide Drawing Standards). For proprietary products, a single isometric line drawing is 

usually acceptable to illustrate the product, with detailed specificati~ns, intended use, and contact 

information provided on the reverse. Additional drawings (not in TF-13 format) showing details that 

are relevant to understanding the dimensions and performance of the device should also be submitted 

to facilitate our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter 

Number Date I Key Words 

I 
,:: 

"L 

0 

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'° S? 

X ' 

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0 0.000 s 0.200 ~ 0 600 

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General Information Impact Conditi ons Exit Condllio11• 

Tf>SI Agency Tl:'xas T1,1nsportnt1on lnstllulP (TTI) Specrl 1q ~ m1/h <~p,-.,~r1 1G b n,i;i, 

Tesl Slandard Tesl No \IASH T!"SI 3-60 Angle 0 degree Ar.gl-• ,...1 j cgrt....-

TTI Tcsl No. 690900-XSD1 Local,on/Or,~ntat,on Right qtr-pt wtCL left Post-Impact TraJOCIOI)' 

Tesl Date . 2015-10-28 support Slopp,nq D1sIanc" 75 f'. 

Test Article Kinetic Enorgy .. 31 kip-~ Vehicle Stnblllty 

Type Srgn Suppon Occupnnt Risk Vnluos ~.~3x•mum Yaw J'.\nql-.1 ) :Je9reName . MASSH-400 Stgn System LongIIud1cial 0IV J 3 It's .•.~ax·mum Pitch ,,nq1-~ 2 :legree• 

lnstana11o n He,ghl 7 tt 4 ,nchc5 to bottom of sign panel Lateral OIV : 6 ft's ,'.tax:mum Roll Anql,, 2 degree ·-

MaIe11al or Kev Elemenis Two 4-mch square steel pos ts spaced LongIIudI,al Rtdedo,•,n OZg Test Artic le Debris Sc~tlt>r 

al 8 ft w/12-ft w,de x 6 ft tall srgn panel Lateral Rdt>cto,m 03g ongIIur1,naI :01: 

Soll Type and Condition D11lled shaft foundaI1on tn AASHTO THIV 4 1 kmth Literal 12 1• 

M 147-65(2004 ) Grade B Soil ;:>HD U3g Vohlclo o~mago 

Tost Vohlclo ASI . . 0 09 VOS 12FR 1 

Type1De sIgnatlon. I 100C Max 0.050-s Averagt' CDC 12FREN; 

Make and Model . 2009 K,a Rio Long1 lud1nal -0.7 g Max Extenor Delor 11 rnl1on Nol 111CLl!:.llft':1hl, 

Curb ........ ...... 2400Ib Lalernl 0.3 9 OCDI . RF000000U I.J 

:::, I esl lnenIal ..... . ..... 2435 Ill vcn,ca l.. .. . ..- 0.3 9 Max Occupant Cor11pa1Ime11t 

Dummy ... 165 Ib Of, for111 ,1t1on None 

Gross Stalrc 260Q lt, °' :=, Figure 5.5. Summary of Results for MASH Test 3-611 on the Allil'd Tube and Cond11il 1

I< ' :111<1 Xl'l'Ssoril'~ Squared I_, ' 

l-.1 :\lASSH--tOO Sign Support. 
-, 

:::::, 

z 

C 

°' C'° 

~ 

C 

~ 

X 

V. 0.000 s 0.100 s 0 . .200 , (1300 ~ 

C 

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r 

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,,,, 

General Information 

Tesl Agency 

Tesl Standard T,•sl No 

TTI Tesl No. 

Test Dale .. 

Test Article 

Type .. ...... 

Name . .. .. . 

lnstallallon Hc,ghl . 

Texas Transportalron Institute (TTI\ 

. MASH Test 3-61 

. 690900-XSD2 

2015-10-28 

Sign Support 

.. MASSH-400 Sign System 

7 f1 4 inches to bottom of sign panel 

Materi al or Key Elements Two 4-inch square steel posts spaced 

at 6 ft w/12-ft wide x 6 ft tall sign panel 

Soll Typo and Condition ..... Drilled shaft foundallon in AASHTO 

Tost Vohlclo 

TypetOeslg nalron .... 

Make and Model 

Curb ......... t...J lest lnertml. .. 0 Dummy ............. 

I Gross Static ...... °' 0 Figure 6.6. I 

hJ 

f...J 

M147--65(2004) Grade B S01I 

1IOOC 

2009 Kia Rio 

2480 Ib 

2435 lb 

165 Ib 

2600Ib 

I 

Im pact Condl!ions 

Speed 

Angle 

Locat1on/011entat1on 

Kinetic Energy .. 

Occupant Risk Vatuas 

Longitudinal OIV 

Lateral OIV ....... 

Longitudinal Rrdedown 

Lateral R1dedown. 

THIV .. .. 

PHO ..:.. . 

ASI. .......... . 

Max. 0.050-s Average 

Longitudinal . 

laleral.. 

Vertical... 

-

6 17 11 11./ll 

0 degre,• 

..JI O krp·n 

.. 3 3 lt/5 

0 7 11!5 

0.2 g 

.. .0.6 9 

3.9km/11 

. O.Gg 

. 0.21 

- 1.9 9 

- 0 .6 g 

O.G g 

Exit Conditions 

Srt•1•c1 

:, nlJ~· 

Post-Impac t Trajec to ry 

Stopping Distance .. 

Vc hIclo Stability 

Maximum Yaw l\ngl<: 

Maximum Prich Angle 

Maximum Roll Angle 

Tes t Article Debris Scatter 

Long1tudi11 al 

Lateral .. 

Vohlclo Oorn agc 

VOS ... . 

CDC ...... .. 

Mt1x Fx1Pr1or r1P.form;111on 

OCDI. ... 

M3x Occupant Con1panmcnt 

Dcform olion .. 

tj0 4 1nrt1 

0 t~ e ~r!•t-.. 

28t, ·1 

:~ dCl]f CC~ 

c clcgrt'Cs 

2 r1 cqrcc ~ 

6 11 

IG fl 

12FRI 

12FRENt 

1 !, tnC:llP5 

. nrooooooo 

NOih" 

Summary of Results for MASH Test 3-6 I on the Allied Tuhc and Co111l11if(t1) anti Xccssoric~ Sq11arcd 

MASSH-400 Sign Support. 

Multi-directionally Activated Sign Support Hardware System

SSS21a-b

SHEET NO. DATE

1 of 3 8/1/19

88 INCH [2235 mm) 

CLEARANCE from 

bottom of sign to 

ground - as tested

Maximum of 4 inches

[102 mm] allowed

above ground level

after breakaway

96 INCH [2134 mm] 

SPAN - as tested

72 INCH 

[1729]

HEIGHT - 

as tested

144 INCH [3658]

WIDTH - as tested

18 INCH

[457 mm]

48 INCH

[1219 mm]
Multi-directionally Activated Sign Support Hardware System

SSS21a-b

SHEET NO. DATE

2 of 3 8/1/19

The Xcessories Squared and Allied Tube & Conduit Multi-directionally Activated Sign Support

Hardware System may be used in place of many sign assembly installations that would typically

use beam posts. The system is unique because it contains an Xcessories Squared omni-directional

slip base assembly and omni-directional hinge assembly. It is designed to hold an Allied Tube 4" x

minimum 8ga solid wall square steel post. When properly installed, the clamping force of the slip

base hardware holds the slip base top half to the slip base bottom half to meet or exceed the wind

load capability of the sign support, while still allowing the two matching slip plates to disengage

upon impact, below the maximum Change of Velocity allowed under MASH TL3 requirements.

For multiple post installations, a sign post hinge assembly attaches between the bottom sign post

and top sign post, just beneath the sign panel, and allows the bottom post to bend/pivot out of the

way of an impacting vehicle.

Product was tested using a 2 post installation (spaced at 96 inch [2438 mm] apart) and met the

MASH TL3 break away requiremenets.

INTENDED USE

COMPONENTS

APPROVALS

FHWA Eligibility Letter SS-180 revised May, 21, 2019.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Xcessories Squared Development & Mfg., Inc.

P.O. Box 135

Auburn, IL 62615

800-621-7948

www.x-sqrd.com

The Xcessories Squared and Allied Tube & Conduit Multi-directionally Activated Sign Support

Hardware System consists of a triangular slip base bottom anchor, slip base match plate hardware,

a triangular slip base sign post receiver, a multi-directionally activated sign hinge assembly, and

sign panel bracket assemblies to hold sign panels all from Xcessories Squared, and solid wall

square steel tube sign posts from Allied Tube & Conduit. The unibase anchor installs into a

concrete footer. The bottom sign post and top sign post attaches to the sign post hinge using

structural threaded bolts, washers, and nuts.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Slip Base Match Plate Hardware Set

Slip Base Top - Sign Post Receiver

Uni-Base Anchor for concrete installation

Multi-directionally Activated Sign Hinge Assembly

Sign Panel Bracket Assembly

Sign Post Hardware Set

Square Sign Post

Allied Tube & Conduit

16100 South Lathrop Avenue

Harvey, IL 60426

800-882-5543

www.atkore.com
Sign Panel

Clamp Set

Sign Post

Hardware Set

Complete Slip Base

Assembly for

Concrete Installation

Multi-directionally Activated Sign Support Hardware System

SSS21a-b

SHEET NO. DATE

3 of 3 8/1/19

Multi-directionally

Activated

Sign

Support

Hinge

Slip Base Match

Plate Hardware Set

Square Sign Post

A

A

C

F

D

A

A

F

B

E

E

G

F

A

A