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                Safety Eligibility Letter WZ-118
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Work Zone Devices
                          **Code:**
            WZ-118
                          **Date:**
            11/19/2002
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Three D Traffic Works
                          **Device Description:**
            TD6000 VIP Vertical Panels and TD7000 Ring Top Stackable Cone
                          **View PDF:**
            wz118.pdf (2.22 MB)
    
    



November 19, 2002
Refer to: HSA-10/WZ-118
Mr. R. Scott Behm
National Sales Manager
Three D Traffic Works,
Inc.
430 North Varney Street
Burbank,
California  91502
Dear Mr. Behm:
Thank you for your letter of March 11, 2002, requesting
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) acceptance of your company's channelizing devices ascrashworthy traffic control devices for
use in work zones on the National Highway System (NHS).  Accompanying your letter was product
literature for these items.  You
requested that we find the TD6000 VIP Vertical Indicator Panel and the TD6000
Ringtop Delineator Post and Ringtop Stackable Cone acceptable for use on the
NHS under the provisions of National Cooperative Highway Research Program
(NCHRP) Report 350 "Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance
Evaluation of Highway Features."  You
also requested a modification to your company's
Type III barricade design that was originally found
acceptable in our letter WZ-82 of September 14, 2001. 
Action on the barricade was handled in Acceptance Letter WZ-128 dated
July 12, 2002.
Introduction
The FHWA guidance on crash testing of work zone traffic
control devices is contained in two memoranda. 
The first, dated July 25, 1997, titled "INFORMATION: Identifying
Acceptable Highway Safety Features," established four categories of work zone
devices: Category I devices were those lightweight devices which could be
self-certified by the vendor, Category II devices were other lightweight
devices which needed individual crash testing, Category III devices were
barriers and other fixed or massive devices also needing crash testing, and
Category IV devices were trailer mounted lighted signs, arrow panels, etc.  The second guidance memorandum was issued on
August 28, 1998, and is titled "INFORMATION: Crash Tested Work Zone
Traffic Control Devices." This later
memorandum lists devices that are acceptable under Categories I, II, and
III.  A brief description of the devices
follows:
The TD6000 VIP Vertical Indicator Panel is a Category
2 work zone traffic control device.  It
is molded of Low Density Polyethylene and is available in two heights, 45
inches and 52 inches.
The weight of the 45 inch VIP is 5.5 pounds.  Either may be ballasted with recycled rubber
bases weighing 10, 20, or 30 pounds. 
The highest of these bases has a profile of 3.5 inches above the
pavement.
The Rigtop Delineator Post and Ringtop Stackable Cone
are Category 1 work zone traffic control devices and thus require no additional
action by the FHWA for them to be acceptable for use on the NHS. Category 1
devices must be self-certified by the manufacturer that they meet
crashworthiness requirements. More information on the self-certification of
Category 1 devices may be found in our memorandum of  August 28, 1998. This memorandum may be seen from our web site: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_guide/road_hardware/policy_memo/ You may also find our Question and Answer
page to be of help at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_guide/road_hardware/qanda.cfm
If these devices are to be used with a warning light, flags
or sign on top then they need to be crash tested.
Findings
The VIP Vertical Indicator Panel with rubber base is similar
to a number of other vertical panel and cone devices.  We concur in your contention that it may be considered
crashworthy with no additional testing and, therefore, the devices described
above and shown in the enclosed drawings for reference are acceptable for use
on the NHS under the range of conditions similar models were tested, when
proposed by a State.
Please note the following standard provisions that apply to
FHWA letters of acceptance:
Our acceptance is
limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the devices 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 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 FHWA
and NCHRP Report 350.
To prevent
misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance, designated as number
WZ-118 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 VIP Vertical
Indicator Panel is patented and considered "proprietary." The use of proprietary work zone traffic
control devices in Federal-aid projects is generally of a temporary
nature. They are selected by the
contractor for use as needed and removed upon completion of the project.  Under such conditions they can be presumed
to meet requirement "a" given below for the use of proprietary
products on Federal-aid projects. On
the other hand, if proprietary devices are specified 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 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, a copy of which is enclosed.Sincerely
yours,
Carol H. Jacoby,
P.E.
Director,
Office of Safety Design
Enclosure U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

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