LS -2X 

t 3 

U5.Bpartm?nt 

of Transpwatlon 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

SEP I 9 - 

400 sevenrn 3. 5.w 

Washlnpm D c, 20590 

Refer to: HNG-14 

Mr. Robert A. Sik 

Vice President, Akron Foundry Company 

2728 Wingate Avenue 

P.O. Box 27028 

Akron, Ohio 44319-0009 

Dear Mr. Sik: 

Thank you for your letter of August 29 to Hr. James H. Hatton requesting the 

Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) acceptance of your chart summarizing 

our previous letters of acceptance for Akron Foundry cast aluminum transformer 

bases. Your facsimile message of September 12 transmitted a revised version 

of the chart which addressed our comments discussed by telephone. We agree 

that a chart such as this would greatly simplify the process of determining 

which of your hardware configurations have been accepted for use on 

Federal-aid highway projects. 

Your company's chart indicates new part numbers for your aluminum transformer 

bases. The designations are simplified to avoid confusion with the bases 

accepted under the old 1975 American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) breakaway criteria. The "transformer base 

part number" now shows a sequential number (TBl, TB2, TB3) and the height of 

the base. 

We find this chart (revised g-12-90, copy enclosed) to be an accurate summary 

of FHWA's acceptances of the breakaway performance of the hardware listed. 

We also take this opportunity to correct errors in each of our three 

acceptance letters to you dated August 6, 1990. In the first of these 

letters, the pole type for Test-15 (Feralux CS-370) was aluminum rather than 

steel. On the other two letters, the pole type indicated for Test-16 (Pole 

Lite Model F-1302 and Akron Foundary Number TB-AF-5-g) should also be changed 

to aluminum. On Enclosure II, to each of the three letters, the base bottom 

bolt circle diameter for Test-12 should be 17.25 inches instead of 15 inches. 

Enclosure 

Sincerely yours, 

Chief, Federal-Aid and Design Division 

Note to FHWA Field Offices: 

The following CaJtion labels and drawings relate to the breakaway hardware 

covered by FHWAIl985 AASHTO acceptance letters listed in the Akron FOU"~~~ 

Chart dated 10-12-90. Also included are caution laaels for hardware 

accepted under the 1975 AASHTO specifications. 
AKRON FOUNDRY COMPANY 

ALUM1NlJM TRANSFORMER BASES (3, 

iL 1975 F.HmW.A. ACCEPTANCE 

* UInMAIE IpstBDslARc LaAD m_ us_) 

DE!iGMm1oTa-lKx1 AcRo6scollMmsmmDooRmENwsm 

miar 1 15m 1 urn 1975 4-16-82 11 lB/130( U$OOFl.LBS. hXUMfESTLOADOKIlDfSIGU~AD~ ‘181-A): 1315l.W. 

1975 

1975 

1-13-84 _ _ 

8-29-85 SEENCWENO.l TBI-AFMO0FBDl.W 

3-1-85 lo-o/120 4omolT~ms. *AcnwfMLo!AD(moIDEslaIrun\ lw-AF 1012I.W. 

8-2-85 n - SEE~MO.1 TM-AF 1012 I.W. 

3-13-86 13AI/lraO as= A. LES *AbcIu~tEsrtoAo (mn m mADI TBSAF 1517 LW. 

3-13-86 l l sENolEno.1 lw-AF 1517 LW. 
BEFORE INSTALLATION,USER SHOULD CONSULT WITH AUTHORIZED

DI8TRIBUTOR REQARDINO USER’S PROPOSED APPLICATION,LOAD

REOUIREYENTS AND INSTALLATION YETHODS.FAILURES CAN RESULT

eanu T”“” “Qmi” lIQcm@eQ ~.~UIQADBI “rrb,YleAmnu ”..“” Vna” .llr.. IUDlnDC~ “rL.. .IUQTAI

..“.“-m-..-.- I ATlfiN

TO APPROACH OPTIMUM STATIC LOADS,USE THE LARGEST POSSIBLE BOLT

CIRCLES AND USE STEEL WASHER SIZES SPECIFIED BELOW:

liTBl-17’

i

CAUTION:

I

\\BREAKAWAY BASE

188SAASHTO

FOR 1s’DIA.BOTTOY GROUND BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 S/4 0IA.x l/2 TK.WASHER

FOR ALL MOUNTINGS UNDER 15’DIA.

SEE SPECIAL MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS

TOROUE OROUND MOUNTING NUTS TO 1SO FT.LBS.

SHIM BASE LEVEL WHEN REQUIRED BEFORE TOROUINO YOUNTINO NUTS

FOR 10 l/ 2’ DIA.THRU 18 l/2’DIA.TOP BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 l/2 DIA.x 3/8 TK. OR 2 3/4 0lA.x l/2 TK.WASHER8

APPROVED BY F.H.W.A. TO 1985

AASHTO REOUlREMENt8

1985
1 S NOMINAL 

L- MIG 4043 WIRE JWIO l/4 ” APPROX. 5 - OF WELD ON EACH 

OF THE ( 4 ) INTERNAL CORNERS 

2 314 DIA. x 1 l/l6 I.D. x l/2 TK. STEEL WASHERS FOR ‘I’ DIA. ANCHORAGE 

OR 1 S/l6 DIA. LO. FOR 1 ‘l/4 DIA, ANCHORAGE 

4 PLS. EO. SPACED ON 43.00 DIA.TO 15.00 DIA. BOTTOM GROUND B.C. 

2 l/2 DIA. X 1 l/l6 K 3/8 TK. OR 2 S/4 DIA. JC 1 l/l6 .K l/2 TK. STEEL WASHERS 

4 PLS. EG. BPACED GN lQ50 DIA, THRU 13.600 PI& B.C. 

Door! SUPPLIED/BLANK OR LOGO IN ALUYINl;l~.OR.PLASTIC W.lTH OR WItHQltT. #IWOE 

ST.0 l/4 -20 S&HEX. SCREW OR VANDAL SCREW TO FIT YOUR SPEClFlCATlfM4S 

ALL WASHERS TO ‘BE ZINC MECHANICAL COAlED PER ASTM 8 896 c: 86 CLASS 60 

. 

356 T-3 ALUMINUM ALLOY /.S.S. WHEELABRAYED FINIGH C”E&AL AND PHY. CERTS TO BE SUPPLIED WITH EACH SHIPMENT 

ADHESIVE BREAKAWAY AND CAUTION ~‘ABELS~~~APPEAR 

ON IrJSipE WALL OPPOSITE POOR OPENING 

AKRON FOUNDRY CO. 

1986 AASHTO T-BASE 

!-t&Be TBl-17” 

MATERIAL MELTED AND MANUFACTURED IN THE USA. CASTINGS PRODUCED IN THE USA. 
+/2 -13 TAP THRU FOR GROUNO SCREW 

20 TAP THRU FOR GROUNO SCREjV 

I / 

.15 NOMINAL 

L 9675 x 11.75 DOOR 

TDl-17” YODlFllO ‘BUY AMERICAN’ 

\- 1.6QR 

L- MIG 4043 WIRE APPROX. 5 w OF WELlI ON EACH 

OF THE ( 4 ) INTERNlil CORNERS 

L- 2 l/2 DIA. x 1 l/l6 I.D. X 3/8 TK. ST6EL WAStiRS ON TOP OF.S/8 x 2 314 x 4 114 

RECfANOUL’AR.SfEEL WASHERS* PLS. EO; SPA6Eti_$N .l&SO DIA. THfiU 12.94 DIA. 

BOTTOM GROUND MOUNT B.C. ‘SEE SPECfAL MOUNTl;flG INSTRUCTIONS- TBl - AF MODIFIED -17 I.W. 

. . _. -\ 

2 l/2 DJA. x 1 l/18 I.D. x 3/8 TK. OR 2 3/4 Dlh. x (I l/l8 TK. x 

4 PLS . EO . SPmD ON 10 . SO DIA . 

DOOR SUPPLIED/BLANK OR LOGO IN ALUMINUM OR PLASTIC W1TN OR WITHOUT WIWOE 

ST’0 i/4 -20 S.S.HEX. SCREW OR VANDAL SCREW TO FIT YOUR SPECIFICATIPNS 

ALL WASHERS TO ‘BE ZINC MECHANICAL COATED PER ASTM B 896 c: 85 CLASS 60 

356 T-6 ALUMIN 

ADHESIVE BREAKAWAY AN6 FAUTlpN LABEL8 TO APPEAR 

ON INSBPE WALL OPPOSITE POOR OPENING 

MATERIAL MELTED AN0 MANUFACTURED IN THE USA. CASTINGS PROOUCED IN THE USA. 
CAUTION:

1986 AASHTO

I

BEFORE INSTALLATION,USER SHOULD CONSULT WITtl AUTHORIZED

DISTRIBUTOR REQARDINQ USER’S PROPOSED APPLICAllON,LOAD

REOUIREYENTS AND INITALLATION YETHOD$.FAllJJREB CAN RESULT

FROM USER’S MISAPPLICATION OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION

TO APPROACH OPTIMUM STATIC LOADS,USE THE LARQEST POSSIBLE BOLT

CIRCLES AND USE 8TEEL WASHER SIZES SPECIFIED BELOW:

FOR 10’ DIA.THRU 12’ DIA.BOTTOM BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 3/4 DIA.x l/2 TK.WASHER

TORQUE OROUND MOUNTING NUTS TO 150 FT.LBS.

SHIM BASE LEVEL WHEN REOUIRED BEFORE TOROUINO MOUNTING NUTS

FOR 10’ DIA.THRU 12’ DIA.TOP BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 l/2 D1A.x 3/8 TK. OR 2 3/4_ DIA.x i/2 TK.WASHERS

198 5
3 TAP THRU FOR QROUND SCitEW 

l/4 - 20 TAP THRU FOR GROUND SCRE 

/ I 

t I ? . 

13.08 SO. 12.04 SO. 

I 

+ -- 

A- L .15 NOMINAL 

17.00 -- 1 

19.75 x 11.75 DO-OR 

1 MIG 4043 WIRE l/4 P WITH APPROX. 5 - OF WELD ON EACH 

OF THE ( 4 ) INTERNAL CORNERS 

l!_- 2’ 3/i DIA. x 4 q/16 I.D. x l/2 TK. STEEL WASHERS’ FOR 1’ DIA. ANCHOPAGE 

4PPSIIEO; SPACED ON .lO.DO DIA. ‘THRU 02;OO DIA. GROUND B.C. 

2 l/2 DIA. x 1 l/16 I.D. x 3/8 TK. OR 2 314 DIA. F 1,1/16 1.0. x l/2 TK. STEEL WASHER8 

4 PLE;: ED. SPACED ON ‘1O.DO DIA. iHRhJ j2.DO’ bk.‘-l:c.;’ 

.:_ \ 

DOOR SUPPLIED/BLANK OR LOGO IN ALUMINUM OR PLASTIC WITN OR WITHOUT UINOE 

ST’0 l/4 -20 S.S.HEX. SCREW OR VANDAL SCREW TO FIT YOUR SPEClFlCAVNS 

ALL WASHER8 TO ‘BE ZINC MECHANICAL COATED PER ASTM B 686 c: 85 CLASS 60 

355 T-0 ALUMINUM ALL0 

ADHESIVE BREAKAWAY AND CAUTIPN LABELS TO APPEAR 

AKRON FOUNDRY CO. 

ON INSIPE ‘WALL OPPOSITE POOR OF!ENINQ 1985 AASHTO T-BASE 

j-26-88 TB4-17” 

MATERIAL MELTED AND MANUFACTURED IN THE USA. CASTINGS PRODUCED IN THE USA. 
- . 

1 

,83-17’ CAUTION: 1985 AASHTO 

BEFORE INSTALLATION,USER SHOULD CONSULT WITH AUTHORIZED 

DI8TRIBUTOR REOARDING USER’S PROPOIED APPLICATION.LOAD 

REDUIREYENTS AND INSTALLATION YETNODS.FAILURE8 CAN RESULT 

FROM USER’S MISAPPLICATION OR IYPROPER INSTALLATION 

TO APPROACH OPTIMUM STATIC LOADS.USE THE LARBEST POSSIBLE BOLT 

CIRCLES AND USE STEEL WASHER SIZES SPECIFIED BELOW: 

FOR 17 q/4’ DIA.BOTTOY GROUND BOLT CIRCLES: 

USE 2 S/4 DIA.x 1 S/16 1.D.x t/2 TK.WASHER 

TORQUE GROUND MOUNTING NUTS TO 160 FT.LBS. 

SHIM BASE LEVEL WHEN REOUIRED BEFORE TOROUINQ YOUNTINQ NUTS 

FOR 16’ DIA.THRU 16 l/6’ DIA.TOP BOLT CIRCLES: 

USE 2 S/4 DIA.x 1 6/16 1.D.x l/2 TK.WASHER 

1985 
IP9’11” ‘BUY AMERICAN’ 

. 

1.76R 0 

I./P -13 TAP THRU FOR OROUND SCREW 0 

I . 

- 20 TAP THRU FOR QROUND SCREW \ I p/4 

I / 

1 

17.44 so. 15.08 so. 

I 

.I +- 

\ 

L 9676 x 11.75 DOOR 

L ‘= 

17.00 .- 

YIG, 40:43 WIRE 6116 r\ 

b 

L 

WITH APPROX. 6’ OF WELD ON EACH.OF THE ( 4 ) INTEPNAL CORNERS 

2 3/4 DIA. F 1 6/16 jt 3/2 TK. STEEL WASjdEpS FOP 4 11’1 DIA. ANCVORAGE 

4 PLS, EO, SPACED ON 16.00 DIA. THRU 17.26 DIA? BOTTOM QROUND B.C. 

. . . . 

WHEN ADDITIONAL STATIC LOADING IS REOUIPED ON 16.00 QIA. Sk. APPLICATIDNS USE 618 1’ 2 3/O x 4 l/4 

RECTANGULAR STEEL’WASHER UNDER 2 S/4 i’ 1 l/l0 I.D. p l/2 TK. WASHERS FOR 1’ DIA. aROUND YOUNTING B.C. 

\ 

2 3/4 .DIA. E 1 5/ 16 I.D. x .1/2 3”. STEEL WASHERS 4 PLS. EO. SPACED ON 13.00 DIA. THRU 16.12 DIA. 8-C.- 

DOOR SUPPLIED/BLANK OR LOO0 IN ALUMINUM OR PLASTIC WITH OR WITHOUT. WlWOE 

.SfD 114 -20 S,S.HEX. SCREW OR VANDAL SCREW TO AT YOUR SPECIFICATIPRS 

:AKRON FOUNDRY 00. 

1986 AASHTO T-BASE 

!-26-88 TBa-17” 

MATERIAL. MELTED AND MANUFACTURED IN THE USA. CASTINGS PRODUCED IN THE USA. 
.

TB2- 20’ CAUTIOBI: 1976AASHTO

BEFORE INSTALLATION,USER SHOULD CONSULT WITH AUTHORIZED

DISTRIBUTOR REOARDlNd USER’S PROPOSED APPLICATION,LOAD

REOUIREYENTS AND IN8TALLATION METHOD8.FAILURES CAN RESULT

FROM USER’S MISAPPLICATION OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION

TO APPROACH OPTIMUM STATIC LOADS,USE THE LARGEST POSSIBLE BOLT

CIRCLES AND USE STEEL WASHER SIZES SPECIFIED BELOW:

FOR 10’ DIA.THRU 12’ DIA.BOTTOM BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 s/4 DIA.x l/2 TK.WASHER

TOROUE QROUND MOUNTING NUTS TO 160 FT.LBS.

SHIM BASE LEVEL WHEN REOUIRED BEFORE TOROUlNd MOUNTING NUTS

FOR 10’ DIA.THRU 12’ DIA.TOP BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 I./2 D!A,x a/B TK; DR 2 B/4 D!A,x l/2 TK,WASHERS

,

I ,

APPROVED BV F.H.W.A. TO 1975

AASHTO REOUIREMENTS

/,

197 5
TBl-20’ CAUTION:

1975 AASHTO

BEFORE INSTALLATION.USER SHOULD CONSULT WITH AUTHORIZED

DISTRIBUTOR REQARDINQ USER’S PROPOSED APPLICATION,LOAD

REOUIREYENTS AND INSTALLATION YETHODS.FAILURES CAN RESULT

FROM USER’S MISAPPLICATION OR IYPROPER INSTALLATION

TO APPROACH OPTIMUM STATIC LOADS.USE THE LARQEST POSSIBLE BOLT

CIRCLES AND USE STEEL WASHER SIZES SPECIFIED BELOW:

FOR 15’ DIA. BOTTOM QROUND BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 S/4 0IA.x t/2 TK. WASHER

FOR ALL YOUNTINQB UNDER 16’DIA.

SEE SPECIAL MOUNTINQ INSTRUCTIONS

TORQUE QROUND YOUNTINQ NUTS TO 150 FT.LBS.

SHIM BASE LEVEL WHEN REOUIRED BEFORE TOROUINQ YOUNTINQ NUTS

FOR 11’ THRU 13’ DIA.TOP BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 l/2 DIA.x B/S TK. OR 2 S/4 DIA.x l/2 TK. WASHER

I’

))BREAKAwAY BASE1

APPROVED BY F.H.W.A. TO 1975

AASHTO REOUIREYEWTS

J

1975
TBS-20’ CAUTION:

1975 AASHTO

BEFORE INSTALLATION,USER SHOULD CONSULT WITH AUTHORIZED

Dl8TRIBUTOR REOAROINO USER’$ PROPOBEO APPLICATION,LOAD

REOUIREYENTB AND INSTALLATION UETHOD$.FAILURES CAR RESULT

FROM USER’S MISAPPLICATION OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION

TO APPROACH OPTIMUM STATIC LOADS,USE THE LARGEST POSSl8LE BOLT

CIRCLE8 AND USE STEEL WASHER SIZES SPECIFIED BELOW:

FOR 17 l/4’DIA.BOTTOU QROUND BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 314 DIA.x 1 B/l6 1.D.x l/2 TK.WASHER

TORQUE GROUND YOUNTINO NUTB TO 160 FT.LBS.

SHIM BASE LEVEL WHEN REOUIRED BEFORE TORQUINO MOUNTINQ NUTS

FOR 18’DIA.THRU 16 l/8’DIA.TOP BOLT CIRCLES:

USE 2 $)/I DIA.x 1 6/16 1.D.x l/2 TK.WASHER

197 5