U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

June 9, 2020 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/B-344 

Mr. Forrest Schultz 

Strongstown’s B&K Enterprises, Inc. 

260 Route 403 South 

Strongstown, PA 15957 

USA 

Dear Mr. Schultz: 

This letter is in response to your April 24, 2020 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 B-344 and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by FHWA that expressly 

references this device. 

Decision 

The following device is eligible within the length-of-need, with details provided in the form 

which is attached as an integral part of this letter: 

• JJ Hook Retrofit V4 

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 crashworthiness of the system and does not cover other 

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

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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: JJ Hook Retrofit V4 

Type of system: Longitudinal Barrier 

Test Level: MASH Test Level 3 (TL3) 

Testing conducted by: Texas A&M Transportation Institute 

Date of request: April 24, 2020 

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 crashworthiness of the system. 
3 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number B-344 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 selrany patented system for which the applicant is not the patent holder. 

• This FHWA eligibility letter is not an expression ofany Agency view, position, or 

determination ofvalidity, 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 FHWA eligibility letter determination is made based solely 

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

right to review and revoke an earlier eligibility determination after receipt ofsubsequent 

information related to crash testing. 

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 

Submitter 

Date of Request: April 24, 2020 New Resubmission 

Name: Forrest Schultz 

Company: Strongstown's B&KEnterprises, Inc. 

Address: 260Route 403 South,Strongstown, PA 15957 

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 L 

System Type Submission Type Device Name / Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'B':Rigid/Semi-Rigid Barriers 

(Roadside, Median, Bridge 

Railings) 

PhysicalCrashTesting 

EngineeringAnalysis 

JJ Hook Retrofit V4 

AASHTO MASH TL3 

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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: Forrest Schultz Same asSubmitter 

Company Name: Strongstown's B&KEnterprises, Inc. Same asSubmitter 

Address: 260Route 403 South,Strongstown, PA 15957 Same asSubmitter 

Country: USA Same asSubmitter 

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 the Strongstown’s B&KEnterprises, Inc. to perform 

full-scalecrash testing of theJJHookRetrofit V4(Retrofit AnchorsandBracketsBolted to Asphalt forTemporary 

F-ShapeConcreteBarrier). Therearenoshared financial interestsin theJJHookRetrofit V4 byTTI,or between 

theStrongstown’sB&KEnterprises,Inc.andTTI,other than costsinvolved in theactual crash testsand reports 

for thissubmission toFHWA. 

690900-SBK-10 & -14 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Help 

New Hardware or Modification to 

Significant Modification Existing Hardware 

The test installation consisted of 16standardF-Shapeprofile reinforced concrete barriers,each nominally 12 ft 

in length (face-to-face),32-inches tall,and 24-incheswide at the base, tapering to 9-incheswide at the top. “J-J 

Hooks®”connections were precast in each end of the barrier segments. The total length of the barrier 

installation wasapproximately 193 ft 101⁄2 inches, including a nominal 11⁄2-inch gap between the ends of the 

adjacent barrier segments. All the excess slack was removed from the connections during the installation of 

the barrier segments. The barriers were placed on a 200-ft long × 8-ft wide × 6-inch thick layer of Texas 

Department of Transportation (TxDOT)typeD asphalt pavement, which wassupported bya 12-inch (min) thick 

layer of TypeD,Grade1Basecompacted to 95 percent ofStandardProctor Density. 

The barriersegmentswere laterally restrained on theasphalt pavement with custom fabricated bent plate 

anchor brackets.Two bracketswereanchored on the field sideof each barriersegment. 

Eachbent plate anchor bracket wassecured to theasphalt pavement with one 1-inch diameter × 73⁄4-inch long 

ASTMA193gradeB7zinc-coated threaded rod (coated with a releaseagent). Each rod wasinstalled in vertical 

drilled holes6 inchesdeep in the asphalt pavement/baseandsecured withRedHeadEpcon A7 Acrylic per the 

manufacturer’sinstructions. Asingle1-inch diameter hex nut waswelded flush with the top of the rods,and 3-

inch diameter flat washers were installed under the nuts. There were no bolts or adhesivessecuring the 

brackets to the barriers. 

The barriersegmentsalso used top connector plates,which bolted to each barriersegment via 1-inch diameter 

× 5-inch long × 8UNCthreaded wedgeanchorsocket inserts.Asingle 1-inch diameter × 2-inch long 8UNC 

SAEJ429grade5 hexbolt and plate washersecured theconnector plate to each barrier end. 

CRASH TESTING 

Bysignature below, theEngineeraffiliated with the testing laboratory,agreesin support of thissubmission 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 testsare necessary to determine the device meets 

theMASH criteria. 

Engineer Name: William F. Williams 

Digitally signed byWilliam Williams EngineerSignature: WilliamWilliams Date: 2020.04.28 09:24:29 -05'00' 

Address: 3100 SH 47, Bldg 7091, Bryan TX 77807 Same asSubmitter 

Country: USA Same asSubmitter 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-10 (1100C) 

Test 3-10 involves an 1100C vehicle 

impacting the test article at a target impact 

speed of 62 mi/h and target angleof 25°. 

The target CIPfor the right corner of the 

front bumper was3.6 ft upstream of the 

joint betweensegments6and 7. 

The results of the test conducted on 

October 14, 2019, are found in TTI Test 

Report No. 690900-SBK-14. The test vehicle 

was traveling at aspeed of 62.8 mi/h as it 

made contact with the JJ Hook Retrofit V4 

3.6 ft upstream of the joint between 

segments6and 7and at an impact angle of 

25.2°.After lossof contact with the barrier, 

the vehiclecame to rest 215ft downstream 

of the impact point and 24 ft toward the 

field side. 

The JJ Hook Retrofit V4 contained and 

redirected the 1100C vehicle. The vehicle 

did not penetrate, underride, or override 

the installation. The vehicle exited within 

the exit box criteria defined in MASH. 

Maximum dynamic deflection of the barrier 

during the test was 3.3 inches. There was 

no measurablepermanent deformation. 

Working width was 24.8 inchesat the base. 

No detached elements, fragments, or other 

debris were present to penetrate, or to 

show potential for penetrating, the 

occupant compartment, or to present 

undue hazard for others in the area. 

The 1100C vehicle remained upright during 

and after the collision event. Maximum roll 

and pitch angles were 15° and 14°, 

respectively. 

Longitudinal OIV was 19.4 ft/s and lateral 

OIV was 29.9 ft/s. Maximum longitudinal 

occupant ridedown acceleration was 3.9 g, 

and maximum lateral occupant ridedown 

acceleration was8.4 g.Occupant risk factors 

were within the preferred limitsspecified in 

MASH. 

Maximum exterior crush to the vehicle was 

8.0 inches in the side plane in the front 

plane at the right front corner at bumper 

height. Maximum occupant compartment 

deformation was 2.5 inches in the right 

front floor pan area. 

TheJJHookRetrofit V4performed 

acceptablyfor MASHtest 3-10. 

PASS 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-11 (2270P) 

Test 3-11 involves a 2270P vehicle 

impacting the test article at a target impact 

speed of 62 mi/h and target angleof 25°. 

The target CIPfor the right corner of the 

front bumper was4.3 ft upstream of the 

joint betweensegments6and 7.. 

The resultsof the test conducted on March 

11, 2019, are found in TTI Test Report No. 

690900-SBK-10. The test vehicle was 

traveling at aspeed of 62.5mi/h asit made 

contact with the JJ Hook Retrofit V4 3.9 ft 

upstream of the joint betweensegments6 

and 7,andat an impact angle of 24.3°.After 

lossof contact with the barrier, the vehicle 

came to rest 215 ft downstream of the 

impact point and 4 ft toward the field side. 

The JJ Hook Retrofit V4 contained and 

redirected the 2270P vehicle. The vehicle 

did not penetrate, underride, or override 

the installation. The vehicle exited within 

the exit box criteria defined in MASH. 

Maximum dynamic deflection during the 

test was 8.5 inches. Maximum permanent 

deformation was2.5 inches.Working width 

was29.4 inches. 

Although a piece of concrete broke off of 

one corner of barriersegment #6, it did not 

penetrate, or show potential for 

penetrating,theoccupantcompartment,or 

to present undue hazard for others in the 

area. 

The 2270P vehicle remained upright during 

and after the collision event. Maximum roll 

and pitch angles were 16° and 19°, 

respectively. 

Longitudinal OIV was 18.4 ft/s and lateral 

OIV was 21.3 ft/s. Maximum longitudinal 

occupant ridedown acceleration was 4.2 g 

and maximum lateral occupant ridedown 

acceleration was7.6 g.Occupant risk factors 

were within the preferred limitsspecified in 

MASH. 

Maximum exterior crush to the vehicle was 

13.0 inches in the front plane at the right 

front corner at bumper height. Maximum 

occupant compartment deformation was 

3.5 inch in the right front firewall area. 

The JJ Hook Retrofit V4 performed 

acceptablyfor MASHtest 3-11. 

PASS 

3-20 (1100C) This is not a transition. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

3-21 (2270P) This is not a transition. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with MASH by the following 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. Kuhn 

'Date: 2020.04.28 19:00:03 -05'00 

Address: 3100 SH 47, Bldg 7091, Bryan TX 77807 Same asSubmitter 

Country: USA Same asSubmitter 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

ISO17025-2017 Laboratory 

A2LACertificateNumber:2821.01 

ValidTo:April 30,2021 

Submitter Signature*:Forrest Schultz Digitally signed by Forrest Schultz 

Date: 2020.04.3009:11:27-04'00' 

ATTACHMENTS 

Attach to this form: 

1) 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-13 Drawing Specifications 

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

usually acceptable to illustrate the product, with detailed specifications, 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 Key Words 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 




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