June 19, 2020 

 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590 

FHWA: HSST /CC-126_MASH SKT.docx 

cc: HSST Will Longstreet 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/B-276A 

Mr. Jesper Sorensen 

Safence, Inc. 

14570 Interurban Ave S, #C100 

Tukwila, WA 98168 

Dear Mr. Sorensen: 

On February 14, 2017, the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Safety issued eligibility 

letter B-276 for the Safence 3RSC-16 Blue System 3 Cable Driven Post System. The Office of 

Safety has recently made modifications to its eligibility letter website to be more consistent with 

the 2nd Edition of American Association of State Highway and Transportation 

Officials’(AASHTO’s) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) and the additional test 

matrices for cable barriers therein. These modifications have necessitated the update of certain 

eligibility letters including B-276. The update for letter B-276 consists of adding the phrase 

“2H:1V Slope, 200 mm Offset” after the original description of the device to indicate the astested conditions. Additionally, the language of this letter has been updated to be consistent with 

current Office of Safety policy for the issuance of eligibility letters. 

Please note that this updated letter B-276A will in no way affect the eligibility for the associated 

device as was determined on February 14, 2017. This letter will supersede the original B-276 

letter in full. 

Decision 

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

integral part of this letter: 

• Safence 3RSC-16 Blue System 3 Cable Driven Post System, 2H:1V Slope, 200 mm

Offset

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 
2

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. 

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 Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

Therefore, the device is eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program if 

installed under the range of tested conditions as Length of Need (LON) barrier. 

Name of system: Safence 3RSC-16 Blue System 3 Cable Driven Post System, 2H:1V 

Slope, 200 mm Offset 

Type of system: Longitudinal Barrier 

Test Level: Test Level 3 (TL3) 

Testing conducted by: Holmes Solutions 

Date of request: December 15, 2016 

Date of completed package: February 1, 2017 

FHWA concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash testing laboratory as stated 

within 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. 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number B-276A 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 FHW A to use, 

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

3 

• 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. 

Enclosures 

Sincerely, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 1 of 4 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

ofHighway Safety Hardware 

Date of Request: 

Name: 

December 15, 2016 

Jesper Sorensen 

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Company: 

Address: 

Country: 

Blue System AB 

Fiskebacks Hamn 16, S-426 58 Vastra Frolunda 

Sweden 

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 Fl 

System Type Submission Type Device Name I Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'B': Rigid/Semi-Rigid Barriers 

(Roadside, Median, Bridge 

Railinqs) 

 Physical Crash Testing

 Engineering Analysis

Safence 3 RSC-16 

Blue System 3 Cable 

Driven Post System 

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: Jesper Sorensen Same as Submitter 

Company Name: Blue System AB Same as Submitter 

Address: Fiskebacks Hamn 16, S-426 58 Vastra Frolunda Same as Submitter 

Country: Sweden Same as Submitter 

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

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

The test facility Holmes Solution or any its employees does not have any financial interest in Blue Systems AB or 

Safence, Inc. 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 2 of 4 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

 New Hardware or

Significant Modification 

 ' Modification to

Existing Hardware 

Safence 3RSC-16 Blue System 3 Cable Driven Post System: 

The Safence driven post barrier consists of three, 19 mm 3x7 strand galvanized cables, supported on (-section 

steel post at 2m centers. The height to the top of the highest cable from ground level is specified as a nominal 

900 mm (35.4"). The middle and lowest cables are 715 mm (28.1 ")and 530 mm (20.8") from the ground. Posts 

were driven into the AASHTO standard soil at 2m centers. 

Along the length of the slope, all posts were placed 200 mm down the slope from the break point in a 2:1 

slope. The cables were connected to the C posts section with 304 stainless steel rope hooks. The cables were 

terminated at a cable anchor bracket cast into an in-ground concrete foundation All cables were tensioned to a 

nominal 25.5 kN at an ambient temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Tension was applied to the cable using a 

hydraulic tensioning unit. Cable termination and cable adjustment fittings are swaged fittings. 

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: Emerson Ryder 

Engineer Signature: Emerson Ryder Digitally signed by Emerson Ryder 

Date: 2017.01.2609:22:06+13'00' 

Address : L2, 254 Montreal St., Christchurch Same as Submitter 

Country: New Zealand Same as Submitter 

A briet descri ption ot each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

The objective of the test reported herein 

was to evaluate the safety performance of 

the roadside 3 wire rope cable barrier 

system when installed on a 2:1 slope against 

the requirements of MASH 09 Test 3-10 in 

accordance with Test Level 3 (TL3). The Test 

3-10 was performed using a 1100 kg car 

traveling at a nominal speed of 100 km/ h 

impacting a test article at 25 degrees. The 

results indicate that the barrier satisfied the 

requirements of MASH for Test 3-10. The 

dynamic deflection was 1.41 meter and the 

working width 1.59 meter. 

3-10 (11 OOC) PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 3 of 4 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

The objective of the test reported herein 

was to eva luate the safety performance of 

the roadside 3 wire rope cable barrier 

system when installed on a 2:1 slope agains

the requirements of MASH 09 Test 3-11 in 

accordance with Test Level 3 (TL3). The Test

3-11 was performed using a 2270 kg truck 

traveling at a nominal speed of 100 km/h 

impacting a test article at 25 degrees. The 

results indicate that the barrier satisfied the

requirements of MASH for Test 3-11. The 

dynamic deflection was 2.01 meter and the 

working width 2.19 meter. 

t 

3-11 (2270P) PASS 

3-20 (1100C) Test 20 is a test for transitions sections. 

Therefore it was not conducted. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

3-21 (2270P) Test 20 is a test for transitions sections. 

Therefore it was not conducted. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

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: Holmes Solutions 

Laboratory Signature: Emerson Ryder Digitally signed by Emerson Ryder 

Date: 2017.01.2609:22:48+13'00' 

Address: Unit 5, 295 Blenheim Road, Christchurch Same as Submitter 

Country: New Zealand Same as Submitter 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

ISO/IEC 17025:2055; IANZ Certificate Number: 1022 

23 July 2009 to present day 

2017.02.01 

Submit Form 

ATTACHMENTS 

Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 4 

Attach to this form: 

l) Additional disclosures ofrelated 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 ofthis request. 

3) A drawing or drawings ofthe 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 
holmessolutions.com 
holmessolutions.com 
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2016-04-15 AISI 304 

BlUE SYSTEMS Fiskebacks Hamn 16 Tel: + 46 31-29 72 16 

SE -426 58 Vastra Frolunda Fax: + 46 31-29 30 65 

Sweden E-mail: info@bluesystems.se 

This drawing is the property of BLUE SYSTEMS AB. 

31± 1 

Name 

SAl NCE 

Weight 

0,03 kg 

Units Sheet size 

mm A4 

Slope Hook 6 mm 

Drawing no. Article no. Rev 

D-3032B AVS26-6-HOOK 

The content must not be copied or made available to any third party without our written permission . 
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Date 

2016-11-30 ASTM-AlOll grade 60 17,66 kg mm A4 

BLUE SYSTEMS Fiskebacks Hamn 16 Tel: +46 31-29 72 16 

SE -426 58 Vastra Frolunda Fa x: +46 31-29 30 65 

Sweden E·mail: info@bluesystems.se 

Name 

Super-C 2256 mm 

Drawing no. Article no. Rev

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This drawing is the property of BLUE SYSTEMS AB. 

The content must not be copied or made available to any third party without our written permission. 

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