1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

June 7, 2013

FHWA:HSST:NArtimovich:sf:x61331:6/6/13

File: s://directory folder/hsst/nartimovich/HSST/B233_DeltaBloc_V2.docx

cc: HSST (Reader, HSA; Chron File, HSST; NArtimovich, HSST), BFouch, HSST 

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/B-233

Mr. Wolfgang Ganster

Delta Block International GmbH

Industriestrasse 28

A-2601 Sollenau

Germany

Dear Mr. Ganster: 

This letter is in response to your request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to 

review a roadside safety system for eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway 

program. 

Name of system: Delta Bloc DB 80 F-Shape 12 ft 6 in long units

Type of system: Portable concrete barrier

Test Level: MASH Test Level 3

Testing conducted by: Midwest Roadside Safety Facility

Task Force 13 Designator: SWC18

Date of initial request: October 5, 2011

Date initially acknowledged: December 20, 2011

Date of completed package: December 19, 2012

Decision:

The following device is eligible, with details provided in the enclosed form which is considered 

an integral part of this letter:

• Delta Bloc DB 80 F-Shape portable concrete barrier 12 ft 6 in long units

Based on a review of crash test results submitted by the manufacturer certifying the device 

described herein meets the crashworthiness criteria of the American Association of State 

Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), the 

device is eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. Eligibility for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval or 

endorsement by the FHWA for any particular purpose or use.

The FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Government do not 

endorse products or services and the issuance of a reimbursement eligibility letter is not an 

endorsement of any product or service.
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Requirements

Roadside safety devices should meet the guidelines contained in the MASH. 

Description and Crash Tests 

The enclosed copy of your form, as well as the letter from Thomas Wolfe sent on October 5, 

2011, details the construction of the barrier as well as tests 3-10 and 3-11, both of which were 

conducted in compliance with the MASH and resulted in successful performance. Vehicle 

trajectory, barrier structural adequacy, and occupant risk factors conformed to the evaluation 

criteria contained in the MASH.

Findings

Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached letter, drawings, and test data 

summary is eligible for reimbursement and may be installed under the range of conditions tested. 

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA eligibility letters:

• This letter provides a AASHTO/ARTBA/AGC Task Force 13 designator that should be 

used for the purpose of the creation of a new and/or the update of existing Task Force 13 

drawing for posting on the on-line ‘Guide to Standardized Highway Barrier Hardware’ 

currently referenced in AASHTO Roadside Design Guide. 

• This finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the systems 

and does not cover their structural features, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform 

Traffic Control Devices.

• Any changes that may influence the crashworthiness of the system will require a new 

reimbursement eligibility letter.

• Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service 

performance reveals safety problems, or that the system is significantly different from 

the version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter.

• 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 the 

same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for review, and 

that it will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the Manual for Assessing Safety 

Hardware. 

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

B-233 and 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 at our office upon request. 

• This letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by the FHWA to use, 

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

The finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate 

system, and the FHWA is neither prepared nor required to become involved in issues 

concerning patent law. Patent issues, if any, are to be resolved by the applicant.
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• The Delta Bloc Barriers are patented products and considered 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 yours,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety

Enclosures