1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

July 11, 2014 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST/B-251 

Mr. Forrest Schultz 

Strongstown's B&K Enterprises, Inc. 

260 Route 403 South 

Strongstown, PA 15957 

Dear Mr. Schultz: 

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: Portable Concrete Barrier (PCB) Deflection Reducing Retrofit 

Type of system: Longitudinal Barrier 

Test Level: AASHTO MASH TL3 

Testing conducted by: Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) 

Task Force 13 Designator: SWC19 

Date of request: May 22, 2014 

Decision: 

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

integral part of this letter: 

• Portable Concrete Barrier (PCB) Deflection Reducing Retrofit 

Based on a review of crash test results you submitted certifying the device described herein 

meets the crash test and evaluation 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. 

FHWA: HSST: WLongstreet: sf.x60087: WLongstreet: 6/23/14 

File: h://directory folder/HSST/B-251 Portable Concrete Barrier (PCB) Deflection Reducing 

Retrofit.docx 

cc: HSST Will Longstreet 
 

 

 

 

 

2 

Requirements 

To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, roadside safety devices should meet the crash test 

and evaluation criteria contained in the American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

Description 

The device and supporting documentation are described in the attached form. 

Summary and Standard Provisions 

Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached form 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 does not cover other structural features of the systems, nor 

conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 

•	 Any changes that may influence system conformance with MASH 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 are expected to supply potential users with sufficient information on design and 

installation 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 the MASH. 

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

number B-251 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. 
3 

• 	 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 FHWA does not become involved in issues concerning patent law. 

Patent issues, if any, are to be resolved by the applicant. 

Sincerely yours, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 
Version 7.0 (3/13) 

Page 2 of 4 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

Of Highway Safety Hardware 

a. 

~ 

Date of Request: June 16, 2014 (i' New r Resubmission

Name: Forrest Schultz - Signature: ~~~O&' 

Company: Strongstown's B%K Enterprises, Inc. ~ 

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Address: 260 Route 403 South, Strongstown, PA 15957 

Country: United States 

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. 

IHeiPl 

System Type Submission Type Device Name I Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'B': Barriers (Roadside, 

Median, Bridge Railings) 

(i' Physical Crash Testing 

( FEA & V&V Analysis 

JJ-Hook F-Shape 

Deflection Resistant 

Retrofit 

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. 

Identification of the Individual or organization responsible for the product: 

Contact Name: Forrest Schultz Same as Submitter ~ 

Company Name: Strongstown's B%K Enterprises, Inc. Same as Submitter 181 

Address: 260 Route 403 South, Strongstown, PA 15957 Same as Submitter 181 

Country: United States Same as Submitter ~ 
Version 7.2 (03/14) 

Page 3 of 4 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

The barrier used in this testing was previously accepted for use on the National Highway System under the 

FHWA eligibility letter B52 as a free standing NJ and F shaped barrier under NCHRP Report 350. This barrier has 

minimal reinforcement and pinning ofthis barrier without additional structural support was deemed unfeasible. 

Strongstown's B&K Enterprises, Inc. produced a series of components that when added to an existing JJ-Hook FShape Barrier, will limit the amount of deflection to under 2411 when tested under MASH Test 3-11. The retrofit 

design is made up ofthree (3) main components: 

A. Quantity one (1) - 611 wide x 2211 long x 1 /211 thick metal plate that has a rectangular hole at the top (1 3/811 

wide and approximately 211 long) and a hole located near the bottom ofthe plate that is 1 5/811 in diameter. This 

plate is also bent into a contoured shape that follows the shape of the barrier. 

B. Quantity one (1)-26" long drop in pin that is 1 1/211 in diameter with a 411 plate washer welded to the top 1/211 

thick. 

C. Quantity one (1) - 1 1 /411 hex headed bolt with 411 x 1011 x 1 /211 thick plate washer and hex nut. 

All ofthe components are installed on the F-Shape JJ-Hook barrier as follows: 

The contoured plate (A) is anchored to the barrier at the top by drilling a hole through the barrier and bolting 

with (C). The Barrier and Plate is then anchored to the roadway surface by drilling through the bottom hole of 

the barrier into the roadway surface and inserting (B). These components and anchoring procedure are 

required to be installed on each end of the barrier so two (2) sets of retrofit components are needed for each 

section of 12' barrier that is being installed. 

This system was anchored into concrete to produce the greatest stresses in the pinned connection. If a 

successful test was achieved, it is believed the system will perform adequately when anchored in less rigid 

materials, i.e. asphalt. A pinned 12.5' long pin and loop F-Shaped barrier anchored in concrete with two (2) 

18.37511 long pins was tested for Louisiana DOT to NCHRP Report 350 under the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund 

housed at TTL In that test, the working width was 2.83', maximum dynamic deflection was 1211 and permanent 

deformation was 611 

• The barrier was granted eligibility from the FHWA under letter B206. Subsequently, the

same barrier was retested with the 12.5' long F-Shape barrier pinned in a 411 thick asphalt pad with compacted 

road base underneath. There were three (3) 4811 long pins in each barrier segment. In this test, the working 

width was 29.9", the maximum dynamic deflection was 17.811 and the permanent deflection was 17.011 • This test 

was accepted by the FHWA under MASH test conditions and issued an eligibility letter under letter B206A. 

CRASH TESTING 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description Evaluation Results 

3-10 (1100C) 

No testing of the 11 OOC vehicle was conducted as part ofthe MASH 

testing ofthe SBK F-Shape PCB (Portable Concrete Barrier) because 

the small car test is considered less critical due to lower impact 

energy and deflection. Additionally, previous testing of safety 

shapes with small cars has historically proven successful. 

WAIVER REQUESTED 

3-11 (2270P) Test Number 690900-SBKl I Conducted on January 27, 2014 I By 

the Texas Transportation Institute PASS 

3-20 (11 OOC) N/A 

3-21 (2270P) N/A 
Version 7.2 (03/14) 

Page 4 of 4 

Fu ll 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.): 

Testing Laboratory's signature concurs that these modifications are considered Non-Significant and the 

effect is positive or inconsequential. 

Laboratory Contact Signature: Alberson, Dean C r......._.,__f 

..._ot;_,,..,..·--­··---........­ ...,_ ,.... ___(._____ 

Laboratory Name: Texas Transportation Institute 

Laboratory Contact: Dean Alberson Same as Submitter D 

Address: 3135 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 Same as Submitter D 

Country: USA Same as Submitter D 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Date: 

TII A2LA ISO 17025 Certification # 2821.01 Accreditation valid through April 

30, 2015. 

°"JotMly 119rwd by ' on•1t Schultr 

Submitter Signature*: Forrest Schultz :.~::;:::::~~~·,.,..,,_, ~""'u•1~C.-VS 

O~:• Xl l,.0616 4001~W 

ATTACHMENTS 

Attach to this form : 

I) A copy of the full test report, video, and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test conducted in 

support ofthis request. 

2) 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 ill ustrate the product, with detailed specifications, intended use, and contact 

information provided on the reverse. Additional drawings (not in TF-1 3 format) showing detai ls that 

are key to understanding the performance of the device should a lso be submitted to facilitate our 

review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter AASHTO TF13 

Number Date Designator Key Words 

B-251 June l 7,2014 SWC19 F-Shape barrier, JJ-Hook, concrete, asphalt 
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General Information 
 Impact Conditions Post-Impact Trajectory 

Test Agency ........................ Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) 
 Speed ................................... 63.3 mi/h Stopping Distance ...................... 142 ft dwnstrm 

Test Standard Test No ........ MASH Test 3-11 
 Angle ....................................24.9 degrees 128 ft twd traffic 

TTI Test No ........................ 690900-SBK1 
 Location/Orientation ............. 56 inches Vehicle Stability 


Date .................................... 2014-01 -27 
 upstream 3-4 Maximum Yaw Angle .................. 66 degrees 


Impact Severity ...................... 117.7 kip-ft Maximum Pitch Angle ................. 18 degrees 


Test Article Exit Conditions Maximum Roll Angle ................... 40 degrees 


Type .................................... Temporary Concrete Median Barrier Speed ...................... ............. 52.0 mi/h Vehicle Snagging ........................ No 


Name .................................. J-J Hook Temp Concrete Barrier w/Retrofit Angle .................................... 6.4 degrees Vehicle Pocketing ....................... No 


Installation Length ............... 96.75 ft Occupant Risk Values 

Material or Key Elements .... Concrete Safety Shape pinned to concrete Impact Velocity 
 Test Article Deflections 


with Y:.-inch plate and 1 Y:z-inch OD pin Longitudinal. ...................... 17.4 ft/s 
 Dynamic ..................................... 18.9 inches 


Lateral............................... 20.7 ft/s 
 Permanent.. ................................ 9.5 inches 


Soll Type and Condition....... Concrete Pavement, Dry 
 Ridedown Accelerations 
 Working Width ............................ 26.8 inches 


Longitudinal. ...................... 16.3 G 
 Vehicle Intrusion ......................... 22.4 inches 


Test Vehic le 
 Lateral ............................... 12.1 G 


Type/Designation ................ 2270P 
 THIV ...................... ............... 28.9 km/h 
 Vehicle Damage 

Make and Model. ................. 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 
 PHO ..................................... 17.9 G 
 VOS ............................................ 11 LFQ5 

Curb .............................. ...... 4880 lb 
 ASI ....................................... 1.24 
 CDC ........................................... 11FLEW4 

Test Inertial ......................... 5034 lb 
 Max. 0.050-s Average Max. Exterior Deformation .......... 16.0 inches 

Dummy ................................ No dummy
 Longitudinai... .................... -7.3 G OCDI .......................................... LF0001010 

Gross Static ......................... 5034 lb 
 Lateral ............................... 9.4 G Max. Occupant Compartment 

Vertical. ............................. -4.0 G Deformation .......................... 0.5 inches 


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0.000 s 0.242 s 0.484 s 0.650 s 

PLATb: & P IN DETAILS 

Figure 5.7. Summary of Results for MASH Test 3-11 on J-J Hook Temp Concrete Barrier with Retrofit.