U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

June 19, 2020 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/B-88G 

Mr. Jesper Sorensen 

Safence, Inc. 

14570 Interurban Ave S, #C100 

Tukwila, WA 98168 

Dear Mr. Sorensen: 

On December 23, 2008, the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Safety issued eligibility 

letter B-88F for the Safence in 1:4 Sloped Medians. The Office of Safety has recently made 

updates to its eligibility letter website to be more consistent with the 2nd Edition of American 

Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’(AASHTO) Manual for Assessing

Safety Hardware (MASH) and the additional test matrices for cable barriers therein. These 

updates have necessitated the modification of certain eligibility letters including B-88F. The 

modification for B-88F consists of adding the phrase “26 foot-wide median on front slope with 

4-foot offset from slope break point” after the original description of the device to indicate the 

as-tested conditions for the device. Additionally, the language of this letter has been updated to 

be consistent with current Office of Safety policy for eligibility letters. 

Please note that this modification to letter B-88F will in no way affect the eligibility for the 

associated device as was determined on December 23, 2008. This FHWA letter of eligibility is 

assigned FHWA control number B-88G and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by FHWA 

that expressly references this device. This letter will supersede the original B-88F letter in full. 

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: 

• SafeFence in 1:4 Sloped Medians, 26 foot-wide median on front slope with 4-foot offset 

from slope break point 

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. 
 

2 

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. 

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: Safence in 1:4 Sloped Medians, 26 foot-wide median on front slope 

with 4-foot offset from slope break point 

Type of system: Longitudinal Barrier 

Test Level: MASH Test Level 3 (TL3) 

Testing conducted by: Swedish Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) 

Date of request: October 21, 2008 

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.
3 

Issuance ofthis 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 ofyour 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 ofthe system. 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number B-88G 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 sell any 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 of subsequent 

information related to crash testing. 

Sincerely, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office ofSafety 

Enclosures 

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__________,___________~7 
Date: 

Test report 56746 2008-10-03 Annex 9; 

Acceleration graphs 

Teet summary Report (Using SAE class 180 Filter on Accelerat1on Data and AngUlar Velocity/Ole 

General Information 

Test Agency: VTI 

Test liUl!Dber: RB0626 l 

Test Date: 2aoe-oi-26 

Test Article: slant racke Blue systems 

Test Vehicle 

Descrlptlon: KIA Rlo UDE 716 

Test Inertial Maes: 1125 kg Gross Statlc Mase: 1200 ltg 

Impact conditions 

Speed: 103.0 km/hr

Angle: 25.0 degrees 

occupant Riek Factors 

Impact velocity (m/s) at 0.5096 seconds oo left side of 1nter1or 

x-d1rect1on 6.3 

y-d1rect1on -1.3 

THIV (km/hr> : 26.l at 0.5331 seconds on front of interior 

THIV [m/el: 7.3 

Ridedovn Accelerations (g's) 

x-d1rect1on -4.2 [0.5308 - 0.5408 sec:onds)

y-direct1on -2.B (l.3358 - 1.3458 sec:onds) 

PRD [g IS. ; 4.3 (0.5331 - 0.5431 sec:onds) 

ASI: 0.90 (0.4017 - 0.4517 eec:onds) 

NaX. SO;msec Moving Avg. ACcelerat10ns (g's) x-dlrection -a.a [0.4020 - 0.4520 seconds) y-directlon -2.l (2.1374 - 2.1874 seconds)

z-d1rect1on -6.l [0.4007 - 0.4S07 seconds) 

Max Roll, Pitch, and Yaw Angles (degrees) P.oll 40.7 (0.7745 seconds) Pitc:h 15.2 (0.756B seconds) Yaw 36.3 (l.2613 seconds) 
 Page 1

 Date:

Test report 56745 2008-10-03 Annex 9; 

Acceleration graphs 

Teet summary Report (Using SAE Class 180 Filter on Acceleration Data and AngUlar Veloc1ty/D1a 

General Information 

Test Agency: \ITI 

Test number: RS60624 l 

Teet Date: 2ooe-os=2, 

Test Article: Blue systems VaJer 

Test Vehicle 

Deecr1pt1on: Ford Transit TPL S6J 

Test Inertial Mass: 2147 kg Grose Static Mass: 2222 kg 

Impact condit1ons 

Speed: 101.5 Ian/hr

Angle: 2s.o degrees 

Occupant Rlsk Factors 

Impact veloclty (m/s) at o.J663 seconds on left side of interior 

x-dlrect1on -0.4 

y-dlrect1on -2.6 

THIV (km/hr}: ll.4 at 0.378B seconds on left side of 1nter1or 

THIV (m/s}: 3.2 

Rldedown Accelerations (g's) x-d1rec:t1on 2.5 (5.0649 - 5. 0749 seconds) y-d1rect1on 7.4 (0.6343 - 0.644J seconds) 

PHO (g'eJ: 7.5 (0.6343 - 0.6443 seconds) 

ASI: 0.70 (0.2077 - 0.2577 seconds) 

Max. 5omsec Moving Avg. Accelerations (g's} x-d1rect1on 2.1 (5.1482 - 5.1982 seconds) y-d1rect1on 4.5 (0.6343 - 0.6843 seconds)

z-d1rect1on 6.5 (0.2149 - o.2649 seconds) 

MaX Roll, P1tcb, and Yaw Anglea (degrees) Roll -11.0 (O.SSB7 seconds) P1tch 6.9 (3.3846 seconds)

Yaw 27.0 (0.7373 seconds)