U.S.Depurtment 

of Tmnsportaticn 

Fedeml Highway 

Administration 

400 seventn St., s,w 

WashIngton. D,C 20590 

Refer to: HNG-14 

Mr. C. Richard Briden 

Engineering Manager 

P&K Pole Products 

84. Foundry Street 

Newark, New Jersey 07105 , 

Dear Mr. Briden: 

Thank you for your April 25 letter requesting Federal Highway 

Administration's (FHWA) acceptance of your company's aluminum 

breakaway bases. Your letter was accompanied by seven test 

reports by the Southwest Research Institute dated February or 

March 1995, and video documentation on each~ test. Additional 

information was submitted on June 12 and August 8 in response to 

our requests. 

Pendulum testing was conducted to assess the breakaway 

performance of the bases. Requirements for breakaway supports 

are found in the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Structural 

Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals. 

Testing guidelines are found in the National Cooperative Highway 

‘Research Program Report 350, l*Reconunended Procedures for the 

Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features.t' Both have 

been adopted by the FHNA. 

You requested individual acceptance letters for each base.~ This 

letter is for the hardware tested in PX-106, dated February 1995. 

A summary of the test data is shown below, and drawings of the 

cast aluminum transformer base are enclosed. 

e 

I 

TestNumber 

Pole Wall Thickness, mm (in) 

Pole Butt Diem. and Base Designation 

P&KDrawing,No. 

Bolt, Circle Diameter, rtim (in) 

Test Article Mass,kg (w\ Ibs) 

MountingHeight,m(A) 

Vehicle Mass,kg (weight, Ibs) 

Test Speed, LJNII (mph) 

Occup~nttmp.Speedn/a(fps) 

Vehicle VelocityChangem/s(Fps) 

EstimatedlOOknvhGccup.Imp.Speed 

Aluminum Shaft 

6.35 (0.250) 

IO”,CastAl TransformerBase 

T~P~TB-ZCBADwg#G-104813 

381 (1% 

246 (542) 

IS.3 (52.2) .,, 

820 (1808) 

35.28 (21.9) 

I.5 (4.9) (BO.40 xc) 

I.5 (4.9) 

2.8 (9.3) 
The results of this test and the high-speed extrapolation meet 

the change in velocity and stub height requirements adopted by 

AASHTO and the FHWA. Therefore, the tested aluminum breakaway 

base described above is acceptable for use on Federal-aid highway 

projects, within the range of conditions tested, if proposed by a 

State. 

Our acceptance is limited to the breakaway characteristics of the 

system and does not cover its structural features. Presumably, 

you will supply potential users with sufficient information on 

structural design and installation requirements to ensure, proper 

performance. We anticipate that the States will require 

certification from P&K Pole Products that the hardware furnished 

has essentially the same chemistry,.mechanical properties, and 

geometry as those used in the tests, sand that they will meet the 

FRWA change in velocity requirements. 

Sincerely yours, 

L. Poston, Chief 

VFederal-Aid and Design Division 

Enclosure 

Geometric and Roadside Design Acceptance Letter LS-40 
WE: 

1. IISE 4043 KLD WIRf 

2. 6063 ASSMY -375 W_L OR LESS. 

TOEI~tUTlTWEDAFTERMlDlti. 

3.KlWS 

iF 

20 Ibs 

405 

TOTAL 542 ibs 

52' - 2” 

LUllMIRE 

iul.NrI&fiT. 

46 ‘4” 

l- 6063-16K.bl.LUYSM 

a”o.0 x w)wu 

TMfD ‘ll” X 6” 5” DIA. 

eblTClfU_E 
! 

L 

i 

I- 

. 

\ 

-- 

T 

ZJ 

3 

, 
I 

c” TE!xR-SuJTtmT~mINsr. 

A‘TI..IIOUI 

.L. 0..C.1.110. ..*. . . c. - 

“a”m’aC TEST DATE !I-u-l9!34 

84 

..nc. .I,. 

.I... 

.,"..*..,,I,*. 

T

"l.... O.....I.. 

.V,CV". *ot,...c,. 

.I.<%* 

cY.10-*. 
i 

EOTTOM BOLT CIRCLE 

L 

I 

I 

?Ii 

I 

VIEW AA 

,/- 

____L____________ 

I’ ’ 

/ 

/ 

” \ (L 

-a_* 

-. 

. . 

‘\ 

‘$1 

,; .i; 

: \ 

\ 

/ 

1’ 

/’ \ ./ 

Figure 2. Manufacturer’s Drawing of Test Article (Continued)