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                Safety Eligibility Letter WZ-226
  
  **Hardware Type:**
            Work Zone Devices
                          **Code:**
            WZ-226
                          **Date:**
            03/06/2006
                          **Testing Criteria:**
            NCHRP 350
                          **Manufacturer:**
            Plasticade Products
                          **Device Description:**
            Plasticade and Fibercade
                          **View PDF:**
            wz226.pdf (308.09 KB)
    
    
Skip to contentSkip to contentUnited States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway AdministrationDOT logo
U.S. Department of Transportation
**Federal Highway Administration**
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C.  20590**March 6, 2006**


**Refer to: HSA-10/WZ-226**

Mr. Chase Gauger
	Vice President
	Plasticade Products
	7700 Austin Avenue
	Skokie, Illinois  60077
	
Dear Mr.  Gauger :
Thank you for your letter of  December 7, 2005, requesting the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)  acceptance of the addition of Alpolic signs to your company's Type II  Plasticade and Fibercade barricades as crashworthy traffic control devices for  use in work zones on the National Highway System (NHS). Accompanying your letter was a testimonial  from Korman signs agreeing to the use of their crash test results to validate  the performance of the sign/barricade combination. You requested that we find these devices acceptable for use on  the NHS under the provisions of National Cooperative Highway Research Program  (NCHRP) Report 350 "Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance  Evaluation of Highway Features."
**Introduction**
The FHWA guidance on crash testing  of work zone traffic control devices is contained in two memoranda. The first, dated July 25, 1997, titled "INFORMATION:  Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety Features," established four categories of  work zone devices: Category I devices are those lightweight devices which are  to be self-certified by the vendor, Category II devices are other lightweight  devices which need individual crash testing but with reduced instrumentation,  Category III devices are barriers and other fixed or heavy devices also needing  crash testing with normal instrumentation, and Category IV devices are trailer  mounted lighted signs, arrow panels, etc. for which crash testing requirements  have not yet been established. The  second guidance memorandum was issued on August 28, 1998, and is titled "INFORMATION:  Crash Tested Work Zone Traffic Control Devices." This later memorandum lists devices that are acceptable under  Categories I, II, and III. Our new acceptance process was outlined in our  memorandum "FHWA Hardware Acceptance  Procedures – Category 2 Work Zone Devices" dated November 11, 2005.

**Testing**
Crash testing of your company's Plasticade and Fibercade  Type II barricades was conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute in  1998. The two barricade designs were  the subject of our acceptance letter WZ-14 dated May 28, 1999. The only windshield damage seen in three  tests of the barricades was minor cracking at two contact points of the  Plasticade Sign Stand, which was supporting a roll-up sign.
**Findings**
After reviewing the crash testing conducted on your  company's Plasticade and Fibercade barricades, the Type II barricade sign  stands of Korman Inc., and the discussion provided by Korman on the use of the  Alpolic material on Type II barricades we concur in your request to use 48 x 48  inch Alpolic signs on these barricades.  The Alpolic material has been tested in various orientations and, even  with direct high-speed impacts on windshields, there is only moderate damage  with little or no potential for occupant compartment intrusion.
The Plasticade and Fibercade Type II barricade sign supports  described above and detailed in the enclosed drawings are acceptable for use on  the NHS under the range of conditions tested, when proposed by a State. The Alpolic signs will be affixed to the top  rail of the Plasticade and Fibercade barricades using bolts or pop rivets. Signs on the Plasticade will also be secured  by the sign sleeve.
Please note the following standard provisions that apply to  the FHWA letters of acceptance:
Our       acceptance is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the       devices and does not cover their structural features, nor conformity with       the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
Any       changes that may adversely influence the crashworthiness of the device will       require a new acceptance letter.
Should       the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that       in-service performance reveals unacceptable safety problems, or that the       device being marketed is significantly different from the version that was       crash tested, it reserves the right to modify or revoke its acceptance.
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 essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as       that submitted for acceptance, and that they will meet the crashworthiness       requirements of the FHWA and the NCHRP Report 350.
To       prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance, designated       as number WZ-226 shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter, and the test documentation       upon which this letter is based, is public information. All such letters and documentation may       be reviewed at our office upon request.
The       Plasticade and Fibercade barricades, and Alpolic sign substrate material       are patented products and considered "proprietary." The use of proprietary work zone       traffic control devices in Federal-aid projects is generally of a       temporary nature. They are *selected       by the contractor* for use as needed and removed upon completion of the       project. Under such conditions       they can be presumed to meet requirement "a" given below for the       use of proprietary products on Federal-aid  projects. On the other hand, if  proprietary devices are *specified by a highway agency* for use on  Federal-aid projects they: (a) must be supplied through competitive bidding  with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the highway agency must certify  that they are essential for synchronization with 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, a copy of which is enclosed.
This acceptance letter shall not be construed as  authorization or consent by the FHWA to use, manufacture, or sell any patented  device for which the applicant is not the patent holder. The acceptance letter is limited to the  crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate device, 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.Sincerely yours,

		
		**/Original Signed by/**

John R. Baxter, P.E.
						Director, Office of Safety Design 
						Office of Safety

Enclosures
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