t 3 

u.S.DqJortmnr 

Of Transpoftotlon 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

AUG 61990 

Refer to: HNG-14 

Mr. Robert A. Sik 

Vice President, Akron Foundry Company 

2728 Wingate Avenue 

P.O. Box 27028 

Akron, Ohio 44319-0009 

Dear Mr. Sik: 

This is in response to your July 13 letter to Mr. Artimovich requesting 

acceptance by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of Pole Lite Model 

F-1300 and F-1302 cast aluminum transformer bases for use on Federal-aid 

highway projects. Tests were conducted to assess compliance of the bases with 

FHWA breakaway requirements, which cite Section 7 of the 1985 American 

Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Standard 

Specifications for Structural Supports for Hishwav Siqns. Luminaires and 

Traffic Siqnals. The Southwest Research Institute forwarded copies of the 

five crash test reports (Project No. 06-3116-516), dated June 1990, containing 

results of the pendulum tests on various aluminum and steel poles with these 

bases. Fullr dimensioned drawinqs and material test reports on the aluminum 

castings had-been received from you on May 31. 

The tests used an instrumented 1,800-pound pendulum fitted 

crushable nose which simulates the left quarter point of a 

Rabbit. Impact speed was 20 mph. A summary of the tested 

presented below: 

Test Number Pole Lite Number Heisht of Base 

Test-l Pole Lite Model F-1300 9 inches 

Test-10 Pole Lite Model F-1300 9 inches 

Test-11 Pole Lite Model F-1300 9 inches 

Test-14 Pole Lite Model F-1302 9 inches 

Test-16 Pole Lite Model F-1302 9 inches 

with a 10 stage 

1979 Volkswagen 

hardware is 

Pole Tvoe 

8 inches Aluminum 

9 inches Steel 

8 inches Aluminum 

10 inches Aluminum 

10 inches %e<l~ ~~ 

Details of the tested hardware are shown in Enclosure I. Test parameters and 

measured and extrapolated test results and are shown on Enclosure II as part 

of Test Series IV. This information shows that the tested pole-base 

combinations,will meet the change in velocity and stub-height requirements 

adopted by the FHWA. 

The 16.8 fps calculated change in velocity of Test 14 exceeds FHWA 

requirements. However, as the calculated changes in velocities nearly 

over estimate the 60-mph results, we will consider the results of Test 

meeting the new FHWA requirements. 

always 

14 as 
Thus, the transformer bases manufactured for Pole Lite, as shown on the 

enclosed drawings, are acceptable for use on Federal-aid highway projects 

within the range of conditions tested, if proposed by a State. This 

acceptance is limited to breakaway characteristics of the bases and does not 

cover their structural features. Presumably you or Pole Lite will supply 

potential users with sufficient information on structural design limitations 

and on installation requirements to ensure proper performance. We anticipate 

that the States will require.certification from Pole Lite that the bases 

furnished have essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and 

geometry as those used in the tests, and that supports with those bases will 

meet the FHWA breakaway requirements. 

Since these breakaway support designs are proprietary items, to be used in a 

Federal-aid highway project they; (a) must be supplied through competitive 

bidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the State highway agency 

must certify that they are essential for synchronization with existing highway 

facilities, or that no equally suitable alternate 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 was provided with prior correspondence. 

Sincerely yours, 

A. 6 

L. A. Staron 

Chief, Federal-Aid and Design Division 

Enclosures 

Geometric and Roadside Design Acceptance Letter LS-18 
Endorsement to FHWA field offices: All of the transformer bases covered by 

this letter and Geometric and Roadside Design Acceptance Letters LS-17 and 

LS-19 were manufactured by Akron Foundry Company. For marketing purposes 

Akron Foundry has requested these three acceptance letters to cover what is 

essentially two g-inch high transformer base models that will be manufactured 

by Akron Foundry and sold by three firms: Feralux, Pole Lite, and Akron 

Foundry. One model has top and bottom bolt circle ranges of 11.5 inches to 

12.5 inches. It will carry a marking of CS-300 for Feralux, F-1300 for Pole 

Lite, and TB-AF6-9" for Akron. The other has top and bottom bolt circle 

ranges of 14.5 inches to 15.25 inches. It will carry a marking of CS-370 for 

Feralux, F-1302 for Pole Lite, and TB-AF5-9" for Akron. A separate series of 

tests was run to cover the Feralux model designations, while another series 

was run to cover the combined Pole Lite and Akron designations. It is our 

understanding that in production the Feralux bases will only be marked with 

Feralux's base numbers. On the other hand, bases to be marketed by either 

Pole Lite or Akron will be manufactured showing both suppliers' model numbers 

and before being shipped, one model number will be removed so that only the 

nominal supplier's model number will remain. 
SE 2 3/4 0IA.x 1 l/l6 1.0.x l/2 TK.WASHERS FOR l’ANCH$)RAGE.TOP 8 BOTTOM B.C. 

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5.5 x 9.25 DOOR OPEN G - I 

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WELDS ‘OR POLE-LITE 

356 T6 ALUMINUM ALLOY PER ASTM 6108 5-l-90 F-l 300 

1885 AASHTO REQUIREMENTS /1800 LB PENDULUM 7lST 
6.00 CUT-OFF 

12.00 OVEPALL 

5.5 x 11.18 DOoR OPENI 

15.31 so. 

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356 T6 ALUMINUM ALLOY PER ASTM BlO8 15-l-90 1 F-1302 

‘1’985 AASHTd iIEQUlREMENTS / 1800 LB PENDULUM TEST 

1175 

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