Ls-8

t3

U.S.Depwment

ot Tmnspcutation

Federal Highway

Administration REFER TO:

HNG-14

Mr. Arthur M. Dinitz

President

Transpo Industries, Inc.

20 Jones Street

New Rochelle, New York 10801-6024

Dear Mr. Dinitz:

We have evaluated the information forwarded with your letters of August 14,

18, and December 21, 1989, to Mr. Thomas 0. Willett and other available

information on your company's Pole-Safe breakaway couplings used with

luminaire supports. Included in your transmittal were a Southwest Research

Institute (SwRI) report (dated July 1989) and supplementary information on

pendulum tests you had performed. The tests were conducted to assess the

compliance of the Pole-Safe breakaway couplings with the requirements of the

1985 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

(AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Structural' Supports for Highway Signs,

Luminaires and Traffic Signals. These specifications have been adopted, with

minor modifications, by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

In total, we have reviewed the results of 11 dynamic tests of these devices, a

ZO-m.p.h. and two 60-m.p.h. automobile tests run by Caltrans, a 20-m.p.h. and

a 60-m.p.h. bogie test run by FHWA, and six 20-m.p.h. pendulum tests run by

SwRI. From the results of these tests, we conclude that your Pole-Safe

couplings designated 201 and 301 will meet the FHWA breakaway criteria when

used with conventional light poles weighing no more than 900 pounds.

Therefore, Pole-Safe breakaway couplings 201 and 301, as shown in the enclosed

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

conventional lighting poles weighing no more than 900 pounds, if proposed by a

State. This acceptance is limited to breakaway characteristics of the

couplings and does not cover their 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 Transpo Industries that couplings

furnished have essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and

geometry as those used in the tests, and that the supports mounted on them

will meet the FHWA breakaway requirements. By copies of this letter and the

enclosed drawings of the couplings we will inform our field offices of this

finding.

Since the Pole-Safe couplings are a proprietary item, 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 and have been recently furnished to you with other correspondence. 

Sincerely yours, 

L. A. Staron 

Chief, Federal-Aid and Design Division 

Enclosure 
(6) EQUAL DIVISIONS 

\ 

I gs. (USE 2z;owi 60-2 

\ 

TYP. DOUBLE AN&E- CUTTERS) 

TYP. 

RETAIL ‘A’ 

SCALE - 3/l 

CAST INSERT , 1’;8UNC 

TOP STUD, THREADED 

b&rSPC ioiz 

TAP I’43UNC --LB 

X 2.625.FUL~ THRD.DPTn. 

THE CAST PART IS TOBE COATED AS FOLLOWS 

1. IRRIDITE PER MIL-C-5541 

2. 

3. 

LUBRICATE INTERNAL THREADS 

APPROX. 6 MILS. OF BLACK 

1 TtiNSPO INDUSTRIES INC_ 

I NEW ROCNELLE N .Y. 

-I- 7 

-y;,ft ‘k M-J T 

DICu.uL_S~_ - 

- SAFE BREAU - . A . WAY . . , . . 

PPOltT COUPLWJG 

NYLON FUSION BONDED POWDER COAT 
u-UM.TDRQUE

moLNur

HEXSEPARATES

4T SPECIFIED.

TORQUE) - 0

TOP WASHER HDG

3/I!” X 2” OD

POLE ANCHOR

BASE

BOTTOM WASHER HDG

rm!- 3/8” X 2 l/2-3” O D

r

3-5116”

t

4-314”

304 STAINLESS STEEL

THDSTUDl”-8UNC

383.2 DIE CAST

-

ALUMlNUM ALLOY

COUPLING

304 STAINLESS

-SlZELTHDm

l”8UNC

SPECIFICATION

Breakaway Support Couplings (longitudinaliy

grooved) conforms to AASHTO standards for

breakaway supports for light poles and are

approved for FHWA participation.

Tensile strength 25.0 kips min.

Restrained shear 3.6 kips min., 6.5 kips max.

Nut torque 175 fr 25 ft. lbs. or

controlled by nut

Female Anchor 304 stainless steel

imemal thread to fit

I”-IIUNC, 1 5/8” deep

Coupling coating: Irridate and nylon (MIL-C-554 1)

Installation note: Support utilizes female

anchoring system. It is installed l/8” to 3/8”

off the anchor foundation and provides for

leveling.

INTENDED USE

The breakaway support coupling is used with

poles which will be installed in locations

exposed to vehicular collisions, on female

anchor system-304 stainless steel - internal

thread to fir I”-8UNC - 1 5/8” deep.

BREAKAWAY SUPPORT COUPLINGS

FOR LIGHT POLES - FOR FEMALE ANCHOR

SYSTEM (1”)

Model No. 301-(H or T)
1’30 T-VP. 

DETAIL ‘A’ 

SCALL 3/l 

. 

NOTES : 

\ CAST INSERTo , I* - 8 UNC CA!iT INSERT, I*-6 UNC 

TOP STUD, TWREADED BOTTOM STUD, -lWRLADED 

No_ SPC IO11 No. SPC IOIZ- A 

THE CAST PART IS TOBE COATED AS FOLLOWS. 

1. IRRIDITE PER MI L-C-5541 

2. APPROX. 6 MILS. OF BLACK 

NYLON FUSION BONDED POWDER COAT 

-.-_ __- _ 
CATE!SYd 

f 

I’-8 UNC ROLLED THREAD 

i CHAMF. 3/32X 45” \ jXBURR 

NOTES : 

f - MATERIAL : 304 ST. STL. 

IX- VAPOR DEGREASE STUDS 

TOLERANCES 

(ExcEPr AS TRANSPO 

NOTID) NEW ROCHELLE 

-__ 

D=C I?.& L M4TtTRIAL 

rt NOTE 

FF.&CrGftdL TI TLC 

+ TOP STUD 

ANGULAR 1 DA-cc DRAWING 

+ i 4-29-85 i - 

-.--.._ -- 
/ 

I ‘I- 8 

+o” * 

- kQ” 

L CHAMF. =2&’ X 45” 

NOTES: 

I- MATERIAL: 304- ST. S-I-L. 

II- VAPOR DEGREASE STUDS 

. F LA-r 
MTE SYY REVISION RtXORD hTH DR. CK. 

NOTES : 

IIIIIIl- I”-8 UNC -26 

MECHANICA\- PROPERTIES : ASTM 14563, 

GFttADE A 

DlMENSIOIslS : ANSI BIB. 2, .2 

COATING : HOT DIP GALVANIZE PEK. 

ASTM A- 153 
r CHAMF. 45 o 

II ’ II I 

VIEW “A” 

SCALE = 5 X 

I -lXANSPO INDUSTRIES INC. 
P 

O.D. 2- 

1 I.D. -rjiiNOTES : 

I,- MA7ERlAL : CARBON STEEL 

ASi1 -1OI.B 

II- COATING : HO-I- D\P CALVANIZL, 

XXI-M:-: A - 153 

POLE SAFE 
DATE 5YM. REVISION RECORD rtUlH DR. CK 

I I 1 I I 

3 0.0. .! 

-zq- ---c 

r 

.375 

+ ,031 

-- 047 

NCTES : 

I - MATEFUAL : CARBON STEEL 

A I-51 \010 

II- cGAT\NG: HQT D\P GAL.VAN\ZE, 

AS-fM A-153 

POLE SAl=E 

r 

;Z:$“; 

NOTED) 

~E-N&‘c’E~N4 USTRI ES iI&. 

. . 

DECIMAL MATERIAL 

+ NOTE -1 

FRACTIONAL TI-fLfi 

* k2 WASHER, ROUND 

- LANGULAR PA-rE DRAWING WO. 

+ 4 -zbo-as - SPC 1016 
9 

.- 

._ 

:.. :,-.f - . . _.-- / _. I v 

. fil. 27 A/ (_Iz_------r 

(6) ANNULAR GROOVES 

EQUALLY SPACED 

.03L 

f <TAP I-8 N-C. (.O;LOOYERSlZ 

X I ‘/a MIN. THRD. DPTH. 6 

SCALE = 2X CHAMF. START OF THRD . 

TYPE 304 ST. STL. 1.062.MIN. Dlh .X45- 

/ 

(+) WIRE .437 DIA. 

C-1035 MEDIUM CARIKJN 

ASSEMBLY - SEE NOTES-n, ar 

TYPE 3Q4- ST.STL. 

, FERRULE 

/ SEE DETAIL ‘A’ / 

WELD WASHER TO FERRULE kU)SED - COIL 

SEE NOTES -I, -llL .290 DIA,WIRE 

c C - IO35 MEDIUM CAR=+4 

_. 

O-TURNS , lz&.D. X 2’/32CG. 

I 

NOTES : 

X-FILLET WELD VVASHERTO FERRULE AT 9 _ 

RUCES 90’ APART 

-WELD MUST-NOT. PENETRATE-.THROUCH 

THE WMHER 

-WASHER MUST M PERPENDiCUtiRTO Xffi 

FERRULE CENTER LINE 

II WIRES(4) TO BE PERCUSSION WELDED -PO 

FERRULE ANP TO l-MC CLOSED - COIL 

DX:WELO MUST NOT I-ENPTRAKE T9ILRRuLL . 

JNTERLDR THREADS 

BRIG/W -- SAFE 

T RANSPO INDUSTRIES INC a 

NrW ROCHELLE N.Y. 

Mmmalu 

SPEClFlEP 
Lightpole Breakaway 

Support System 
pok-mk@ is Approved 

For Use on Federal Aid Projects 

I 

and Meets AASHTO Specifications 

Model 301 Model 201 New, improved Design 

For New Construction Offers These Benefits. - a 

Lightpole /nsta//ation 

Install the Model 301 female anchor 

into new concrete footing for new 

pole placement. It will accept the 

301 coupling, which simply screws 

into the female anchor. The light 

pole base attaches to the top of the 

couplings. 

For Existing & 

Retrofit Lightpoles 

The Model 201 coupling screws 

down on standard, 1” hot dipped 

galvanized anchor bolts. It easily 

unscrews from a concrete base and 

lightpole for simple replacement 

after impact occurs. A new Model 

201 coupling can quickly replace 

the original. It simply screws into an 

existing or new lightpole and base. 

0 Meets AASHTO standards for 

roadway lightpole breakaway 

support systems. 

l Approved for FHWA participation. 

0 Exhibits effective and consistent 

breakaway characteristics on 

vehicle impact from any angle. 

l Economical and easy to install on 

new or existing (retrofit) lightpoles...requires no torque 

maintenance. 

0 Eliminates or greatly reduces pole 

and foundation damage...simple 

to replace after impact. 

0 Independent laboratory corrosion 

and material fatigue test data 

available. 

0 Model 301 eliminates need for 

“chipping out” concrete and replacing bent,or damaged anchor 

bolts before replacing lightpole. 

l Saves expensive, time-wasting 

efforts. 

0 Assures faster, simplerturnaround 

forrepositioning poleafter impact. 

Engineered for superior strength 

and reliability, all “Pole Safe” couplings are made of longitudinally 

grooved, die-cast aluminum and 

have stainless steel threaded upper 

studs. They are easy to install, require little, if any, maintenance 

and deliver proven, consistent 

breakaway performance. They are 

supplied complete with: 1” couplings, nuts and washers - (4 per set 

for each pole installation). 1” female anchors are available for the 

Model 301 coupling. 
1985 American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) “Standard

Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway

Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals” stipulates

that all lightpoles or ground mounted sign posts

within 30 ft. (9.14m) of a highway shall be placed

on Breakaway Supports to minimize injury to the

occupants and damage to the impacting vehicle.

According to these AASHTO Specifications,

“Satisfactory dynamic performance is indicated

when the maximum change in velocity for a

standard 1800 lb. (816.48kg) vehicle, or its equivalent, striking a breakaway support at speeds from

20mph to 6Omph (32 kmph to 97 kmph) does not

exceed a velocity change of 16 ft. per second.

The US Federal Highway Administration

reviewed 11 dynamic tests of the new “Pole-Safe”

201 and 301 devices which included 20mph and

two 60mph vehicle crash tests; and 20mph and

8Omph “bogie” tests. In addition, Southwest

Research Institute conducted six 20mph pendulum

tests. Subsequently, the Federal Highway Administration concluded that “Pole-Safe” couplings 201

and 301 meet the new AASHTO breakaway criteria

when used with conventional lightpoles weighing

up to 900 Ibs.

Thousands Installed in

More Than 35 States...

And in Countries Worldwide

How “‘Pole-Safe” Provides

High Tensile Load Capacity and

Low Breakaway Force Requirements

Tensile or

Compressive

Load

Under tensile load, the longitudinal coupling

grooves do not become stress-risers since the

stress field is parallel to the groove root as shown.

Therefore it can support required structural loads.

Under vehicle impact, forces are perpendicular to

the grooves, efficiently concentrating stresses at

the groove root and initiating fracture which is

propagated down along the groove. This allows the

threaded stud to break out of the aluminum

coupling inducing a “peel-away action” and rapid

breakaway at relatively low impact force levels.
p&-#af6 Assembly and Installation 

Performance 

A Specifications 

i 

Breakaway Support Couplings 

(longitudinally grooved) shall conform to 1985 AASHTQ specifications for Breakaway Supports for 

lightpoles and shall be approved for 

FHWA participation. The Breakaway 

Support Couplings shall be as 

manufactured by Transpo Industries 

Inc., New Rochelle. NY 10801. 

Models 201 and 301 “Pole-Safe” 1” 

couplings are available for lightpole 

mounting heights up to 50 ft. and 

weights to 900 Ibs. The Breakaway 

Support Coupling is intended for 

use with poles installed in nonpedestrian locations exposed to 

vehicular collisions. 

,del301 Coupling 

anspo Female Anchor 

(I) Fasten couplings and level. (2) Set pole in place. (3) Tighten nuts to specified (4) Installation with cover skirt. 

torque to complete installation. 

Met 201 Coupling 

fndard HDG Anchor Bolt Supplied By Others 

US PATENT 4.007.526 

20 Jones Street, 

New Rochelie, NY 10801 

Tel.: (914) 636-1096 

TLF: (800) 321-7870 

FAX: (914) 636.1282