January 6, 2020 

 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/WZ-383 

Mr. Felipe Almanza 

Traffix Devices Inc. 

160 A venida La Pata 

San Clemente California 92673 

Dear Mr. Almanza: 

This letter is in response to your March 28, 2019 request for the Federal Highway Administration 

(FHW A) to review a roadside safety device, hardware, or system for eligibility for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. This FHWA letter of eligibility is 

assigned FHWA control number WZ-383 and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by 

FHWA that expressly references this device. 

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: 

• Little Buster Sign Stand w/Roll-Up Sign 

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 FHW A, 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. 

This letter is not a determination by the FHW A, 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. 
2 

Eligibility for Reimbursement 

Based solely on a review of crash test results and certifications submitted by the manufacturer, 

and the crash test laboratory, FHW A 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: Little Buster Sign Stand w/Roll-Up Sign 

Type of system: Work Zone 

Test Level: MASH Test Level 3 (TL3) 

Testing conducted by: KARCO 

Date of request: March 28, 2019 

FHW A concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash testing laboratory per the 

attached form for the above device using one (1) 4.0ft. x 4.0ft. roll-up sign supported by a 

fiberglass flexible frame consisting of two (2) crossbeams that are 5.5ft long pinned together at 

their centers. 

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 ori 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. 

Issuance of this 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 of your 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 of the system. 
3 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number WZ-383 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 FHW A 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 of any Agency view, position, or 

determination of validity, 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 FHW A eligibility letter determination is made based solely 

on the crash-testing information submitted by the requester. The FHW A 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 of Safety 

Enclosures 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 1 of 5 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

· of Highway Safety Hardware 

... 

(I)

... ... .E 

.0 

Date of Request: March 19,2019 (e New r Resubmission I 

Name: Robert Ramirez 

Company: TrafFix Devices, Inc. 

Address: 160 Ave La Pata, San Clemente, CA 92673 

:::s 

V, Country: United States 

To: Michael S. Griffith, Director 

FHWA, Office of Safety Technologies 

I request the following devices be considered eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid 

highway program. 

Device & Testing Criterion - Enter from right to left starting with Test Level Fl 

System Type Submission Type Device Name/ Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'WZ': Crash Worthy Work 

Zone Traffic Control Devices 

(e Physical Crash Testing 

(' Engineering Analysis 

Little Buster Sign Stand 

w/ Roll-Up 

AASHTOMASH TL3 

By submitting this request for review and evaluation by the Federal Highway Administration, I certify 

that the product(s) was (were) tested in conformity with the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety 

Hardware and that the evaluation results meet the appropriate evaluation criteria in the MASH. 

Individual or Organization responsible for the product: 

Contact Name: Robert Ramirez Same as Submitter [8:1 

Company Name: TrafFix Devices, Inc. Same as Submitter [8:1 

Address: 160 Ave La Pata, San Clemente, CA 92673 Same as Submitter [8:1 

Country: United States Same as Submitter [8:1 

Enter below all disclosures of financial interests as required by the FHWA ' Federal-Aid Reimbursement 

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

TrafFix Devices Inc. and Applus IDIADA Karco Engineering LLC share no financial interests between the two 

organizations. This includes no shared financial interest but not limited to: 

i. Compensation including wages, salaries, commissions, professional fees, or fees for business referrals 

iii. Research funding or other forms of research support; 

iv. Patents, copyrights, licenses, and other intellectual property interests; 

vi. Business ownership and investment interests; 
Version 10.0 (05/16} 

Page 2 of 5 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

(e New Hardware or (' Modification to 

• Significant Modification Existing Hardware 

The TrafFix Devices Little Buster Sign Stand is a temporary work-zone device consisting of five main 

components: one steel base assembly, one outer steel mast, one inner steel telescoping mast, one roll-up sign 

bracket, and one roll-up sign. 

The steel base consists of a dual spring assembly at the base of the outer mast. When deployed, the legs form 

an X-footprint that has overall dimensions of 38.50 in. (978 mm] x 79.50 in. (2019 mm]. 

The inner mast telescopes through the outer mast and locks into place when fully extended using a push 

button. 

The roll-up sign bracket is designed hold the roll-up sign in place. The sign is removed by disengaging the latch 

for the sign to be lifted and removed from the sign stand. 

The Little Buster Sign Stand can be used on concrete, asphalt, gravel, or dirt surfaces. The test was conducted 

on a concrete surface. The Little Buster Sign Stand can be used with or without flags. 

The overall dimensions of the Little Buster Sign Stand is approx. 38.50 in. (978 mm] x 79.50 in. (2019 mm] x 92.0 

in. (2336 mm]. Sand bags can be placed on the legs as needed for ballast. 

The MASH tested and passed Little Buster Stand, described above, is based on the previously tested and 

passed NCHRP-350 Little Buster Sign Stand (Reference WZ-24). 

CRASH TESTING 

By signature below, the Engineer affiliated with the testing laboratory, agrees in support of this submission that 

all of the critical and relevant crash tests for this device listed above were conducted to meet the MASH test 

criteria. The Engineer has determined that no other crash tests are necessary to determine the device meets 

the MASH criteria. 

Engineer Name: Steven Matsusaka 

Digitally signed by Steven Matsusaka 

ON: cn =Steven Matsusaka, o::: Applus IOIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC., Engineer Signature: Steve n MatSUSaka ou, emall:::StevenMatsusaka@ldlada.com, c=US 

Date: 2019.03.29 10:26:24 •07'00' 

Address: 9270 Holly Rd., Adelanto, CA 92301 Same as Submitter D 

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter D 

A briet description ot each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-70 (1100() 

Designed to evaluate the ability of a small 

car to activate any breakaway, fracture or 

yielding mechanism. Test 3-70 is considered 

optional for work-zone traffic control 

devices weighing less than 220 lbs (100 kg). 

The as-tested Little Buster weighted 

approximately 42 lbs (19 kg) therefore the 

test was non-relevant and was not 

conducted. 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 3 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-71 (11 00C) 

For this test, two Little Buster Sign Stands 

were impacted. The first test article was 

aligned at o• and the second test article was 

aligned at 90° to the impacting vehicle's 

direction of travel. This test is intended to 

evaluate the sign stand's behavior when 

impacted by an 11 00C test vehicle. The 

primary evaluation is based on intrusion 

into the occupant compartment, windshield 

damage, and vehicle stability. According to 

MASH lightweight devices under 220 lbs 

(100 kg), such as the Little Buster Sign Stand 

cannot cause sufficient velocity change that 

would result in exceeding occupant risk 

criteria limits. The as-tested devices 

weighed approximately 42 lbs (19 kg), 

therefore Test 3-71 was conducted without 

instrumentation for evaluating occupant 

risk values. 

The test was conducted using a 

commercially available 2014 Hyundai 

Accent 4 door sedan with a test inertia mass 

of 2,415.1 lbs. (1,095.5 kg). The test vehicle 

impacted the first sign stand (oriented at 0°) 

at a velocity of 62.94 mph (101 .29 km/h). 

Upon impact the mast deflected around the 

front of the vehicle and separated at its 

telescoping point. The contact with the 

base of the first device caused the vehicle to 

miss the intended impact point of the 

second device. As a result of the 

interference, the second sign had to be retested. 

The test vehicle impacted the sign stand 

(oriented at 90°) at a velocity of 62.59 mph 

(100.73 km/h). Upon impact the springs 

were activated and the mast deflected over 

the front of the vehicle. The sign detached 

from the mast. The mast remained attached 

to the base throughout the impact. 

The vehicle's occupant compartment was 

not penetrated by the test articles and there 

was negligible cab deformation. Debris 

from the test articles did not block the 

driver's vision. The vehicle remained upright 

and the roll angle did not exceed 75°. The 

vehicle cleared both devices in a controlled 

and stable manner. The Little Buster Sign 

Stand met all the requirements for MASH 

Test 3-71 . 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 5 

For this test, two Little Buster Sign Stands 

were impacted. The first test article was 

aligned at 0° and the second test article was 

aligned at 90° to the impacting vehicle's 

direction of travel. This test is intended to 

evaluate the sign stand's behavior when 

impacted by a 2270P test vehicle. The 

primary evaluation is based on intrusion 

into the occupant compartment, windshield 

damage, and vehicle stability. According to 

MASH lightweight devices under 220 lbs 

(100 kg), such as the Little Buster Sign Stand 

cannot cause sufficient velocity change that 

would result in exceeding occupant risk 

criteria limits. The as-tested devices 

weighed approximately 42 lbs (19 kg), 

therefore Test 3-72 was conducted without 

instrumentation for evaluating occupant 

risk values. 

The test was conducted using a 

commercially available 2015 RAM 1500 4 

door pickup with a test inertial mass of 

5,005.5 lbs. (2,270.5 kg). The test vehicle 

impacted the first sign stand (oriented at 0°) 

at a velocity of 60.11 mph (96.74 km/h). 

Upon impact the spring were activated, and 3-72 (2270P) the mast separated at its telescoping point. 

The sign and upper mast section rotated 

over the top of the vehicle. The vehicle 

cleared the sign stand in a controlled 

manner. 

The test vehicle continued along its path 

and impacted the second sign stand 

(oriented at 90°) at a velocity of 59.71 mph 

(96.10 km/h). Upon impact the springs were 

activated. The mast deflected around the 

front of the vehicle and pulled the base 

forward. The sign released from the mast 

and passed over the top of the vehicle. The 

base assembly and mast dragged beneath 

the vehicle but did not cause instability to 

the vehicle. 

The vehicle's occupant compartment was 

not penetrated by the test articles and there 

was negligible cab deformation. Debris 

from the test articles did not block the 

driver's vision. The vehicle remained upright 

and the roll angle did not exceed 75°. The 

vehicle cleared both devices in a controlled 

and stable manner. The Little Buster Sign 

Stand met all the requirements for MASH 

Test 3-72. 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 5 of 5 

Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with MASH by the following accredited crash test 

laboratory (cite the laboratory's accreditation status as noted in the crash test reports .): 

Laboratory Name: Appl us IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC. 

Laboratory Signature: 

Digita lly signed by Steven Matsusaka 

ON: cn: Steven Matsusaka, o::Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC.. ou, Steven Matsusaka email =Steven.Matsusaka@idiada.com, c= US 

Date: 2019.03.29 10:35:23 -07'00' 

Address : 9270 Holly Rd., Adelanto, CA 92301 Same as Submitter D 

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter D 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

September 14, 2018 - July 1, 2019 

Submitter Signature*: Robert Ramirez ~::;~.~•.~.';,~~;:;:,:,".'' 

Submit Form 

ATTACHMENTS 

Attach to this form: 

1) Additional disclosures of related financial interest as indicated above. 

2) A copy of the full test report, video, and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test conducted in 

support of this request. 

3) A drawing or drawings of the device(s) that conform to the Task Force-13 Drawing Specifications 

[Hardware Guide Drawing Standards]. For proprietary products, a single isometric line drawing is 

usually acceptable to illustrate the product, with detailed specifications, intended use, and contact 

information provided on the reverse. Additional drawings (not in TF-13 format) showing details that 

are relevant to understanding the dimensions and performance of the device should also be submitted 

to facilitate our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter 

Number Date Key Words