U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

May 20, 2020 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/WZ-400 

Mr. Felipe Almanza 

TrafFix Devices Inc. 

160 Avenida La Pata 

San Clemente California 92673 

Dear Mr. Almanza: 

This letter is in response to your February 5, 2020 request for the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) 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-400 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: 

• TraFfix A-Cade 

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 FHWA, 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 FHWA, 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, FHWA 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: TrafFix A-Cade 

Type of system: Work Zone 

Test Level: MASH Test Level 3 (TL3) 

Testing conducted by: KARCO 

Date of request: February 5, 2020 

FHWA concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash testing laboratory on the 

attached form. 

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 on 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. 

Standard Provisions 
3 

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

control number WZ-400 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 FHWA 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 FHWA eligibility letter determination is made based solely 

on the crash-testing information submitted by the requester. The FHWA 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 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

of Highway Safety Hardware 

S

u

bmitter 

Date of Request: February05,2020 New Resubmission 

Name: RobbyRamirez 

Company: TrafFixDevices,Inc. 

Address: 160AvenidaLaPataSanClementeCA,92673 

Country: UnitedStates 

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&TestingCriterion-Enter from right to left starting with TestLevel ! -! - ! ! -! -! 

SystemType SubmissionType DeviceName / Variant TestingCriterion Test 

Level 

'WZ':CrashWorthyWorkZon PhysicalCrashTesting 

Engineering Analysis A-Cade 

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: RobbyRamirez SameasSubmitter 

CompanyName: TrafFixDevices,Inc. SameasSubmitter 

Address: 160AvenidaLaPataSanClementeCA,92673 SameasSubmitter 

Country: UnitedStates SameasSubmitter 

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

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

TrafFixDevicesInc.and ApplusIDIADAKARCOEngineering LLCshareno financial interests between the two 

organizations.Thisincludes noshared financial interest but not limited to: 

i. Compensationincluding wages,salaries,commissions,professionalfees,or feesfor businessreferrals 

ii.Consulting relationships 

iii. Researchfunding or other formsof researchsupport; 

iv.Patents,copyrights, licenses,and other intellectual propertyinterests; 

vi.Businessownership and investment interests. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

New Hardware or Modification to 

Significant Modification ExistingHardware 

TheTrafFixDevicesA-Cadeisa work-zone traffic control deviceconsisting of two (2)A-frameplastic legs,one 

(1) plasticrail,andwas tested with two (2) warning lights. 

TheA-framelegsareblow molded and havean overall height ofapproximately40.25in.(1022mm).Thebase of 

theleg hasacompartment that can befilled with sand for ballast.Thecompartment holdsapproximately15 

poundsofsand.Thelegshave two (2)sections to holdastandard rail or aTrafFixI-beam rail.TheA-Cadeholds 

therail at Manualon UniformTrafficControl Devices(MUTCD)compliant heights.Thelegshavemolded in lugs 

so they are stable during transportation and storage. The rails are 8.0 in. (203 mm) tall and 0.75 in. (19 mm) 

thickandcomein variouslengthsandsheetingconfigurations.Theas-testedTrafFixDevicesA-Cadeused8ft. 

(2.4m)long plastic panelsand weighted approximately50lbs.(22.7kg) with the basecompartment filled with 

sand. 

Warning lightsand sand ballast were used during crash testing. The A-Cade can be used with or without a 

warning lightsand ballast. The MASH tested and passed TrafFix Devices A-Cade was not modified from the 

NCHRP350 version.Since the product wasnot changed from theNCHRP350 version existing inventorycan be 

consideredMASHcompliant. 

CRASH TESTING 

Bysignaturebelow, theEngineeraffiliated with the testing laboratory, agreesin support of thissubmission 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 testsare necessary to determine the device meets 

theMASH criteria. 

Engineer Name: NickV.Injev 

EngineerSignature: 

Address: 9270HollyRoad,Adelanto,CA92301 SameasSubmitter 

Country: UnitedStatesofAmerica SameasSubmitter 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

NickInjev DigitallysignedbyNick Injev 

DN:cn=Nick Injev,o=ApplusIDIADAKARCO,ou, 

email=nick.injev@idiada.com,c=US 

Date:2020.02.0710:03:44-08'00' 

RequiredTest 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-70(1100C) 

Designed to evaluate theability of asmall 

vehicle to activate any breakaway, fracture, 

or yielding mechanism. Per MASHTest 3-70 

isconsideredoptional for work-zone traffic 

control devicesweighing lessthan220 lbs 

(100kg).Theas-tested barricadeweighed 

approximately50 lbs.(22.7kg). 

Non-RelevantTest,not conducted 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RequiredTest 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

Testreport numberP39231-01,conducted 

on 07/29/19. Test 3-71 involves an 1100C 

test vehicleimpacting the temporaryworkzone traffic control device at a critical 

impact angle of 0° and 90°. The test is 

designed to evaluate occupant 

compartment penetration,vehiclestability, 

and occupant risk criteria. The test vehicle 

wasa commercially available 2006 KiaRio 

with a test inertial weight of 2,429.5 lbs 

(1102.0kg). 

3-71(1100C) 

The test vehicle impacted the first device 

oriented at 90° at aspeed of 63.95 mph 

(102.91 km/h). There was no penetration 

into the occupant compartment and no 

vehicle instability wasinduced.Thevehicle 

cleared the device in a controlled manner 

and continued to impact the second 

barricadeorientedat 0°at aspeed of 61.96 

mph (99.71 km/h). The barricade was 

activated in a predictable manner and did 

not penetrate the occupant compartment. 

The TrafFix Devices A-Cade did not induce 

vehicle instability, block the drivers vision, 

and did not createa debrisfield that would 

present undue hazards to other traffic, 

pedestrians, or personnel in a work zone. 

The occupant compartment was not 

penetrated and the deformation limits were 

not exceeded. The TrafFix Devices A-Cade 

met all the requirementsfor MASHTest 

3-71. 

PASS 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Testreport numberP39232-01,conducted 

on 07/29/19.Test3-72 involvesa2270Ptest 

vehicleimpacting the temporarywork-zone 

traffic control device at a critical impact 

angle of 0° and 90°. The test is designed to 

evaluate occupant compartment 

penetration, vehiclestability, and occupant 

risk criteria. The test vehicle wasa 

commerciallyavailable2014RAM1500 with 

a test inertial weight of 4,990.1 lbs (2,263.5 

kg). 

3-72(2270P) 

The test vehicle impacted the first device 

oriented at 90° at aspeed of 65.28 mph 

(105.05 km/h). There was no penetration 

into the occupant compartment and no 

vehicle instability wasinduced.Thevehicle 

cleared the device in a controlled manner 

and continued to impact the second 

barricadeorientedat 0°at aspeed of 64.40 

mph (103.64 km/h). The barricade was 

activated in a predictable manner and did 

not penetrate the occupant compartment. 

The TrafFix Devices A-Cade did not induce 

vehicle instability, block the drivers vision, 

and did not createa debrisfield that would 

present undue hazards to other traffic, 

pedestrians, or personnel in a work zone. 

The occupant compartment was not 

penetrated and the deformation limits were 

not exceeded. The TrafFix Devices A-Cade 

met all the requirementsfor MASHTest 

3-72. 

PASS 

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: ApplusIDIADAKARCO NickInjev 

LaboratorySignature: 

email=nick.injev@idiada.com,c=US Digitallysignedby NickInjev 

DN:cn=NickInjev,o=ApplusIDIADAKARCO,ou, 

Date:2020.02.0710:03:27-08'00' 

Address: 9270HollyRoad,Adelanto,CA92301 SameasSubmitter 

Country: UnitedStatesof America SameasSubmitter 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

TL-371:July2019 -July2022 

SubmitterSignature*:RobertRamirez Digitallysigned byRobertRamirez 

Date:2020.02.0711:37:54-08'00' 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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 
 

 

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION Impact Conditions Occupant Risk

Test Agency..................................... Applus IDIADA KARCO Impact Velocity Device 1........................... 63.95 mph (102.91 km/h) Longitudinal OIV............................... N/A*

Test No........................................ P39231-01 Impact Velocity Device 2............................. 61.96 mph (99.71 km/h) Lateral OIV.................................... N/A*

Test Designation.............................. 3-71 Device 1 Angle................................... 90.0° Longitudinal RA........................... N/A*

Test Date........................................ 7/29/19 Device 2 Angle................................. 0.0° Lateral RA................................. N/A*

Device 1 Kinetic Energy............................... 332.1 kip-ft (450.3 kJ) THIV.............................................. N/A*

TEST ARTICLE Device 2 Kinetic Energy.......................... 311.8 kip-ft (422.7 kJ) PHD......................................... N/A*

Name / Model........................................ A-Cade ASI.............................................. N/A*

Type....................................................... Work-Zone Device Exit Conditions

Device Height .................................... 3.1 ft. (0.9 m) Device 1 Exit Velocity.................... 63.2 mph (101.8 km/h) Test Article Deflections

Key Elements....................................... A-Cade, I-Beam Rail, Lights Device 2 Exit Velocity..................... 61.2 mph (98.6 km/h) Debris Field (longitudinal) ....... 223.3 ft. (68.1 m)

Road Surface.................................... Concrete Vehicle Resting Position.................... 328.9 ft. (100.3 m) Dow nstream Debris Field (lateral)......... 41.6 ft. (12.7 m)

8.1 ft. (2.5 m) Left

TEST VEHICLE Vehicle Stability ..................................... Satisfactory

Type / Designation................................ 1100C Maximum Roll Angle................................. N/A* Vehicle Damage

Year, Make, and Model.................................. 2006 Kia Rio Maximum Pitch Angle............. N/A* Vehicle Damage Scale................... 12-FD-1

Curb Mass.............................................. 2,398.6 lbs (1,088.0 kg) Maximum Yaw Angle............N/A* CDC............................................. 12FDAW1

Test Inertial Mass.................................. 2,429.5 lbs (1,102.0 kg) * Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lbs (100 kg) Maximum Intrusion............................. 0.2 in (4 mm) foot well

Gross Static Mass................................ 2,594.8 lbs (1,177.0 kg)
 

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION Impact Conditions Occupant Risk

Test Agency.................................... Applus IDIADA KARCO . Impact Velocity Device 1........................... 65.28 mph (105.05 km/h) Longitudinal OIV.............................. N/A* .

Test No.................................... P39232-01.... Impact Velocity Device 2........................... 64.40 mph (103.64 km/h) .. Lateral OIV.................................... N/A*

Test Designation.............................. 3-72 Device 1 Angle................................. 90.0° .. Longitudinal RA........................... N/A*

Test Date........................................ 7/29/19 Device 2 Angle................................. 0.0° Lateral RA................................. N/A*

Device 1 Kinetic Energy.............................. 710.8 kip-ft (963.7 kJ). THIV............................................. N/A* .

TEST ARTICLE Device 2 Kinetic Energy........................ 691.8 kip-ft (938.0 kJ) .. PHD....................................... N/A* ..

Name / Model....................................... A-Cade . ASI............................................. N/A* .

Type...................................................... Work-Zone Device . Exit Conditions

Device Height .................................... 3.1 ft. (0.9 m) Device 1 Exit Velocity.................. 64.60 mph (104.0 km/h) .. Test Article Deflections

Key Elements....................................... A-Cade, I-Beam Rail, Lights Device 2 Exit Velocity..................... 63.40 mph (102.0 km/h) Debris Field (longitudinal) ......261.9 ft. (79.8 m) .

Road Surface.................................... Concrete Vehicle Resting Position.................. 319.6 ft. (97.4 m) Dow nstream .. Debris Field (lateral)......... 44.7 ft. (13.6 m)

2.8 ft. (0.8 m) Left

TEST VEHICLE Vehicle Stability .................................... Satisfactory .

Type / Designation.............................. 2270P .. Maximum Roll Angle................................. N/A* Vehicle Damage

Year, Make, and Model................................. 2014, Ram, 1500 . Maximum Pitch Angle............N/A*. Vehicle Damage Scale.................. 12-FD-1.

Curb Mass............................................. 4,922.8 lbs (2,233.0 kg) . Maximum Yaw Angle............N/A* CDC............................................. 12FDAW1

Test Inertial Mass................................. 4,990.1 lbs (2,263.5 kg) . * Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lbs (100 kg) Maximum Intrusion........................... 0.2 in (5 mm) Foot Well ..

Gross Static Mass.............................. 4,990.1 lbs (2,263.5 kg) ..