1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

March 8, 2012

FHWA: HSST: WLongstreet: sf 60087:2/16/12: sf.: Updated 3/8/12

File: h://directory folder/HSST/ CC-112B_QuardM10CZ with Asphalt 

Anchors EAS (3) docx.

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/CC-112B

Mr. Barry D. Stephens, P.E.

Sr. Vice President Engineering

Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.

3617 Cincinnati Avenue

Rocklin, CA 95678

Dear Mr. Stephens: 

This letter is in response to your request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to 

review a roadside safety system for eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway 

program. 

Name of system: 2-bay to 6-bay QuadGuard® M10 CZ (24”, 30” and 36”)

Type of system: Impact Attenuator with Transitions

Test Level: AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH)

 Test Level 3 (TL-3) 

Testing conducted by: E-Tech Testing Services, Inc.

Task Force 13 Designator: SCI26b

Date of request: March 11, 2011

Date initially acknowledged: March 11, 2011

Date of completed package: February 10, 2012

Decision:

The following devices are eligible, with details provided:

• 2 to 6-bay QuadGuard M10 CZ (24”, 30” and 36” wide system)

Based on a review of crash test results submitted by the manufacturer certifying the device 

described herein meets the crashworthiness criteria of the American Association of State 

Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), the 

device is eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. Eligibility for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval or 

endorsement by the FHWA for any particular purpose or use.

The FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Government do not 

endorse products or services and the issuance of a reimbursement eligibility letter is not an 

endorsement of any product or service.

Requirements
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Roadside safety devices should meet the guidelines contained in the MASH. 

Description

The 6-bay QuadGuard (QG) M10 CZ is identical to the 6-bay QuadGuard M10 except for its 

anchoring system. The QG M10 CZ is installed using the “MP-3 Longbolt System,” which uses 

a two-part polyester grout to anchor 3⁄4-inch diameter by 18 inches long threaded rods to a 

foundation of 6 inches deep asphalt over a 6 inches deep compacted sub-base. The rods are to be 

embedded to a minimum depth of 16 inches into 7/8-inch diameter drilled holes. A total of 50 

anchors are needed. The anchoring system and one-page test summary are included as an 

enclosure to this correspondence.

Crash Testing

The following MASH Test 3-35 was completed for FHWA review of the QG M10 CZ 610 mm 

[24 inch] Parallel system:

QuadGuard M10 CZ

• Test 3-35 (2270P/ 100kph / 25° / B.L.O.N.)

Impact speed = 100.4 km/h, Long. ΔV = 5.78 m/s, Long. Ridedown = -6.4 g

The summary of the above test is included as an enclosure to this correspondence. 

The following lists all required tests for TL3 as per the MASH. In addition, crash test 3-35 was 

the only physical test conducted with asphalt anchorage as this specific test is considered the 

worst case, or greatest loading, on the asphalt anchors. All other MASH Tests are as referenced 

in existing FHWA eligibility letter HSST/CC-112 dated February 9, 2011.

QuadGuard M10 CZ, Test Matrix

MASH Test Illustration MASH

Test # Completed Notes

3-30 NO Test 3-32 was completed as 

Worst Case for 1100C. 

3-31 YES* Passed all ORV’s.

6-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested 

and passed all Occupant Risk 

Values. This test was 

completed on concrete. Test 

3-35 is the worst case for 

asphalt.

*FHWA eligibility letter HSST/CC-112 dated February 9, 2011
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MASH Test Illustration MASH

Test # Completed Notes

3-32 YES* Passed all ORV’s.

5-Bay 914 mm [36 inches] 

Narrow System was tested. 

This test was completed on 

concrete. Test 3-35 below is 

the worst case for asphalt.

3-33 NO Test 3-31 tested system 

capacity for 2270P and is 

considered worst case. Test 3-

35 below is worst case for 

asphalt.

3-34 YES* Passed all ORV’s.

5-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested. 

This test was completed on 

concrete. Test 3-35 below is 

the worst case for asphalt.

3-35 YES This test was completed on 

asphalt. This test exerts the 

most intense forces on the 

anchors. 

3-36 YES* Passed all ORV’s.

5-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System with no new 

nose brackets was tested. Test 

was completed on concrete. 

This test applies the force on 

the anchors as test 3-35.

3-37 YES* Passed all ORV’s.

6-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System attached to a 

w-beam transition. This test 

was completed on concrete. 

Test 3-35 is the worst case for 

asphalt.
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MASH Test Illustration MASH

Test # Completed Notes

3-38 YES* The recommended MASH 

analysis was completed and 

all calculated ORV’s passed. 

This test was completed on 

concrete. Test 3-35 is the 

worst case for asphalt.

*FHWA eligibility letter HSST/CC-112 dated February 9, 2011

Findings:

I. 6-bay QuadGuard M10 CZ Narrow Systems 6-bay 610 millimeters (24 inches), 762 

millimeters (30 inches), and 914 millimeters (36 inches):

Based on a review of previous QuadGuard testing, Test 3-35 (2270 kg pickup truck at 100 

km/h impact at 25 degrees at the beginning of the attenuator length of need) is the most severe 

test of the anchoring system. Testing results of the MASH Test 3-35 as conducted on the as 

described system meets the evaluation criteria for a MASH redirective, non-gating crash 

cushion at TL-3 impact conditions. In addition, submitted static computations indicate this test 

is the worst case for impact loadings translated to anchorage bolts. In regards to other 

required testing as per MASH, this submission provides the required documentation for 

requesting waiver of these tests. Therefore the 6-bay QuadGuard M10 CZ Narrow Systems 6-

bay 610 millimeters (24 inches), 762 millimeters (30 inches), and 914 millimeters (36 inches) 

meet the evaluation criteria for a MASH redirective, non-gating crash cushion at TL-3 impact 

conditions are eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program when such 

use is acceptable to the contracting authority.

II. 2-bay to 5-bay QuadGuard M10 CZ Narrow Systems 610 millimeters (24 inches), 762 

millimeters (30 inches), and 914 millimeters (36 inches):

Both as submitted and as referenced testing indicate these devices as described herein shall 

also be eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program to a highway 

agency wishing to specify an attenuator with capacity for use at speeds from 40 to 90 km/h.

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to the FHWA letters of acceptance:

• This letter provides a AASHTO/ARTBA/AGC Task Force 13 designator that should be 

used for the purpose of the creation of a new and/or the update of existing Task Force 13 

drawing for posting on the on-line ‘Guide to Standardized Highway Barrier Hardware’ 

currently referenced in AASHTO Roadside Design Guide.

• This 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, we reserve the right to 

modify or revoke our acceptance.
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• 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 it will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA and the 

MASH.

• To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance is designated as 

numberCC-112B, and 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 at our office upon request.

• The QuadGuard® M10 CZ attenuators are patented products and considered proprietary. 

If proprietary devices are specified by highway agency for use on Federal-aid projects, 

except exempt, non-NHS projects, (a) they must be supplied through competitive bidding 

with equally suitable unpatented items: (b) the highway agency must certify that they are 

essential for synchronization with the 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.

• 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, 

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Design 

Office of Safety

Enclosures:

One-Page Test Summary

Drawings of QuadGuard M10 
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