U.S.Deportment 

of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, O.C. 20590 

Federal Highway 

Administration April 18. 20 16 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST- 1/1 ISSTWZ-343 

Mr. 1 lcnry A Ross 

Plasticade 

7700 N. Austin Avenue 

Skokie, IL 60077 

Dear Mr. Ross: 

This letter is in response to yo ur October 5. 2015 request for the Federal I lighway 

Administration (FI-I\VJ\) to review a roadside safety device. hardware. or system for eligibility 

for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. This f-HWA letter al' eligibility is 

assigned FHWJ\ control number WZ-343 and is valid until a subsequent let1er is issued by 

f-1 I\\IJ\ that expressly references this device. 

Decision 

The following devices arc eligible, with details provided in the form which is attrichecl as an 

integral part of"this leucr: 

• Plasticade 3200 Type Ill Barricade with Volcano Bases 

Scope of this Letter 

To be found eligible for Federal-aid fonding, new roadside safety devices should meet the crash 

test and evaluation criteria contained in rhe American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials· Manual for Assessing Safety I lardwarc (MASH). However. the 

fHWA, the Department ofTranspo11ation, and the United States Government do not regulme the 

ma nu l'acturc of roadside safety devices. El igibi Ii ty for rcim burscment under the f ecleral-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 wi ll result in any particular 

outcome, nor is it a guarantee of" the in-service performance of this device. Proper 

manufacturing. installation, and maintenance arc required in order for this device 10 function as 

tested. 
2 

This finding ofeligibility 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. 

Eligibility for Reimbursement 

Based solely on a review ofcrash 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 ofthe American Association ofState Highway and Transportation 

Officials' Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Therefore, the device is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program if installed under the range ohested 

conditions. 

Name ofsystem: Plasticade 3200 Type Ill Barricade with Volcano Bases 


Type ofsystem: Work Zone Traffic Control 


Test Level: MASH TL-3 


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


Date ofrequest: October 5, 2015 


Date initially acknowledged: November 5, 2015 


Date of completed package: March 29, 2016 


FHWA concurs with the recommendation ofthe accredited crash testing laboratory as stated 

within the attached form. 

Full Description of the Eligible Device 

The device and supporting documentation, including reports ofthe crash tests or other testing 

done, videos ofany crash testing, and/or drawings ofthe device, are described in the attached 

form. 

Notice 

Ifa manufacturer makes any modification to any oftheir roadside safety hardware that has an 

existing eligibility letter from FHW A, the manufacturer must notify FHW A ofsuch modification 

with a request for continued eligibility for reimbursement. The notice ofalJ modifications to a 

device must be accompanied by: 

o 	 Significant modifications - For these modifications, crash test results must be 

submitted with accompanying documentation and videos. 

o 	 Non-signification modifications - For these modifications, a statement from the 

crash test laboratory on the potential effect of the modification on the ability of 

the device to meet the relevant crash test criteria. 

FHW A's determination ofcontinued eligibility for the modified hardware will be based on 

whether the modified hardware will continue to meet the relevant crash test criteria. 

You are expected to supply potential users with sufficient information on design, installation and 

maintenance requirements to ensure proper performance. 
3 

You arc expected to certify to potential users that the hardware fumjshed has the same chemistry. 

mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for review, and that it will meet the test 

and evaluation criteria of the MASH. 

Issuance of this leller does not convey properly 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 leller if: (1) there are any inaccuracies 

in the information submitted in support of your request for this letter, (2) the qualification testing 

was nawed, (3) in-service perfom1ance 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 U1at the leller was issued in error or otherwise does not refl ect full and 

complete information about the crashworthiness or the system. 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number WZ-343 shall not be reproduced except in full. This Jetter and the test 

documentation upon whi ch it is based are publi c info rmation. All such leticrs 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. 

• 	 Ir the subject device is a patented product it may be considered to be proprietary. If 

proprietary systems are specified by a hi ghway agency for use on Federal-aid projects: 

(a) they must be supplied tlu·ough competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented 

items; (b) the highway agency must certily that they arc essential for synchroni zation 

with the ex isting 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 proprjetary 

products are contained in Title 23. Code of Federal Regul ations, Section 635.41 J. 

Sincerely yours, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosmes 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 1 of 5 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility

of Highway Safety Hardware 

Submitter

 Date of Request: March 28, 2016 New Resubmission 

Name: Henry A. Ross 

Company: Plasticade 

Address: 7700 N. Austin Avenue, Skokie, IL 60077 

Country: USA

 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 ! - ! - ! 

System Type Submission Type Device Name / Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'WZ': Crash Worthy Work 

Zone Traffic Control Devices 

Physical Crash Testing 

Engineering Analysis 

Plasticade 3200 Type III 

Barricade with Volcano 

Base 

AASHTO MASH 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: Henry A. Ross Same as Submitter 

Company Name: Plasticade Same as Submitter 

Address: 7700 N. Austin Avenue, Skokie, IL 60077 Same as Submitter 

Country: USA Same as Submitter 

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

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

The Plasticade 3200 Type III Barricade with Volcano Base is the commercial embodiment of intellectual property 

that is not protected by patents. Plasticade does not pay royalties for sales of the Plasticade 3200 Type III 

Barricade with Volcano Base. The Plasticade 3200 Type III Barricade with Volcano Base was designed and 

developed by engineers at Plasticade. 

Plasticade sponsored certain crash tests of the Plasticade 3200 Type III Barricade with Volcano Base; such tests 

were conducted by E-Tech Testing Services, an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary of Trinity Highway. ETech Testing Services is an International Standards Organization (“ISO”) 17025 accredited laboratory with 

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) Mechanical Testing certificate 989.01. Full-scale crash 

testing on the Plasticade 3200 Type III Barricade with Volcano Base was performed in accordance with testing 

criteria, as set forth by the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (“MASH”; 2009). 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 2 of 5 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

New Hardware or 

Significant Modification 

Modification to 

Existing Hardware 

The Plasticade® 3200 Type III Barricade with Volcano Base is a work zone traffic control device used to regulate, 

warn, and advise road users to traverse a section of highway or street in the proper manner. The barricade 

consists of a rubber Volcano Base with plastic uprights and plastic boards extruded from white UV stabilized 

high density polyethylene plastic. The test article is fitted with three 1 in by 8 in (25 by 203 mm) boards which 

are available sheeted with retro-reflective tape in a variety of widths. The overall height of the test article is 60 

in (1524 mm) when restored from its collapsed storage position. The “worst case” test article configuration was 

selected for testing. The widest 12 ft. (3.7 m) boards were used and the total test article weight was 115 lb. (52.2 

kg) including (2) Volcano Rubber bases weighing 43 lb. (19.5 kg) each. The test article was also fitted with two 

Empco-Lite Model 2006 Type A and C LED Warning Lights weighing 2.0 lb. (0.9 kg) each. The plastic uprights of 

the barricade were pinned to the Volcano Bases. 

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 crashworthiness 

Engineer Name: Paul Kruse 

Engineer Signature: Paul Kruse Digitally signed by Paul Kruse 

Date: 2016.05.13 05:42:40 -07'00' 

Address: 3617B Cincinnati Ave, Rocklin, CA Same as Submitter 

Country: United States Same as Submitter

 A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-70 (1100C) 

Test 3-70 was omitted as MASH says it is 

optional for test articles that weigh less than 

220 lbs. (100kg). 

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

Page 3 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-71 (1100C) 

E-TECH Test 76-0415-006 was MASH Test 

3-71 with a 2009 Kia Rio weighing 2,447 lbs. 

impacting the test article at the Critical 

Impact Angle. It was impacted in both 

normal and perpendicular orientations. The 

test articles were placed 19.7 ft. (6 m) apart 

and the second was turned 90 degrees 

relative to the first. The test was conducted 

at a 0 degree angle with the center of the 

vehicle bumper aligned with the vertical 

centerline of the test articles. The first 

impact took place with a normally 

orientated barricade. The 1100C vehicle 

bumper impacted the test article 

approximately 18 in. (457 mm) above 

ground level. The bottom board deformed 

from the test vehicle's bumper while the 

middle and top boards slid up the hood and 

over the top of the test vehicle. The plastic 

upright supports fractured upon initial 

impact approx. 12 in (305 mm) above the 

pinned connection to the Volcano Base. The 

lights remained attached to the test article. 

There was minor scuffing to the vehicle's 

hood but no windshield damage. The 

second impact took place with a 

perpendicular orientated barricade. The 

1100C vehicle bumper impacted the test 

article approximately 18 in. (457 mm) above 

ground level. The bottom board buckled 

upon impact with the vehicles bumper and 

the plastic upright on the leading edge 

fractured immediately. The middle and 

upper boards slid up the vehicle's hood and 

continued sliding up the windshield. As the 

vehicle passed over the Volcano bases, they 

engaged with the vehicle's undercarriage 

and travelled 48 ft. (14.6 m) and 53 ft. (16.2 

m) downstream of the initial point of 

contact. One of the plastic upright supports 

fractured upon initial impact approx. 8 in 

(203 mm) above the pinned connection to 

the Volcano Base while the other plastic 

upright pulled out of the base entirely. The 

lights remained attached to the test article 

although one of the plastic lenses detached 

during the impact event. There was minor 

scuffing to the vehicle's hood and the top of 

the windshield exhibited minor cracking 

with no deformation or tearing of the liner. 

The device was judged to have successfully 

met all MASH evaluation criteria for Test 

3-71 for work zone traffic control devices in 

both normal and perpendicular 

orientations. 

PASS 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 5 

3-72 (2270P) 

Test 3-72, utilizing the 2270P test vehicle, 

was opted not to be conducted strictly 

based on the test article performance of the 

1100C test vehicle used in Test 3-71. Due to 

the greater hood height of the 2270P, the 

test article components, including the 

optional Empco lights, are unlikely to travel 

onto the vehicle's hood and interact with 

the windshield. Additionally, after a 

thorough video analysis, the uprights 

attached to the rubber base fractured/ 

yielded immediately upon impact and the 

Volcano Bases remained on the sides of the 

vehicle during the entire impact event thus 

eliminating the possibility of floorboard 

deformation/penetration. 

Non-Critical, not conducted 

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: E-Tech Testing Services, Inc. 

Laboratory Signature: Paul Kruse Digitally signed by Paul Kruse 

Date: 2016.05.13 05:42:24 -07'00' 

Address: 3617B CIncinnati Ave, Rocklin, CA Same as Submitter 

Country: United States Same as Submitter 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

A2LA Certificate #989.01, November 20, 2016 thru November 30, 2017 

Digitally signed by Henry A. Ross 


DN: cn=Henry A. Ross, o=Plasticade, ou,
 Submitter Signature*:Henry A. Ross email=hross@plasticade.com, c=US 

Date: 2016.05.11 16:03:20 -05'00' 

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. 
 Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 5 of 5 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter 

Number Date Key Words 

WZ-343 April 18, 2016 Work Zone Sign Stand 
Normal Orientation 

t = 0.000 sec t = 0.042 sec t = 0.084 sec 

Perpendicular Orien

t = 0.000 sec t = 0.042 sec 

Plasticade® 3200 Type 

General Information Impact Conditions 

Test Agency......................................................E-TECH Testing Services, Inc. Speed (Normal Orientation) ............................ 63.1 mi/h (

Test Designation ...............................................MASH Test 3-71 Speed (Perpendicular Orientation) .................. 62.6 mi/h (

Test No..............................................................76-0415-006 Angle (deg) ...................................................... 0

Date ...................................................................04/14/2015 Impact Severity (Normal Orientation) ............ 322.5 ft-kip 

Impact Severity (Perpendicular Orientation) .. 317.2 ft-kip 

Test Article 

Type ..................................................................Plasticade Exit Conditions 

3200 Type III Barricade with Volcano Base Speed (Normal Orientation) ............................ 62.6 mi/h (

Dimensions .......................................................60 in OA Height x 144 in boards Speed (Perpendicular Orientation) .................. 62.1 mi/h (

(1524 x 3658 mm) Angle (Deg – veh. c.g.).................................... 0

Material and Key Elements ..............................115 lb (52.2 kg) Total including 

(2) Volcano Rubber Bases weighing 43 lb (19.5 kg) ea; Occupant Risk Values* (2) Empco-Lite Type A and C LED Warning Lights 

weighing 2 lb (0.9 kg ea) Vehicle Damage 

Foundation Type and Condition .......................Asphalt, clean and dry Exterior

VDS ........................................................... FC-1

Test Vehicle CDC .......................................................... 12FCEN1

Type ..................................................................Production Model Interior

Designation .......................................................1100C VCDI ......................................................... AS0000000 

Model ................................................................2009 Kia Rio Maximum Deformation ............................ Negligible Mass Windshield....................................................... Minor crack

Curb ............................................................2447 lb (1110 kg)Test Inertial ................................................2423 lb (1099 kg) * Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lb (100 kg). 

Dummy ......................................................N/A

Gross Static ................................................2423 lb (1099 kg)
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

D D

B B 

A A

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

8 

8 

8 

12 

12 

144 

60 

EXTRUDED POLYMER 

8" - 7 Rib Board 

1.75 POLYMER 

SQUARE POST 

63 

N/A 

ITEM NO. DESCRIPTION Default/

QTY. 

1 Base - Angle Iron

1.5 X 1.5 X 60 Long 2 

2 Post 

1.75 X 1.75 X 63 Long 2 

3 Breakaway Board

with 7 Internal Ribs 3 

4 Board Mounting

Hardware 12 

5 Reflective Sheeting 3 

6 Light Assemblies 2 

7 Light Mounting

Hardware 2 

8 Barricade Type III

Base 2 

C C

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS 

DRAWING IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF 

PLASTICADE, INC. ANY 

REPRODUCTION IN PART OR AS A 

WHOLE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN 

PERMISSION OF PLASTICADE, INC IS 

PROHIBITED. 

PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL 

INTERPRET DRAWING ANSI Y14.5M-2009 

MATERIAL: 

FINISH: N/A 

NAME DATE

TITLE: 

SIZE 

B 

DWG. NO. REV 

NTS WEIGHT:

TYPE III 

BARRICADE 

RUBBER BASE 

SHEET 1 OF 2 

A 

DO NOT SCALE DRAWING 

7700 N. AUSTIN AVE 

SKOKIE, IL 60077

773-470-3300 

DRAWN BY: 

THIRD ANGLE 

PROJECTION 

FILE: Barricade Type III RUBBER BASE 

SDK 052213 

3200 SERIES 
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

D D

B B 

A A

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

C C

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS 

DRAWING IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF 

PLASTICADE, INC. ANY 

REPRODUCTION IN PART OR AS A 

WHOLE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN 

PERMISSION OF PLASTICADE, INC IS 

PROHIBITED. 

PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL 

INTERPRET DRAWING ANSI Y14.5M-2009 

MATERIAL: RUBBER 

FINISH: N/A 

NAME DATE

TITLE: 

SIZE 

B 

DWG. NO. REV 

NTS WEIGHT:

TYPE III 

BARRICADE 

RUBBER BASE 

SHEET 2 OF 2 

A 

DO NOT SCALE DRAWING 

7700 N. AUSTIN AVE 

SKOKIE, IL 60077 

DRAWN BY: 

THIRD ANGLE 

PROJECTION 

FILE: Barricade Type III RUBBER BASE 3200 SERIES 

SDK 032113