November 21, 2019 

 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refe( To: 

HSST-1/CC-154 

Mr. Gerrit Dyke, P .E. 

Lindsay Transportation Solutions 

180 River Road 

Rio Vista, CA 94571 

Dear Mr. Dyke: 

This letter is in response to your June 24, 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 FHW A letter of eligibility is assigned FHW A 

control number CC-154 and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by FHW A 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: 

• ABSORB-M TL2 

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 crash worthiness 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: ABSORB-M TL2 

Type of system: Crash Cushion 

Test Level: MASH Test Level 2 (TL2) 

Testing conducted by: Safety Technologies 

Date of request: June 24, 2019 

FHW A 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 crash worthiness of the system. 
3 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number CC-154 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 FHW A 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 8 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

of Highway Safety Hardware 

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Date of Request: June 24, 2019 r. New r Resubmission 

. I 

Name: Gerrit A. Dyke, P.E. 

Company: 

Address: 

Lindsay Transportation Solutions, Inc. 

180 River Road, Rio Vista, CA 94571 

Country: United States of America 

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 

'CC': Crash Cushions, 

Attenuators, & Terminals 

Submission Type 

(e Physical Crash Testing 

(' Eng ineering Analysis 

Device Name / Variant 

ABSORB-M 

Testing Criterion 

AASHTO MASH 

Test 

Level 

TL2 

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: Gerrit A. Dyke, P.E. Same as Submitter [8J 

Company Name: Lindsay Transportation Solutions, Inc. Same as Submitter [8J 

Address: 180 River Road, Rio Vista, CA 94571 Same as Submitter [8J 

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter [8J 

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

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

Safe Technologies, Inc. (STI) performs testing and analysis services for Lindsay Transportation Solutions, Inc. 

(LTS). STI is a wholly owned subsidiary of LTS. STI is a fully accredited crash test facility to ISO 17025 by A2LA 

and is recognized by the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to perform full scale crash tests per NCH R

Report 350 and MASH criteria. 

P 

The STI laboratory manager, technicians, and laborers are compensated by LTS for salaries and wages. STland

staff does not receive any incentives, compensation, commissions, or professional fees corresponding to the 

outcome of any testing or analysis. 

STI or staff does not receive any research funding or other research support from LTS. STI and staff also do not 

have any financial interest in patents, copyrights, or other intellectual property associated with the products 

they test or analyze. 

KARCO Engineering, LLC. was contracted by LTS to collaborate with STI for this testing program. KARCO 

provided guidance, recommendations, and suggestions for testing and reporting practices. KARCO reviewed 

test data and reports to ensure accuracy and correct representation of test parameters and results. KARCO nor 

any KARCO employee has any financial interest in L TS, STI, or the product being tested. 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 2 of 8 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

(e New Hardware or · ("' Modification to 

• Significant Modification Existing Hardware 

The ABSORB-MTM is a non-redirective, gating crash cushion designed to meet the latest test standards defined 

in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), Second Edition, 2016. The ABSORB-M utilizes water, 

thermoplastic elements (elements), tension straps, a mid nose, and a transition to absorb kinetic energy and 

safely contain or control the trajectory of impacting vehicles. The MASH Test Level 2 system is comprised of a 

nose plate, two elements, eight pin assemblies, a midnose, a transition, and six mechanical anchors attaching 

to the barrier system. Of the two elements, the element in the rear is filled with water and the front element is 

empty. Each element is pre-assembled using four tension straps secured with eight bolts and thread locking 

compound. The system has a nominal 42" (1098mm] height, 24" [673mm] width, and an effective length of 

approximately 175 1 /2" [4.5ml. The ABSORB-Mis designed to attach directly to longitudinal roadside safety 

barrier systems and does not attach to a foundation. 

More details about the ABSORB-Mare provided in Enclosure A titled "ABSORB-M MASH TL-2 Crash Cushion 

System". 

Manufacturing drawings may be adjusted to ensure manufacturing capability and consistency with MASH 

tested and certified product. 

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: Joseph Nagy 

Digitally signed by Joseph Nagy Engineer Signature: Joseph Nagy Date: 2019.06.24 16:18:31 -07'00' 

Address: 170 River Road, Rio Vista, CA 94571 Same as Submitter D 

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter O 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

2-30 (1100C) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-31 (2270P) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-32 (1100C) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-33 (2270P) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-34 (1100() NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-35 (2270P) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-36 (2270P) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-37 (2270P) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

2-38 (1500A) NA Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 3 of 8 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

2-40 (11 00C) 

The ABSORB-M was determined to have 

successfully met all of the evaluation criteria 

for MASH Test 2-40 for gating, nonredirective crash cushions. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion satisfied the 

MASH structural adequacy criteria for its 

intended function as a gating, nonredirective crash cushion. The test article 

captured the 11 00C vehicle in a controlled 

manner. The vehicle did not penetrate, 

underride, or override the installation. 

All of the occupant risk criteria were 

satisfied in testing the ABSORB-M crash 

cushion. Theoretical OIVs in the longitudinal 

and latera l directions were below the 

preferred limit of 30.0 ft/ s (9.1 m/s). ORAs in 

the longitudinal and lateral directions were 

below the preferred limit of 15.0 G. Some 

debris were propelled from the impacted 

system but due to their soft nature and light 

weight these fragments did not pose a 

threat to occupants of the vehicle, 

pedestrians or personnel in a work zone. 

There was minimal deformation to the 

occupant compartment of the 11 00C test 

vehicle. There was no intrusion into the 

occupant compartment. The test vehicle 

remained upright during and after the 

collision with minor roll and pitch. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion was judged 

as satisfying the applicable MASH vehicle 

trajectory criteria. 

. 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 8 

2-41 (2270P) 

The ABSORB-M was determined to have 

successfully met all of the evaluation criteria 

for MASH Test 2-41 for gating, nonredirective crash cushions. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion satisfied the 

MASH structural adequacy criteria for its 

intended function as a gating, nonredirective crash cushion. The test article 

captured the 2270P vehicle in a controlled 

manner. The vehicle did not penetrate, 

underride, or override the installation. 

All ofthe occupant risk criteria were 

satisfied in testing the ABSORB-M crash 

cushion. Theoretical OIVs in the longitudinal 

and lateral directions were below the 

preferred limit of 30.0 ft/s (9.1 m/s). ORAs in 

the longitudinal and lateral directions were 

below the preferred limit of 15.0 G. Some 

debris were propelled from the impacted 

system but due to their soft nature and light 

weight these fragments did not pose a 

threat to occupants of the vehicle, 

pedestrians or personnel in a work zone. 

There was minimal deformation to the 

occupant compartment of the 2270P test 

vehicle. There was no intrusion into the 

occupant compartment. The test vehicle 

remained upright during and after the 

collision with minor roll and pitch. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion was judged 

as satisfying the applicable MASH vehicle 

trajectory criteria. 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 5 of 8 

2-42 (1100() 

The ABSORB-M was determined to have 

successfully met all of the evaluation criteria 

for MASH Test 2-42 for gating, nonredirective crash cushions. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion satisfied the 

MASH structural adequacy criteria for its 

intended function as a gating, nonredirective crash cushion. The test article 

captured the 11 00C vehicle in a controlled 

manner. The vehicle did not penetrate, 

underride, or override the installation. 

All of the occupant risk criteria were 

satisfied in testing the ABSORB-M crash 

cushion. Theoretical OIVs in the longitudinal 

and lateral directions were below the 

preferred limit of 30.0 ft/s (9.1 mis). ORAs in 

the longitudinal and lateral directions were 

below the preferred limit of 15.0 G. Some 

debris were propelled from the impacted 

system but due to their soft nature and light 

weight these fragments did not pose a 

threat to occupants of the vehicle, 

pedestrians or personnel in a work zone. 

There was minimal deformation to the 

occupant compartment of the 11 00C test 

vehicle. There was no intrusion into the 

occupant compartment. The test vehicle 

remained upright during and after the 

collision with minor roll and pitch. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion was judged 

as satisfying the applicable MASH vehicle 

trajectory criteria. 

. 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 6 of 8 

2-43 (2270P) 

The ABSORB-M was determined to have 

successfully met all of the evaluation criteria 

for MASH Test 2-43 for gating, nonredirective crash cushions. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion satisfied the 

MASH structural adequacy criteria for its 

intended function as a gating, nonredirective crash cushion. The test article 

captured the 2270P vehicle in a controlled 

manner. The vehicle did not penetrate, 

underride, or override the installation. 

All of the occupant risk criteria were 

satisfied in testing the ABSORB-M crash 

cushion. Theoretical OIVs in the longitudinal 

and lateral directions were below the 

preferred limit of 30.0 ft/s (9.1 m/s). ORAs in 

the longitudinal and lateral directions were 

below the preferred limit of 15.0 G. Some 

debris were propelled from the impacted 

system but due to their soft nature and light 

weight these fragments did not pose a 

threat to occupants of the vehicle, 

pedestrians or personnel in a work zone. 

There was minimal deformation to the 

occupant compartment of the 2270P test 

vehicle. There was no intrusion into the 

occupant compartment. The test vehicle 

remained upright during and after the 

collision with minor roll and pitch. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion was judged 

as satisfying the applicable MASH vehicle 

trajectory criteria. 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 7 of 8 

2-44 (2270P) 

The ABSORB-M was determined to have 

successfully met all of the evaluation criteria 

for MASH Test 2-44 for gating, nonredirective crash cushions. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion satisfied the 

MASH structural adequacy criteria for its 

intended function as a gating, nonredirective crash cushion. The test article 

captured the 2270P vehicle in a controlled 

manner. The vehicle did not penetrate, 

underride, or override the installation. 

All of the occupant risk criteria were 

satisfied in testing the ABSORB-M crash 

cushion. Some debris were propelled from 

the impacted system but due to their soft 

nature and light weight these fragments did 

not pose a threat to occupants of the 

vehicle, pedestrians or personnel in a work 

zone. 

There was minimal deformation to the 

occupant compartment of the 2270P test 

vehicle. The deformation was measured to 

be within the allowable limits. There was no 

intrusion in.to the occupant compartment. 

The test vehicle remained upright during 

and after the collision with minor roll and 

pitch. 

The ABSORB-M crash cushion was judged 

as satisfying the applicable MASH vehicle 

trajectory criteria. 

PASS 

2-45 (1500A) 

Calculations performed to demonstrate 

acceptable occupant risk values per MASH 

evaluation criteria. Reference Enclosure A, 

"ABSORB-M MASH TL-2 Crash Cushion 

System" section titled "1500A Vehicle 

(MASH Test 2-45)". 

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: Safe Technologies Inc. 

Laboratory Signature: Joseph Nagy Digitally signed by Joseph Nagy 

Date: 2019.06.24 16:22:20 -07'00' 

Address : 170 River Road, Rio Vista, CA 94571 Same as Submitter D 

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter D 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

A2LA 1851.01 

Valid through March 31, 2020 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 8 of 8 

ATTACHMENTS 

Attach to this fonn: 

1) Additional disclosures ofrelated 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 

infonnation 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 faci litate our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter 

Number Date Key Words 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
INTENDED USE 

The ABSORB-MTM is a non-redirective, gating crash cushion designed to meet the latest test 

standards defined in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), Second Edition, 2016. 

The ABSORB-M system utilizes water, thermoplastic elements (elements), tension straps, a 

midnose, and a transition to absorb kinetic energy and safely contain or control the trajectory of 

impacting vehicles. The MASH Test Level 2 system is comprised of a nose plate, two elements, 

eight pin assemblies, a midnose, a transition, and six mechanical anchors attaching to the barrier 

system. Of the two elements, the rearmost is filled with water and the front element is empty. 

Each element is pre-assembled using four tension straps secured with eight bolts and thread locking 

compound. The system has a nominal 42" [1070mm] height, 24" [610mm] width, and an effective 

length of approximately 175 3/4" [4.46m]. The ABSORB-Mis designed to attach directly to 

longitudinal roadside safety barrier systems and does not attach to a foundation. 

APPROVALS 

The ABSORB-M TM system has been fully tested in conformance with MASH, 2016 Test Level 2 

and is determined eligible for Federal reimbursement by FHWA. 

FHWA Eligibility Letter:CC-XXX 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Lindsay Transportation Solutions 

180 River Rd. 

Rio Vista, CA 94571 

www.barriersystemsinc.com 

Phone: 888-800-3691 or 707-374-6800 

Fax: 707-374-6801 

Email: info@barriersystemsinc.com 

ABSORB-MTM TL2