1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

November 1, 2012

FHWA:HSST:NArtimovichr:sf:x61331:10/26/12

File: s://directory folder/HSST/Artimovich/LS76_Hapco.docx

cc: HSST (NArtimovich; BFouch) 

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/ LS-76

Ray C. Minor

HAPCO Pole Products

26252 Hillman Highway

Abingdon, Virginia 24210

Dear Mr. Minor:

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: HAPCO 67238A Coupling with 2” washers

Type of system: Breakaway Luminaire Support Coupling

Test Level: NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3

Testing conducted by: HAPCO

Date of request: April 30, 2012

Date initially acknowledged: May 1, 2012

Decision

The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an 

integral part of this letter:

• HAPCO 67238A Breakaway Luminaire Support Coupling with 2-inch diameter washers 

for use on 10-inch, 8-inch and 6-inch diameter poles.

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

described herein meets the crash test and evaluation criteria of the National Cooperative 

Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350, 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.
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Requirements

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

and evaluation criteria contained in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program 

(NCHRP) Report 350 or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation 

Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

Description

The device and supporting documentation are described in the attached form. The 67238A 

couplings were covered by FHWA Letter LS-74 dated September 9, 2011, when used on 10-inch 

diameter poles. This request is for the same couplings to be used with 2-inch diameter washers 

on 8-inch and 6-inch diameter poles as well as on 10-inch diameter poles.

Summary and Standard Provisions

Therefore, the system described herin and detailed in the attached form is eligible for 

reimbursement and may be installed under the range of conditions tested. 

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

• This finding of eligibility does not cover other structural features of the systems, nor 

conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

• Any changes that may influence system conformance with NCHRP Report 350 criteria 

will require a new reimbursement eligibility letter.

• Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service 

performance reveals safety problems, or that the system is significantly different from the 

version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter.

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

installation 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 crash test and evaluation criteria of the NCHRP Report 350.

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

LS-76 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. 

• 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. 

The FHWA does not become involved in issues concerning patent law. Patent issues, if 

any, are to be resolved by the applicant.
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• The HAPCO couplings are patented products and considered proprietary. If proprietary 

systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Federal-aid 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.

Sincerely yours,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety

Enclosures