1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

February 6, 2013 

FHWA:HSST:NArtimovich:sf:x61331:2/1/13

File: s://directory folder/HSST/ SS177_MDSolutions_PSST.docx

cc: HSST (NArtimovich; BFouch)

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/SS-177

Mr. Nirmal Bajoria

MDSolutions, Inc.

8225 Estates Parkway

Plain City, Ohio 43064

Dear Mr. Bajoria,

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: Perforated square steel tube sign supports

Type of system: Breakaway small sign supports

Test Level: NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3

Testing conducted by: N/A

Task Force 13 Designator: SSF02a-c

Date of request: September 17, 2012

Date initially acknowledged: September 19, 2012

Date of completed package: September 26, 2012

Decision

The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form, drawings, and letter dated 

September 17, 2012, which are attached as integral parts of this letter:

Generic perforated square steel tube sign supports, 12 and 14 ga, 1.75-inch and 2.0 inch for 

supports, and 2.25 inch for anchors.

Based on a comparison of your products to previously crash tested generic breakaway sign 

supports you submitted 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, letter, and 

drawings.

Summary and Standard Provisions

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

and may be installed under the range of conditions tested. These test conditions are summarized 

in the Task Force 13 drawing SSF02a-c which is enclosed for reference.

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

• 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 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 SS-177 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. 
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• 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.

Sincerely yours,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety

Enclosures