U.s.oepYrtmalt 

ol Trcmsportatwxl 

FedemlHighwoy 

Admlnistmtion 

400 Seventh St,. s.w 

WashIngton. D c 20590 

Refer to: HNG-14 

Mr. C. Richard Briden 

Engineering Manager 

P&K Pole Products 

84 Foundry Street 

Newark, New Jersey 07105 

Dear Mr. Briden: 

Thank you for your April 25 letter requesting Federal Highway 

Administration's (FHWA) acceptance of your company's aluminum 

breakaway bases. Your letter was accompanied by seven test 

reports by the Southwest Research Institute dated February or 

March 1995, and video documentation on each test. Additional 

information was submitted on June 12 and August 6 in response to 

our requests. 

Pendulum testing was conducted to assess the breakaway 

performance of the bases. Requirements for breakaway supports 

are found in the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Structural 

Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals. 

Testing guidelines are found in the National Cooperative Highway 

Research Program Report 350, "Recommended Procedures for the 

Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features." Both have 

been adopted ~by the FHWA. 

You requested individual acceptance letter8 for each base. This 

letter is for the hardware tested~in PK-107, dated February 1995. 

A summary of the test data is shown below, and dranings of.the 

cast aluminum transformer base are enclosed. 

Test Number 

Pole Wall Thickness, mm (in) 

Base Designation 

P&K Drawing No. 

Bolt Circle Diameter, mm (in) 

Test Article Mass, kg (wt, Ibs) 

Mounting Height, m (A) 

Vehicle Mass, kg (weight, Ibs) 

Test SpeeQ km!h (mph) 

occupant hp. speed a/r (fps) 

Estimeted100km/hOcmp.tmp.Speed 

stub 

Aluminum Shafl 

6.35 (0.250) 

TBLU Transfcmm Base 

G-80292 

381 (15) 

248 (548) 

15.9 (52.2) 

820, ( 1808) 

35.28 (21.9) 

21 (6.9) (@0.50 set) 

3.1 (10.1) 
2 

The results of this test and the,high-speed extrapolation meet 

the change in velocity and stub height requirements adopted by 

AASHTO and the FHWA. Therefore, the tested aluminum breakaway 

base described above is acceptable for use on Federal-aid highway 

projects, within the range of conditions tested, if proposed by a 

State. 

Our acceptance is limited to the breakaway characteristics of the 

system and doesnot cover its structural features. Presumably, 

you will supply potential users with sufficient information on 

structural design and 'installation requirements to ensure proper, 

performance. We anticipate that the States will require 

certification from P&K Pole Products that the hardware furnished 

has essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and 

geometry as those used in the tests, and that they will meet the 

FHWA change in velocity requirements. 

Sincerely yours, 

Federal-Aid and Design 

Enclosure 

Geometric and Roadside Design Acceptance Letter 

Division 

LS-41, 
ME: 

1.. USE 4043 KLD wla 

2. a63 AsxM_Y 375 WALL OR LEsi 

TO BE HAT TMED AVER WELDING. 

3.KlGm 

T-W 34 Ibs 

Pcu 405 

TOTAL $48 Ibs 

f 

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52’ - 2’ 

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