U.S. Department 

Of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration

400 Seventh St., S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

October 3, 1986 

Refer to: HNG-14/SS-03 

Mr. Ronald C. Steininger 

Senior Market Manager 

Mechanical Tube Division 

Allied Tube and Conduit Corporation 

16100 South Lathrop 

Harvey, Illinois 60426 

Dear Mr. Steininger: 

Your September 10 letter requested FHWA acceptance of several sizes of Allied Tube 

and conduit Corporation’s QWIK-PUNCH sign supports for use on Federal-aid highway 

projects. You enclosed a copy of an Ensco report dated June 1986 containing 

information on a series of 12 full-scale crash tests. The results were evaluated based on 

impact performance specifications for small sign supports contained in the AASHTO 

“Standard Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Sings, Luminaires and 

Traffic Signals” (Specifications) and the National Cooperative Highway Research 

Program Report (NCHRP) No. 230. 

Your tests were conducted on two types of QWIK-PUNCH post installations. Your 

yielding breakaway system type consists of a square anchor having either knockouts or 

perforations on all four tube faces placed inside an 18-inch long square sleeve also having 

either knockouts or perforations on all four tube faces and driven into the soil with only 

tree inches of material remaining above ground. A square tube post was then placed in 

the above so the bottom of the post was 12 inches below the ground. The post was 

anchored to the foundation with a grade 2 bolt. Your direct embedment type consisted 

simply of a square tube having knockouts or perforations on all four tube faces directly 

embedded in the ground to a depth of 48 inches. We note the posts were tested in both S1 (strong) and S-2 (weak) soils as defined in NCHRP Report 230. The tests were 

conducted with 1,800-pound vehicles. You have stated the steel posts conform to the 

Standard Specifications for Hot-Rolled Carbon Sheet Steel, structural quality ASTM 

Designation A-570-79. 

Based on our review of the information you supplied, we find the QWIK-PUNCH sign 

supports listed in the enclosure meet the provisions on the new, but yet unpublished, 1985 
AASHTO specifications. We also inter this system meets the 1975 AASHTO 

specifications since the 1985 AASHTO specification is more demanding. 

At the present time, FHWA has not yet adopted the 1985 AASHTO specification. Once 

the AASHTO publishes their specification, we intend to proceed with the process to 

officially adopt a new specification. We will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(NPRM) in the Federal Register, providing a public comment period, review and evaluate 

any comments we receive, and then issue a Final Rule. The effective date of 

implementing a new specification for Federal-aid highway work is not expected to be 

until at least mid 1987. 

This acceptance is limited to breakaway characteristics of the system and does not cover 

its structural features. Presumably, Allied Tube and Conduit, will supply potential users 

with sufficient information on structural design and installation requirements, including 

the need to size the sign panel and support for expected wind loading, to ensure proper 

support performance. 

We anticipate that the States will require certification from Allied Tube and Conduit, that 

materials furnished have essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and 

geometry as the materials used in the tests and that the support will meet the change in 

momentum requirements of the AASHTO specification. 

 Sincerely yours, 

 L. A. Staron, Chief 

 Federal-Aid and Design Division 

Enclosure 
Allied Tube and Conduit Corporation 

QWIK-PUNCH Tube Sizes Acceptable for use on 

Federal-Aid Projects when requested by a State

A. Yielding Breakaway Type 

POST ANCHOR SLEEVE

Size 

O.D. 

(Inches) 

Gauge Size 

O.D. 

(Inches) 

Gauge Size 

O.D. 

(Inches) 

Gauge or 

Wall Thkns. 

Number Permitted 

Within 8-foot path 

1. 2 1⁄4 12 2 1⁄2 12 3* 3/16” One 

2. 2 1⁄4 14 2 1⁄2 12 3* 3/16” One 

3. 2 12 2 1⁄4 12 2 1⁄2 12 Two 

4. 2 14 2 1⁄4 12 2 1⁄2 12 Two 

5. 1 3⁄4 12 2 12 2 1⁄4 12 Two 

6. 1 3⁄4 14 2 12 2 1⁄4 12 Two 

7. 1 1⁄2 12 1 3⁄4 12 2 12 Two 

B. Direct Embedment Type 

Post Size O.D. (Inch) Gauge Number Permitted Within an 8-foot Path 

1. 2 1⁄4 12 One 

2. 2 1⁄4 14 One 

3. 2 12 One 

4. 2 14 Two 

5. 1 3⁄4 12 Two 

6. 1 3⁄4 14 Two 

7. 1 1⁄2 12 Two 

*This sleeve has solid, unpunched walls below ground level. 

TABLE 2-1 

1758 ALLIED TEST MATRIX

Test Number Date Vehicle Target Speed (mi/hr) Actual Speed (mi/hr) V (ft/s) Sign T

1 2/17/86 1980 Renault LeCar 20.0 19.8 -10.4 Test Ser2 2/17/86 1980 Renault LeCar 20.0 20.0 -9.7 Test Se3 2/19/86 1980 Renault LeCar 60.0 60.9 -5.5 Test Se4 2/20/86 1980 Renault LeCar 60.0 60.7 -6.1 Test Se5 3/6/86 1980 Renault LeCar 20.0 19.0 -11.5 Test Seri6 3/6/86 1980 Renault LeCar 60.0 58.6 -6.4 Test Se7 3/7/86 1980 Renault LeCar 20.0 19.9 -8.2 Test Seri8 3/7/86 1980 Renault LeCar 20.0 20.3 -8.9 Test Se9 3/17/86 1980 Renault LeCar 60.0 62.2 -8.5 Test Se

10 3/18/86 1980 VW Rabbit 60.0 60.6 -6.3 Test Se11 3/21/86 1980 Dodge Colt 20.0 20.9 -12.4 Test Seri12 3/21/86 1980 Dodge Colt 60.0 62.3 -7.0 Test Se

1 Single Leg Telescoping Square Sign 2 Dual Leg Telescoping Diamond Sign 3 Single Leg Direct Embedment Square Sign 4 Dual Leg Direct Embedment Diamond Sign 5 Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 1, Test 2) 6 Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 3, Test 4) 7 Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 7, Test 8) 8 Test Run in Soil which Yielded Higher V (Test 9, Test 10)