1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

1 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/WZ-440 

Greg Spear

The Cortina Companies, Cortina Safety Products 

10706 West Grand Ave, 

Franklin Park, IL 60131 

United States of America 

Dear Mr. Spear: 

We received your correspondence of December 29, 2021 requesting issuance of a reimbursement 

eligibility letter under the Federal-aid highway program for the roadside safety system, device, 

design, product, or hardware (collectively “device”) described below. This letter is assigned 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) control number WZ-440. 

ELIGIBILITY LETTERS

The FHWA issues Federal-aid reimbursement eligibility letters for new roadside safety devices

that are crash tested in accordance with the industry standard of the American Association of 

State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware 

(MASH). 

FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States (government) do not regulate 

roadside safety devices, crash test facilities, or the manufacturing industry. Issuance of 

eligibility letters is discretionary and provided only as a service to the states. FHWA may, at its 

discretion, decline to issue, revise, or rescind an eligibility letter. Eligibility letters are only 

issued by the FHWA headquarters Office of Safety. 

Eligibility letters are issued only as notice to the states that a device is eligible for reimbursement 

under the Federal-aid highway program. They do not establish approval or certification for any 

other purpose. Issuance of an eligibility letter is not a prerequisite or requirement for state 

transportation agencies seeking to use Federal-aid funds for roadside safety devices. State 

agencies may use a device for which an eligibility letter has not been issued and seek Federal-aid 

reimbursement. 

FEDERAL-AID REIMBURSEMENT

The request for issuance of this letter certified the device was crash tested in accordance with the 

industry standard of AASHTO’s MASH. This eligibility letter is based on that certification and 

the material offered in support of its issuance. The device described below is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. 

August 15, 2022
2 

Name of system: Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand 

Type of system: Work Zone 

Test Level: Test Level 3

 Testing conducted by: Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC 

Date of request: December 29, 2021 

Information about the device, including material such as the eligibility request, crash test reports, 

drawings, or images are included in one or more attachment(s) to this letter. 

Eligibility letter WZ-440 is inapplicable to devices, optional equipment, alternate materials, or 

other features that were not crash tested in accordance with AASHTO’s MASH. 

This letter is issued only for the subject device as crash tested under AASHTO’s MASH. Later 

modification(s) of the device are not eligible for Federal-aid reimbursement under this letter. 

Notice of later modification(s) should be given to transportation agencies, facility owners, and 

operators (collectively “agencies”). 

Agencies should be provided appropriate information about the device’s design, installation, 

maintenance, materials, and mechanical properties. 

 

Issuance of this letter is discretionary, and it may be revised or rescinded at FHWA’s discretion. 

This letter is not a determination of compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 

Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) or ownership of any intellectual property rights. 

This eligibility letter is not a determination by the government that a crash involving the subject 

device will result in any particular outcome. It is limited to only the device’s eligibility for 

Federal-aid reimbursement. 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

Issuance of this eligibility letter does not convey property rights of any sort nor any exclusive 

privilege. This letter is not authorization or consent by the government for the use, manufacture, 

or sale of any patented or proprietary system, device, design, product, or hardware for which the 

requester is not the patent owner. Eligibility letters are not an expression of any view, position, 

or determination by the government as to the validity, scope, or ownership of any intellectual 

property rights to a specific device. These letters do not grant, impute, suggest, or otherwise 

establish any ownership, distribution, or licensing rights to the requester. The government 

expresses no opinion about the intellectual property rights relating to any device for which this or 

any other eligibility letter is issued. 

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

To prevent any misunderstanding, and as discussed above, this eligibility letter is assigned 

FHWA control number WZ-440. It should only be reproduced in full with its attachment(s). 

This letter and the material offered by the requester supporting its issuance is public information. 

All eligibility letters and supporting material are subject to public disclosure under the Freedom 
3 

of Information Act (FOIA). Eligibility letters are available to the public at 

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/countermeasures/reduce_crash_severity/. 

If you have any questions please contact Aimee Zhang at Aimee.Zhang@dot.gov. 

Sincerely,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety

Enclosures 
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Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility

of Highway Safety Hardware

Submitter

 Date of Request: December 29, 2021 New Resubmission

Name: Greg Spear

Company: The Cortina Companies, Cortina Safety Products

Address: 10706 West Grand Ave, Franklin Park, IL 60131

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 ! - ! - !

System Type Submission Type Device Name / Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level

'WZ': Crash Worthy Work 

Zone Traffic Control Devices

Physical Crash Testing

Engineering Analysis

Cortina QuadraFlex VI 

Single Spring Portable 

Sign Stand

AASHTO MASH TL3

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: Greg Spear Same as Submitter

Company Name: The Cortina Companies, Cortina Safety Products Same as Submitter

Address: 10706 West Grand Ave, Franklin Park, IL 60131 Same as Submitter

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter

Enter below all disclosures of financial interests as required by the FHWA `Federal-Aid Reimbursement 

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document.

The Cortina Companies is the manufacturer and marketer of device. 

Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC (IDIADA KARCO) is an independent research and testing laboratory 

having no affiliation with any other entity. IDIADA KARCO is actively Involved In data acquisition and 

compliance/certification testing for a variety of government agencies and equipment manufacturers. The 

principals and staff of IDIADA KARCO have no past or present financial, contractual or organizational interest in 

any company or entity directly or indirectly related to the products that KARCO tests. If any financial interest 

should arise, other than receiving fees for testing, reporting, etc., with respect to any project, the company will 

provide, In writing, a full and immediate disclosure to the FHWA. 
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

New Hardware or 

Significant Modification

Modification to 

Existing Hardware

Product Description of The Cortina Companies QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand 

The Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand is a work-zone traffic control device used to 

display traffic control signs. 

Further Description: 

The as-tested Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand consisted of a B Center Weldment, 

subassembly clamp, four (4) legs, and 48” x 48” vinyl roll-up sign. The assembled device had a total mass of 25.4 

lbs (11.5 kg) and overall height of 6.9 ft. (2.1 m) from the ground. The barricade was tested with four (4) 30 lbs 

(13.6 kg) sandbag. 

The B Center weldment consists of a mast constructed of 1.25” x 1.25” x 0.108” steel tube and two (2) Vbrackets constructed of 0.172” thick steel plates. It also consists of a large spring with a diameter of 2.50 in. 

(63.5 mm) and length of 4.94 in. (125.5 mm). The telescoping legs are attached to the B Center weldment 

through the v-brackets and consist of two (2) parts: an inner leg constructed of 1.0” x 1.0” x 0.106” steel tube 

and an outer leg constructed of 1.26” x 1.26” x 0.106” steel tube. The subassembly clamp consists of a 1.00” x 

1.00” x .065” steel tube, Z-Bracket, and clamping bracket. 

The QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand was tested with a 48” x 48” vinyl roll-up sign for this test. 

The roll-up sign is mounted to two (2) fiberglass cross brace ribs measuring 1.25 in. (31.8 mm) wide by 65.0 in. 

(1.7 m) long each. The sign’s vertical rib is inserted into the subassembly clamp and clamped with the screw 

lock sign holder.

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: Noah Partida

Engineer Signature: 

Address: 9270 Holly Road, Adelanto, CA 92301 Same as Submitter

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter

 A brief description of each crash test and its result:

Required Test 

Number

Narrative 

Description

Evaluation 

Results

3-70 (1100C)

Designed to evaluate the ability of a small 

vehicle to activate any breakaway, fracture, 

or yielding mechanism. Is considered 

optional for work-zone traffic control 

devices weighing less than 220 lbs (100 kg). 

The as-tested device weighed 25.4 lbs (11.5 

kg) and therefore Test 70 was not 

performed.

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted
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Required Test 

Number

Narrative 

Description

Evaluation 

Results

3-71 (1100C)

An 1100C test vehicle approached the test 

articles at a nominal speed of 62 mph. The 

Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring 

Portable Sign Stand impacted was oriented 

at 90° and at 0°. The test vehicle impacted 

the 90° CIA device at a speed of 59.61 mph 

(95.94 km/h). The vehicle’s front bumper 

fascia contacted the lower mast’s B Center 

Weldment causing it to yield in a 

predictable manner. The upper mast’s rollup sign detached from the lower mast. As 

the vehicle proceeded forward the roll-up 

sign overrode the vehicle’s front end. The 

occupant compartment was not penetrated

and the MASH deformation limits were not 

exceeded. The test vehicle impacted the 0° 

CIA device at a velocity of 63.97 mph 

(102.95 km/h). Upon impact, the vehicle’s 

front bumper fascia contacted the upper 

mast’s roll-up sign and lower mast’s B 

Center Weldment. The upper mast’s roll-up 

sign detached from the lower mast. As the 

vehicle proceeded forward, it overrode the 

base assembly and the roll up sign overrode

the front end. The occupant compartment 

was not penetrated and the MASH 

deformation limits were not exceeded. The 

Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring 

Portable Sign Stand met all the 

requirements for MASH Test 3-71.

PASS
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3-72 (2270P)

A 2270P test vehicle approached the test 

article at a nominal speed of 62 mph. The 

Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring 

Portable Sign Stand impacted was oriented 

at 90° and at 0°. The test vehicle impacted 

the 90° CIA device at a speed of 62.24 mph 

(100.17 km/h). The vehicle’s hood first made

contact with the roll-up sign and fiberglass 

cross brace. Upon impact, the roll-up sign 

and fiberglass cross brace deformed around

the vehicle’s front end. The bumper fascia 

began to deform the lower mast’s BWeldment. The upper mast’s roll-up sign 

and fiberglass cross brace detached from 

the lower mast’s subassembly clamp. The 

roll-up sign and fiberglass cross brace 

began overriding the vehicle as it 

proceeded forward. The occupant 

compartment was not penetrated and the 

MASH deformation limits were not 

exceeded. The test vehicle impacted the 0° 

CIA device at a velocity of 62.85 mph 

(101.14 km/h). The vehicle’s front bumper 

made contact with the B-Weldment . The 

lower mast’s large spring detached along 

with the subassembly clamp, roll-up sign, 

and fiberglass cross brace. The roll-up sign 

and fiberglass cross brace released from the

subassembly clamp and began overriding 

the hood. The occupant compartment was 

not penetrated and the MASH deformation 

limits were not exceeded. The Cortina 

QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign 

Stand met all the requirements for MASH 

Test 3-72.

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: Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC.

Laboratory Signature: 

Address: 9270 Holly Road, Adelanto, CA 92301 Same as Submitter

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period :

TL 371: July 1, 2019 - July 1, 2022
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Submit Form

ATTACHMENTS

Attach to this form: 

1) Additional disclosures of related 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 

information 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 facilitate our review. 

 

 

 

 

FHWA Official Business Only:

Eligibility Letter

Number Date Key Words
16 TR-P40335-01-D / TR-P41293-01-D 

 

MASH 2016 Test 3-71 Summary (P41293-01, 0° CIA) 

0° CIA

 0.017 seconds 0.057 seconds 0.097 seconds 0.137 seconds 0.177 seconds 0.217 seconds

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Test Agency.....................Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering

Test Number.....................P41293-01

Test Designation............... 3-71

Test Date.........................10/27/21

TEST ARTICLE

Name / Model.....................Cortina QudraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand

Type.................................Work-Zone Traffic Control Device

Device Height .................. 6.9 ft. (2.1 m)

Key Elements.....................B-Center Weldment, Legs, Roll-Up Sign

Road Surface.....................Smooth, clean Concrete

TEST VEHICLE

Type / Designation...............1100C

Year, Make, and Model.........2016 Kia Rio

Curb Mass........................2,528.5 lbs (1,147.0 kg)

Test Inertial Mass...............2,448.2 lbs (1,110.5 kg)

Gross Static Mass...............2,621.3 lbs (1,189.0 kg)

Impact Conditions

Impact Velocity ..................63.97 mph (102.95 km/h)

Device Angle.....................0.0°

Location/ Orientation............8.1 in. (205 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Driver Side

Device Kinetic Energy.........334.9.5 kip-feet (454.1 Kilojoules)

Minimum KE Required....... 288 kip-feet (390 Kilojoules)

Exit Conditions

Exit Velocity.................... 63.56 mph (102.30 km/h)

Vehicle Resting Position......278.7 ft. (84.9 m) Downstream

3.2 ft. (1.0 m) Right

Vehicle Stability ............... Satisfactory

0° - Maximum Roll Angle......Did Not Exceed 75°

0° - Maximum Pitch Angle... Did Not Exceed 75°

* Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lbs (100 kg)

Occupant Risk

Longitudinal OIV.....................Not Applicable*

Lateral OIV...........................Not Applicable*

Longitudinal RA.....................Not Applicable*

Lateral RA...........................Not Applicable*

THIV....................................Not Applicable*

PHD....................................Not Applicable*

ASI.................................... Not Applicable*

Test Article Deflections

0° - Sign Debris Field (longitudinal)......... 142.6 ft. (43.5 m)

0° - Sign Debris Field (lateral)......... 6.7 ft. (2.0 m)

Vehicle Damage

Vehicle Damage Scale............12-FR-1

CDC....................................12FLAN1

 Maximum Deformation............MASH Deformation Limits Not 

Exceeded (0.0 in.) 0 mm

Figure 4 Summary of Test 3-71 (P41293-01, 0° CIA)
15 TR-P40335-01-D / TR-P41293-01-D 

MASH 2016 Test 3-71 Summary (P40335-01, 90°CIA) 

90° CIA

 

 

0.000 seconds 0.030 seconds 0.060 seconds 0.090 seconds 0.120 seconds 0.150 seconds

GENERAL INFORMATION

Test Agency.....................Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering

Test Number.....................P40335-01

Test Designation............... 3-71

Test Date.........................3/19/21

TEST ARTICLE

Name / Model.....................Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand

Type.................................Work-Zone Traffic Control Device

Device Height .................. 6.9 ft. (2.1 m)

Key Elements.....................B-Center Weldment, Legs, Roll-Up Sign

Road Surface.....................Smooth, clean Concrete

TEST VEHICLE

Type / Designation...............1100C

Year, Make, and Model.........2016 Kia Rio

Curb Mass........................2,528.5 lbs (1,147.0 kg)

Test Inertial Mass...............2,448.2 lbs (1,110.5 kg)

Gross Static Mass...............2,621.3 lbs (1,189.0 kg)

Impact Conditions

Impact Velocity Device .........59.61 mph (95.94 km/h)

Device Angle........................90.0°

Location/ Orientation............ 17.6 in. (447 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Passenger Side

Device Kinetic Energy............290.9 kip-feet (394.4 Kilojoules)

Minimum KE Required....... 288 kip-feet (390 Kilojoules)

Exit Conditions

Device Exit Velocity...............59.56 mph (95.9 km/h)

Vehicle Resting Position.........281.3 ft. (85.7 m) Downstream

0.9 ft. (0.3 m) Right

Vehicle Stability ..................Satisfactory

90° - Maximum Roll Angle......Did Not Exceed 75°

90° - Maximum Pitch Angle......Did Not Exceed 75°

* Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lbs (100 kg)

Occupant Risk

Longitudinal OIV........................Not Applicable*

Lateral OIV..............................Not Applicable*

Longitudinal RA........................Not Applicable*

Lateral RA..............................Not Applicable*

THIV.......................................Not Applicable*

PHD.......................................Not Applicable*

ASI....................................... Not Applicable*

Test Article Deflections

90° Sign Debris Field (longitudinal)..... 43.9 ft. (13.4 m)

90° Sign Debris Field (lateral).......... 25.7 ft. (7.8 m)

Vehicle Damage

Vehicle Damage Scale...............12-FR-1

CDC.......................................12FRAN1

Maximum Deformation..................MASH Deformation Limits Not

Exceeded (0.0 in.) 0 mm 

Figure 3 Summary of Test 3-71 (P40335-01, 90° CIA)
13 TR-P40336-01-D 

MASH 2016 Test 3-72 Summary

 90° CIA 0° CIA 

0.000 seconds 0.040 seconds 0.080 seconds 0.671 seconds 0.701 seconds 0.731 seconds

GENERAL INFORMATION

Test Agency.....................Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering

Test Number.....................P40336-01

Test Designation...............3-72

Test Date.........................4/2/21

TEST ARTICLE

Name / Model..................Cortina QuadraFlex VI Single Spring Portable Sign Stand

Type..............................Work-Zone Traffic Control Device

Device Height ..................6.9 ft. (2.1 m)

Key Elements..................B Center Weldment, Legs, Roll-Up Sign

Road Surface.................. Smooth, clean concrete

TEST VEHICLE

Type / Designation............2270P

Year, Make, and Model......2015 RAM 1500

Curb Mass........................5,044.1 lbs (2,288.0 kg)

Test Inertial Mass...............5,009.9 lbs (2272.5 kg)

Gross Static Mass............5,009.9 lbs (2272.5 kg)

Impact Conditions

Impact Velocity Device 1...... 64.01 mph (103.01 km/h)

Impact Velocity Device 2...... 62.85 mph (101.14 km/h)

Device 1 Location/ Orientation............21.2 in. (539 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Passenger Side

Device 2 Location/ Orientation............22.8 in. (579 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Driver Side

Device 1 Angle.....................90.0°

Device 2 Angle.....................0.0°

Device 1 Kinetic Energy.........686.1 kip-feet (930.3 Kilojoules)

Device 2 Kinetic Energy.........661.5 kip-feet (896.8 Kilojoules)

Minimum KE Required....... 594 kip-feet (806 Kilojoules)

Exit Conditions

Device 1 Exit Velocity............63.85 mph (102.8 km/h)

Device 2 Exit Velocity............55.92 mph (90.0 km/h)

Vehicle Resting Position.........330.5 ft. (100.7 m) Downstream

6.7 ft. (2.0 m) Left

Vehicle Stability ..................Satisfactory

0° - Maximum Roll Angle...... Did Not Exceed 75°

0° - Maximum Pitch Angle......Did Not Exceed 75°

90° - Maximum Roll Angle......Did Not Exceed 75°

90° - Maximum Pitch Angle...Did Not Exceed 75°

Occupant Risk

Longitudinal OIV...........................Not Applicable*

Lateral OIV.................................Not Applicable*

Longitudinal RA...........................Not Applicable*

Lateral RA.................................Not Applicable*

THIV..........................................Not Applicable*

PHD......................................... Not Applicable*

ASI.......................................... Not Applicable*

Test Article Deflections

90° Sign Debris Field (longitudinal)......36.0 ft. (11.0 m)

90° Sign Debris Field (lateral)... 16.7 ft. (5.1 m)

0° Sign Debris Field (longitudinal).. 101.4 ft. (30.9 m)

0° Sign Debris Field (lateral)....... 18.5 ft. (5.7 m)

Vehicle Damage

Vehicle Damage Scale..................12-FD-1

CDC..........................................12FDAW1

Maximum Deformation..................MASH Deformation Limits Not 

Exceeded (0.0 in.) 0 mm

* Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lbs (100 kg)

Figure 2 Summary of Test 3-72
CORTINA SAFETY PRODUCTS

QUADRAFLEX VI SINGLE SPRING

PORTABLE SIGN STAND

ROAD

WORK AHEAD

BASE

ASSEMBLY

STORAGE DIMENSIONS

OPTIONAL SAND BAGS

MAY BE USED (ONE PER LEG)

OPEN FOOTPRINT

10706 West Grand Avenue ? Franklin Park, IL 60131 ? workzone@cortinaco.com

195 Edward Street ? St. Thomas, ON N5P 1Z4 ? 519-631-2900 ? workzonecanada@cortinaco.com