May 13, 2020

 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

 Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/WZ-391 

Mr. John Pasakarnis 

Dicke Safety Products 

1201Waren Ave. 

Downers Grove, IL 60515 

Dear Mr. Pasakarnis: 

This letter is in response to your December 30, 2019 request for the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) to review a roadside safety device, hardware, or system for eligibility for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. This FHWA letter of eligibility is 

assigned FHWA control number WZ-391 and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by 

FHWA that expressly references this device. 

Decision 

The following device is eligible within the length-of-need, with details provided in the form 

which is attached as an integral part of this letter: 

• Dicke Safety Products T155 Sign Stand with 48”x48” MDF Sign

Scope of this Letter 

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

test and evaluation criteria contained in the American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials’(AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

However, the FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Government do 

not regulate the manufacture of roadside safety devices. Eligibility for reimbursement under the 

Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval, certification or endorsement of the 

device for any particular purpose or use. 

This letter is not a determination by the FHWA, the Department of Transportation, or the United 

States Government that a vehicle crash involving the device will result in any particular 

outcome, nor is it a guarantee of the in-service performance of this device. Proper 

manufacturing, installation, and maintenance are required in order for this device to function as 

tested. 

This finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness of the system and does not cover other 

structural features, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 
2

Eligibility for Reimbursement 

Based solely on a review of crash test results and certifications submitted by the manufacturer, 

and the crash test laboratory, FHWA agrees that the device described herein meets the crash test 

and evaluation criteria of the AASHTO’s MASH. Therefore, the device is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program if installed under the range of tested 

conditions. 

Name of system: Dicke Safety Products T155 Sign Stand with 48”x48” MDF Sign

Type of system: Work Zone 

Test Level: MASH Test Level 3 (TL3) 

Testing conducted by: Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC. 

Date of request: December 30, 2019 

FHWA concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash testing laboratory on the 

attached form. 

Full Description of the Eligible Device 

The device and supporting documentation, including reports of the crash tests or other testing 

done, videos of any crash testing, and/or drawings of the device, are described in the attached 

form. 

Notice 

This eligibility letter is issued for the subject device as tested. Modifications made to the device 

are not covered by this letter. Any modifications to this device should be submitted to the user 

(i.e., state DOT) as per their requirements. 

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

maintenance 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 test 

and evaluation criteria of AASHTO’s MASH.

Issuance of this letter does not convey property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege. This 

letter is based on the premise that information and reports submitted by you are accurate and 

correct. We reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter if: (1) there are any inaccuracies in 

the information submitted in support of your request for this letter, (2) the qualification testing 

was flawed, (3) in-service performance or other information reveals safety problems, (4) the 

system is significantly different from the version that was crash tested, or (5) any other 

information indicates that the letter was issued in error or otherwise does not reflect full and 

complete information about the crashworthiness of the system. 
Standard Provisions 

• To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility designated as FHW A 

control number WZ-391 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 upon request. 

• This letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by the FHW A to use, 

manufacture, or sell any patented system for which the applicant is not the patent holder. 

3 

• This FHW A eligibility letter is not an expression of any Agency view, position, or 

determination of validity, scope, or ownership of any intellectual property rights to a 

specific device or design. Further, this letter does not impute any distribution or licensing 

rights to the requester. This FHW A eligibility letter determination is made based solely 

on the crash-testing information submitted by the requester. The FHW A reserves the 

right to review and revoke an earlier eligibility determination after receipt of subsequent 

information related to crash testing. 

Enclosures 

Sincerely, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 
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Page 1 of 4

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

of Highway Safety Hardware

ttermibuS

Date of Request: December30,2019 New

Name: StevenMatsusaka

Company: ApplusIDIADAKARCOEngineering.LLC.

Address: 9270HollyRd,Adelanto,CA92301

Country: UnitedStatesofAmerica

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&TestingCriterion -Enter from right to leftstarting with TestLevel ! -! - ! !-!-!

SystemType SubmissionType DeviceName/ Variant TestingCriterion Test 

Level

'WZ':CrashWorthyWorkZon PhysicalCrashTesting

Engineering Analysis

T155SignStandwith 48" 

x48" MDFSign

  AASHTOMASH TL

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: JohnPasakarnis SameasSubmitter

CompanyName: DICKESafetyProducts SameasSubmitter

Address: 1201WarrenAve.,DownersGrove, IL60515 SameasSubmitter

Country: UnitedStatesofAmerica SameasSubmitter

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

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document.

DICKESafetyProducts is themanufacturerand marketerof device.

Applus IDIADA KARCOEngineering, LLC (IDIADA KARCO) isan independent research and testing laboratory 

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

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

principalsand staff of IDIADAKARCOhaveno 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 

shouldarise,other than receiving feesfor testing,reporting,etc.,with respect to any project, thecompany will 

provide,In writing, a full and immediatedisclosure to theFHWA.

I r- Resubmissio

I I I I 
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Page 2 of 4

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Help

  New Hardware or

Significant Modification

Modification to  ExistingHardwar

TheDICKESafetyProductsT155signstand isa work-zone trafficcontrol device.Theas-tested deviceconsisted 

of one48.0in.(1.2m)squareMDFrigidsign,one(1)steel mast,one(1)steelsign bracket,and one(1)stand 

assembly.Theas-tested device weighedapproximately55.0lbs(24.9kg).Thedevicehada height of 76.3in. 

(1.9m)measured to the top of thesign.TheT155signstand wastested with one(1)25.0lb.(11.3kg)sandbag 

hung onasandbag hook.

Thesquaremedium density fiberboard(MDF)wassupportedby two (2)sign hooksof thestandassemblyand 

securedat the top by thesteelsign bracket.Themounting height of thesign was13.9in.(353mm)measured 

to the bottom corner. The steel mast consisted of one (1) 1.0 in. (25 mm) square steel tube with the sign 

bracketattachedat the top andsecuredat thestand with asteelscrew handle.

Thestand iscomposedof ahubassemblyand three(3)1.2in.(30mm)squaresteel tubelegs.Thefront two (2) 

legshaveone(1)sign hookeachand the backleg hasone(1)sandbag hook.In itsdeployed state, thestand 

assemblyhadafootprint measuring53in.(1.3m)along thefront by38in.(965mm)perpendicularly towards 

theback leg.

CRASH TESTING

Bysignaturebelow, theEngineeraffiliated with the testing laboratory, agreesin support of thissubmission 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 testsare necessary to determine the device meets 

theMASH criteria.

Engineer Name: StevenMatsusaka

EngineerSignature:

Address: 9270HollyRd,Adelanto,CA92301 SameasSubmitter

Country: UnitedStatesofAmerica SameasSubmitter

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

RequiredTest 

Number

Evaluation 

Results

3-70(1100C)

Narrative 

Description

Designedto evaluate theability ofasmall

vehicle to activateanybreakaway,fracture, 

or yielding mechanism,Test3-70 is

considered optional for work-zone traffic

control devices weighing less than 220 lb

(100kg).

TheT155signstand weighedapproximately

55.0 lbs (24.9 kg) and therefore the test was

non-relevant and not conducted.

Non-RelevantTest,not conducted

StevenMatsusaka DigitallysignedbyStevenMatsusaka

DN:cn=StevenMatsusaka,email=steven.matsusaka@idiada.com,c=US 

Date:2019.12.3016:41:24-08'00'

I 

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Page 3 of 4

RequiredTest 

Number

Narrative 

Description

Evaluation 

Results

3-71(1100C)

Two(2)T155signstandswereimpacted on

thesametestrun.Thedeviceswerespaced

60.0 ft. (18.3 m) apart and set at two (2) 

critical impact angles (CIA), 0° and 90°. The 

1100Csmallcarusedfor this testwasa2010 

KiaRio 4-door sedan with a test inertial 

weight of 2,428.3lbs(1,101.5kg).

Thetest vehicleimpacted the0° testsignat 

aspeed of 64.27 mph (103.44 km/h) and 

proceeded to impacted the90° testsignat a 

speed of 63.32 mph (101.90 km/h). Upon 

impact, the 0°CIA sign broke away from its 

stand.The90°CIAremainedintact after the 

impact but wasdeflected upandaway from 

the vehicle. The occupant compartment 

was not penetrated and the deformation 

limits were not exceeded. The T155 sign 

stand broke away and yielded in a 

predictable manner. Debris from the test 

articles did not cause a hazard to the 

driver’s vision. The vehicle remained stable 

and upright throughout the test. The T155 

sign stand met all the requirements for 

MASH Test3-71.

PASS

3-72(2270P)

Two(2)T155signstandswereimpacted on

thesametestrun.Thedeviceswerespaced

60.0 ft. (18.3 m) apart and set at two (2) 

critical impact angles (CIA), 0° and 90°. The 

2270P vehicle used for this test wasa 2014 

RAM 1500 4-door pick-up truck with a test 

inertial weight of 5,052.9 lbs (2,292.0 kg). 

Thetest vehicleimpacted the0° testsignat 

aspeed of 60.08 mph (96.69 km/h) and 

proceeded to impacted the90° testsignat a 

speed of 59.28 mph (95.40 km/h). Upon 

impact,bothT155signsbrokeawayand the 

sign stands yielded. The occupant 

compartment was not penetrated and the 

deformation limits were not exceeded. The 

T155signstandsbrokeaway andyielded in 

a predictable manner. Debris from the test 

articles did not cause a hazard to the 

driver’s vision. The vehicle remained stable 

and upright throughout the test. The 

vehicle did not leave its lane and its 

trajectory wasstable after the sign stand 

was impacted. The T155 sign stand met all 

therequirementsfor MASHTest3-72.

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.):
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Page 4 of 4

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

Laboratory Name: ApplusIDIADAKARCOEngineering,LLC.

LaboratorySignature: StevenMatsusaka DN:cn=StevenMatsusaka,email=steven.matsusaka@idiada.com,c=US

DigitallysignedbyStevenMatsusaka

Date:2019.12.3016:41:31-08'00'

Address: 9270HollyRd,Adelanto,CA92301 SameasSubmitter

Country: UnitedStatesofAmerica SameasSubmitter

Accreditation Certificate

Number and Dates of current TL371:July1,2019-July1,2022

Accreditation period :

SubmitterSignature*:Steven

Matsusaka

Digitallysigned bySteven Matsusaka 

DN: cn=Steven Matsusaka,

email=steven.matsusaka@idiada.com, c=US 

Date: 2019.12.30 16:41:37 -08'00'
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