U.S. Department

of Transportation 400 Seventh St., S.W.

Federal Highway Washington, D.C. 20590

Administration

Refer to: HSA-1\WZ-62

Mr. George Giotis

Flasher Handling/United Rentals

125 Taylor Drive

Depew, NY 14043

Dear Mr. Giotis:

Thank you for your recent letters to Mr. Nicholas Artimovich of my office requesting Federal

Highway Administration (FHWA) acceptance of your company’s work zone traffic control

devices. The letters covered by this reply are:

• September 6 and December 26, 2000 regarding the Direction Indicator 

• October 25 and December 13, 2000 regarding the Bantam 2 Sign Stand with integral flag

holder, and

• November 20, 2000, regarding the Featherweight 2 portable sign stand.

You requested that these devices be found acceptable as crashworthy traffic control devices for

use in work zones on the National Highway System (NHS) under the provisions of National

Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 “Recommended Procedures for

the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features.” Mr. Artimovich discussed with you the

possible need for crash testing the devices as they were outside of the range we considered as

crashworthy devices. Subsequently you provided additional product literature and information on

both devices and we have reconsidered our position. 

Introduction

The FHWA guidance on crash testing of work zone traffic control devices is contained in two

memoranda. The first, dated July 25, 1997, titled “INFORMATION: Identifying Acceptable

Highway Safety Features,” established four categories of work zone devices: Category I devices

were those lightweight devices which could be self-certified by the vendor, Category II devices

were other lightweight devices which needed individual crash testing, Category III devices were

barriers and other fixed or massive devices also needing crash testing, and Category IV devices

were trailer mounted lighted signs, arrow panels, etc. The second guidance memorandum was

issued on August 28, 1998, and is titled “INFORMATION: Crash Tested Work Zone Traffic

Control Devices.” This later memorandum lists devices that are acceptable under Categories I, II,

and III.
2

A brief description of the devices for which you are requesting acceptance follows:

Direction Indicator:

The Flasher Handling Direction Indicator is similar to your company’s “Air Spill Barricade,”

which we found acceptable in our Acceptance Letter WZ-3 dated August 28, 1998. The Direction 

Indicator includes a 600 mm x 300 mm ( 24 inch x 12 inch) horizontal black arrow on a reflective 

orange background. The substrate used is a lightweight corrugated polyethelene plastic material

made by Inteplast and weighs 0.14 kg (0.31 pounds.) This arrow panel is mounted atop a

modified “Air Spill Barricade” (the vertical panel portion measures 300 mm x 600 mm,

significantly shorter than the Air Spill Barricade itself.) The overall height of the Direction

Indicator is 1200 mm (48 inches) from the bottom of the rubber or plastic base.

Bantam 2 With Flags:

The Bantam 2 without flags was found acceptable in our letter WZ-12 dated May 28, 1999. On

September 29, 2000, you requested that the Bantam 2 be accepted with flags mounted at the top.

We denied that request in our letter of October 27, 2000. Subsequently you redesigned the 

Bantam 2 to include a polycarbonate holding bracket for fiberglass flag supports that is integral to

the roll-up sign “spreaders.” 

Featherweight 2 sign stand:

The Featherweight 2 sign stand is an “x-footprint” sign stand for supporting roll-up signs at a

height of 60 inches. The steel legs telescope (31.75 mm or 1.25 inches maximum outside

dimension) to provide a maximum spread of 2795 mm (110 inches) in the direction of traffic.

The spring mechanism at the base consists of a 6.35 mm x 44.45 mm x 254 mm long (0.25 inch x

1.75 inch x 10 inch long) strip of 5160 spring steel. The aluminum mast also telescopes in three

sections, from a maximum outside dimension of 44.45 mm (1.75 inches). It also has a bracket for

holding three wood flag staffs. The stand has a mass of 15.8 kg (35 pounds.)

Findings

The “Direction Indicator” is a modification of the previously accepted “Air Spill Barricade”

vertical panel assembly. The modifications consist of shortening the orange and white striped

vertical portion, and adding a horizontal arrow panel to the top. Because of the use of small,

lightweight materials, in this device, we find the modification acceptable, subject to the following

special conditions:

• The vertical mast shall be 4.8 mm thick (3/16 inch), 44 mm (1.75 inches) wide fiberglass.

• The horizontal arrow panel and the vertical striped panel, if used, shall be made from

corrugated polyethylene plastic not to exceed 10 mm (0.4 inches) thick.

• All panels shall be securely attached to the fiberglass upright using 6.35 mm x 19.05 mm

(0.25 x 1.75 inch) Hex Bolts and 6.35 mm (0.25 inch) lock washers.

• At this time, no lights, signs, or other features may be attached above the horizontal arrow

at the top of the Direction Indicator. We understand that you have completed crash testing

with a light and will be forwarding the results to us in the near future.
3

The “Bantam 2" with integral flags is a modification of an acceptable “compact” x-footprint sign

stand. (“Compact” sign stands have a short (305 to 460 mm, or 12 to 18 inches tall) steel or

aluminum mast into which the vertical fiberglass “spreader” is inserted.) The lightweight flag

assembly is securely mounted to the top of the 7.9 mm (5/16 inch) thick, 19.05 mm (1.75 inch)

wide fiberglass vertical spreader. We expect that its behavior would be similar to other

“compact” sign stands with flags that have been successfully tested as the materials that could

impact the windshield are kept to their minimum dimensions.

The “Featherweight 2" portable sign support is similar to some other manufacturer’s stands that

have been crash tested and found acceptable. Over the last three years crash testing of portable

sign stands at the 1525 mm (5 foot) mounting height has shown that apparently minor variations

in 

design can result in significant differences in performance (notably in the extent of windshield 

damage), and acceptable test level 3 performance is not guaranteed. We expect, however, that

performance at test level 2 (TL-2) would be satisfactory because the force at which parts of the

stand would contact the windshield is significantly reduced. Therefore, the Featherweight 2 with

roll up signs and three flags with wood staffs is acceptable for use.

The devices described above and shown in the enclosed drawings for reference are acceptable for

use as TL-2 devices on the NHS under the range of conditions tested, when proposed by a State.

Please note the following standard provisions which apply to FHWA letters of acceptance:

! Our acceptance is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the devices and does

not cover their structural features, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic

Control Devices.

! Any changes that may adversely influence the crashworthiness of the device will require a

new acceptance letter.

! Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service

performance reveals unacceptable safety problems, or that the device being marketed is

significantly different from the version that was crash tested, it reserves the right to modify

or revoke its acceptance.

! You will be expected to supply potential users with sufficient information on design and

installation requirements to ensure proper performance.

! You will be expected to certify to potential users that the hardware furnished has

essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for

acceptance, and that they will meet the crashworthiness requirements of FHWA and

NCHRP Report 350.

! To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance, designated as number

WZ-62 shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter, and the test documentation upon

which this letter is based, is public information. All such letters and documentation may

be reviewed at our office upon request.
4

! Flasher Handling work zone devices may include patented components and if so are 

considered "proprietary." The use of proprietary work zone traffic control devices in

Federal-aid projects is generally of a temporary nature. They are selected by the contractor

for use as needed and removed upon completion of the project. Under such conditions

they can be presumed to meet requirement "a" given below for the use of proprietary

products on Federal-aid projects. On the other hand, if proprietary devices are specified

for use on Federal-aid projects, except exempt, non-NHS projects, they: (a) must be

supplied through competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the 

highway agency must certify that they are essential for synchronization with existing 

[highway facilities or that no equally suitable alternative exists or; (c) they must be used

for research or for a distinctive type of construction on relatively short sections of road for

experimental purposes. Our regulations concerning proprietary products are contained in

Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 635.411, a copy of which is enclosed. 

Sincerely yours,

Frederick G. Wright, Jr.

Program Manager, Safety 

Enclosure