1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

November 30, 2011

FHWA: HSST: NArtimovicht: ms: x61331:11/16/11

File: s: //directory folder/HSST/Artimovich/WZ-310.dotx

cc: HSST (NArtimovich; JDewar) 

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/ WZ-310

Jan Miller

Business Development Manager

160 Ave. La Pata

San Clemente, California 92673

Dear Ms. Miller:

This letter is in response to your request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to 

review a roadside safety system for eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway 

program. 

Name of system: Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand

Type of system: Compact Sign Stand

Test Level: NCHRP Report 350 TL-3

Testing conducted by: N/A

Date of request: March 7, 2011

Date initially acknowledged: April 1, 2011

You certify that the device described herein meets the crashworthiness criteria of the National 

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

the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features.” Based on your evaluation, you asked 

that we find the device eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. 

Eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval 

or endorsement by the FHWA for any particular purpose or use.

Decision:

The following device was found eligible, with details provided below:

• Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand

Requirements

Roadside safety devices should meet the guidelines contained in the NCHRP Report 350 or the 

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing 

Safety Hardware (MASH). The FHWA Memorandum “Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety 

Features” of July 25, 1997 provides further guidance on crash testing requirements of roadside 

safety hardware. 

Description
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The Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand is a variation of the many TrafFix Devices Inc. (TDI) and 

industry standard sign stands known as “compact stands” for exclusive use in displaying roll-up 

signs, up to 48” diamond or 16 sq. ft. or smaller, of standard configuration.

Based on the data, drawings and images provided, you requested we find the Quad-Drop 

Aluminum Sign Stand eligible for Federal-aid funding because it meets the defined product class 

of Compact Signs Stand as described in FHWA HSA-10/WZ-85:

“Compact” sign stands are “X-Footprint” sign stands of steel or aluminum with a short

mast...the mounting height of a 1220 mm x 1220 mm (48”x48”) diamond sign is 

300 mm to 450 mm (12” to 18”) only...with no metal elements at a height that can 

impact the windshield during a crash.”

Per Drawing 1, enclosed for reference, the Quad-Drop compact aluminum sign stand has a 

standard type of “mini mast” allowing for display of standard sizes and configurations of roll-up 

sign at 12” above grade. The entire mast extends to approx 14” above grade allowing for no 

mass of steel to extend above bumper height which could potentially contact a vehicle 

windshield upon impact.

The TDI proprietary design feature involves the leg releasing and securing mechanism which

facilitates the rapid deployment and retrieval of the sign stand and roll-up sign. The Q-D2 sign 

and stand system replaces the typical hard-locking pull-pin leg deployment system widely used

today. Functionally, the mechanisms are equivalent as all stands have leg-locking systems. We

concur that this modification from the “industry-standard” approach is not a factor regarding 

impact performance.

Findings

We concur that the Quad-Drop Aluminum Sign Stand meets our criteria for a “compact sign 

stand” per FHWA Acceptance Letter WZ-85. Therefore, the system described in the request 

above and detailed in the enclosed drawings is form is eligible for reimbursement and should be 

installed under the range of conditions such stands are tested, when such use is acceptable to a 

highway agency.

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA eligibility letters:

• This finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the systems 

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 system will require 

a new letter.

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

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

significantly different from the version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to 

modify or revoke this letter.

• 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 
3

review, and that it will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA and NCHRP 

Report 350.

• To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility is designated as number

WZ-310 and 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 at our office upon request. 

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

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

The finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate 

system, and the FHWA is neither prepared nor required to become involved in issues 

concerning patent law. Patent issues, if any, are to be resolved by the applicant.

• TrafFix Devices Aluminum Sign Stands are patented products and considered 

proprietary. If proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Federalaid projects, except exempt, non-NHS projects, (a) they must be supplied through 

competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the highway agency must 

certify that they are essential for synchronization with the 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.

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

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

The eligibility letter is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the candidate 

system, and the FHWA is neither prepared nor required to become involved in issues 

concerning patent law. Patent issues, if any, are to be resolved by the applicant.

Sincerely yours,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety 

Enclosures