U.S.Deportment 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

February 15, 2018 In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/ WZ-358 

Felipe Almanza 

TrafFix Devices Inc. 

160 La Pata 

San Clemente CA 

Dear Mr. Almanza: 

This letter is in response to your November 17, 2017 request for the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHW A) 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 FHW A control number WZ-358 and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by 

FHW A that expressly references this device. ! "' \ 

Decision 

The following dehces are eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an 

integral part of this letter: 

• TrafFix Water Wall LCD 

Scope of this Letter 

To be found eligible for Federal-a}d funding, new roadside safety devices should meet the 'crash 

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

TransportationOfficials' (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 deterinination by the FHWA, the Department ofTransportation, 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 majntenance are required in order for this device to function as 

tested. 

This finding of eligibility is limited to the crash worthiness 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, FHW A agrees that the device described herein meets the crash test 

and evaluation criteria of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation 

Officials' Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (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: TrafFix Water Wall LCD 

Type of system: Work Zone Traffic Control Devices 

Test Level: MASH Test Level 2 

Testing conducted by: KARCO 

Date ofrequest: November 29, 2017 

Date of completed package: November 29, 2017 

FHW A concurs with recommendation of the accredited crash testing laboratory as stated within 

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 and will need to be tested in accordance with all recommended tests 

in AASHTO's MASH as part of a new and separate submittal. 

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 crash worthiness of the system. 
3 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number WZ-358 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. 

• Ifthe subject device is a patented product it may be considered to be proprietary. If 

proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Federal-aid 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 63 5 .411. 

Sincerely, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 1 of 5 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

of Highway Safety Hardware 

... 

(lJ

....

.... .E 

.0 

Date of Request: November 17, 2017 r. New (' Resubmission I 

Name: Felipe Almanza 

Company: 

Address: 

TrafFix Devices Inc. 

160 La Pata San Clemente CA 

::::J 

V) Country: United States 

To: Michael S. Griffith, Director 

FHWA, Office of Safety Technologies 

I request the following devices be considered el igible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid 

highway program. 

Device & Testing Criterion - Enter from right to left starting with Test Level I ' -' -' I 

System Type Submission Type Device Name/ Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'WZ': Crash Worthy Work 

Zone Traffic Control Devices 

(e Physical Crash Testing 

(' Engineering Analysis 

TrafFix Water Wall LCD 

AASHTOMASH TL2 

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: Felipe Almanza Same as Submitter ~ 

Company Name: TrafFix Devices Inc. Same as Submitter ~ 

Address: 160 La Pata San Clemente CA Same as Submitter ~ 

Country: United States 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. 

TrafFix Devices Inc. and Karco Engineering LLC share no financial interests between the two organizations. This 

includes no shared financial interest but not limited to: 

i. Compensation included wages, salaries, commissions, professional fees, or fees for business referrals 

iii. Research funding or other forms of research support; 

iv. Patents, copyrights, licenses, and other intellectual property interests; 

vi. Business ownership and investment interests; 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 2 of 5 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

(i' New Hardware or 

• Significant Modification 

9270 Holly Rd. Adelanto, CA 92301 

(' Modification to 

Existing Hardware 

The TrafFix Water Wall is a Longitudinal Channelizing Device (LCD) used to provide a clear visual indication of 

the intended travel path through a construction zone. The individual pinned modules create a continuous 

unobstructed longitudinal wall without gaps that would allow pedestrians or motor vehicle to pass through. 

It is free standing, does not require anchoring to the road surface, and can be used on concrete, asphalt, gravel, 

and dirt surfaces. The surfaces used for these tests were concrete and dirt. The TrafFix Water Wall LCD consists 

of a series of individual water filled modules that are connected to adjacent modules creating a continuous 

longitudinal wall of up to infinite length. Adjoining modules can rotate up to 30 degrees from straight at the 

connection, allowing the LCD wall to contour to varying road curvature. Individual modules have overall 

dimensions of 73.0 in (1.85 m) long, pin to pin X 18.0 in (0.46 m) wide X 32.0 in (0.81 m) tall. An empty module 

weighs approx. 75 lbs. (34 kg) and 1,000 lbs. (454 kg) when filled with water. The modules are manufactured 

from UV stabilized polyethylene. Orange and white modules were the as tested colors, but the product may be 

produced in other colors. The modules are designed with knuckles at the ends which contain a series of 

vertically aligned concentric holes that allow a steel t-pin to be inserted to connect adjacent modules together. 

When modules are pinned together there are a total of eight knuckles aligned with the steel t-pin inserted. 

This provides a positive connection between adjacent modules. 

The TrafFix Water Wall is not intended to function as a barrier but instead is designed and tested to provide 

clear visual indication of the intended traveled path through construction zones. 

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: Robert L. Ramirez 

Digitally signed by Robert Ramirez 

ON : cn=Robert Ramirez, o=KARCO Engineering, ou=Project Engineer,

email=rramirez@karco.com, c:::US 

Date: 2017.11.27 09:31:18 -08'00' 

Engineer Signature: Robert Ramirez 

Same as Submitter 

Country: United States Same as Submitter 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Address: D 

D 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 3 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

2-90 (11 00C) 

The TrafFix Longitudinal Channelizing 

Device (LCD) was angled 25° from the 

direction of the impacting vehicle. The test 

was conducted using a commercially 

available 2013 Kia Rio 4-door sedan with a 

test inertial mass of 2,430.5 lbs. (1,102.5 kg). 

The vehicle was in good condition, was free 

of major body damage, and was not missing 

any structural components. The bumpers 

were standard equipment and were not 

modified for this test. Based on CarFax 

reporting there was no recorded history of 

major accidents, was not a salvage titled 

vehicle, not involved in flooding, or fire. The 

test vehicle impacted the LCD at a velocity 

of 45.73 mph (73.60 km/ hr) and at an 

impact angle of 25.9°. The as tested TrafFix 

LCD consisted of 25 water filled modules 

pinned together measuring 153 ft. (47 m) 

long, pin to pin. 

Upon initial contact with the first module 

the vehicle moved forward, impacted the 

adjacent module causing the module to 

rupture and disperse the contained water. 

The vehicle gated through the traffic side of 

the LCD and was brought to a controlled 

stop 93.2 ft. (28.4 m) longitudinally 

(downstream) and 83.0 ft. (25.3 m) toward 

the non-traffic side from the initial point of 

contact. The vehicle remained upright 

throughout the impact event. The test 

vehicle's occupant compartment was not 

penetrated and there was no measurable in 

cab deformation. The maximum roll and 

pitch angle did not exceed 75° and 

occupant risk values were within limits per 

MASH specifications for Occupant Impact 

Velocity (OIV) and Ridedown Acceleration 

(RA). 

PASS 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 5 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

2-91 (2270P) 

The TrafFix Water Wall Longitudinal 

Channelizing Device (LCD) was angled 25° 

from the direction of the impacting vehicle. 

The test was conducted using a 

commercially available 2012 RAM 1500 4-

door pickup truck with a test inertial mass of 

5,002.3 lbs. (2,269.0 kg). The vehicle was in 

good cond ition, was free of major body 

damage, and was not missing any structural 

components. The bumpers were standard 

equipment and were not modified for this 

test. Based on CarFax reporting there was 

no recorded history of major accidents, was 

not a salvage titled vehicle, not involved in 

flooding, or fire. The test vehicle impacted 

the LCD at a velocity of 44.97 mph (72.37 

km/ hr) and at an impact angle of 25.4°. The 

as tested TrafFix LCD consisted of 25 water 

filled modules pinned together measuring 

153 ft. (47 m) long, pin to pin. 

Upon initial contact with the first module 

the vehicle moved forward, impacted the 

adjacent module causing the module to 

rupture and disperse the contained water. 

The vehicle gated through the traffic side of 

the LCD and was brought to a controlled 

stop 73.5 ft. (22.4 m) longitudinally 

(downstream) and 19.4 ft. (5.9 m) toward 

the non-traffic side from the initial point of 

contact. The vehicle remained upright 

throughout the impact event. The test 

vehicle's occupant compartment was not 

penetrated and there was no measurable in 

cab deformation. The maximum roll and 

pitch angle did not exceed 75° and 

occupant risk values were within limits per 

MASH specifications for Occupant Impact 

Velocity (OIV) and Ridedown Acceleration 

(RA). 

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.): 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 5 of 5 

Laboratory Name: KARCO Engineering, LLC. 

Laboratory Signature: Alex Beltran Digitally signed by Alex Beltran 

ON: cn=Alex Beltran, o=KARCO Engineering, ouc=Testing Laboratory, 

email=ab eltran@karco.com, c=US 

Date: 2017.11.27 14:05:48 -08'00' 

Address : 9270 Holly Rd. Adelanto CA 92301 Same as Submitter D 

Country: United States Same as Submitter D 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current December 18, 2015 - December 18, 2017 

Accreditation period : 

-l-,1,:... Di9taNy 51gned by Felipe Al mania Submitter Si nature*: /JI~,,..,.,,.,__ ~:: :'•;p,~m,Ma,,,,,.m,o,,;,M g '7~Jl:J (.ll.,V''r""7" - ernad-fatm11N;t@ltraffixdevices.com, c-US 

Date:2017.11.2911 :S2:4S-08'00' 

Submit Form 

ATTACHMENTS 

Attach to this form : 

1) Additional disclosures ofrelated 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 faci litate our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter 

Number Date Key Words 
SECTION 4 

MASH TEST 2-90 SUMMARY 

Test Article: TrafFix Devices LCD Wall Project No. P36117-01 

Test Program: MASH 2-90 Test Date: 05/19/16 

SEQUENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHS 

' 

0.000 s 0.100 s 0.200 s 0.400 s 0.800 s 1.100 s 

PLAN VIEW 

-90ft -75 ft -60ft -,ft -30ft -15ft Oft 15 ft 30ft 45ft 60ft 75ft 90ft 105ft 

I I I I I I I I I I I I I 

:-=c-:r-, --=r=x:.::::c:··1::::-~J ·--,-: 1 ~m=• 

-c::: i.:. 

~ " --.., 

Pre-Test 

• AJ1icle 

• Vehicle 

P06t-rost 

• Arlicl" 

e Vllhicle 

~ 

8 TR-P36117-01-A 
SECTION 4 ... (CONTINUED) 

MASHTEST2~0SUMMARY 

Test Article: TrafFix Devices LCD Wall Project No. P36117-01 

Test Program: MASH 2-90 Test Date: 05/19/16 

GENERAL INFORMATION EXIT CONDITIONS 

TEST AGENCY KARCO Engineering, LLC. EXIT VELOCITY 14.49 mph (23.32 km/h) :.-

TEST NUMBER P36117-01 EXIT ANGLE 

-~ TEST DESIGNATION 2-90 VEHICLE STABILITY ~ Satisfactory 

TEST DATE 5/19/16 FINAL VEHICLE POSITION 93.2 ft. (28.4 m) downstream, 83.0 ft. (25.3 m) 

towards non-traffic side. 

TEST ARTICLE VEHICLE SNAGGING None j 

NAME/ MODEL LCD Wall VEHICLE POCKETING None f 

TYPE Lonqitudinal Channelizer MAXIMUM ROLL ANGLE -17.3° I 

KEY ELEMENTS Water Barricades, Drop T-Pins 

MAXIMUM PITCH ANGLE r -16.2° " 

MAXIMUM YAW ANGLE 41.5° J 

ARTICLE LENGTH 72.0 in. (1,823 mm) KINETIC ENERGY 169. 9 kip-ft (230 .4 kJ) ____,.._--I 

TOTAL INSTALLATION LENGTH 153.5 ft. (46.8 m) OCCUPANT RISK VALUES 

HEIGHT 32.0 in. (813 mm) OCCUPANT IMPACT -~--- VELOCITY 

Longitudinal 26.9 ft/s (8.2 mis) 

MAXIMUM WIDTH 18.0 in. (457 mm) Lateral 3.3 ft/s (1.0 mis) 

ROAD SURFACE Concrete RIDEDOWN 

ACCELERATION 

Longitudinal -5.5 g 

TEST VEHICLE Lateral 3.0 g 

TYPE/ DESIGNATION 1100C THIV 27.2 ft/s (8.3 m/s) I 

YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL 2013 Kia Rio PHO 5.8 g j 

CURB MASS 2,555.2 lbs (1,159.0 kg) ASI 0.61 ~ ______.........-~,fl 

TEST INERTIAL MASS 2,430.5 lbs (1 ,102.5 kg) TEST ARTICLE DEFLECTIONS 

GROSS STATIC MASS 2,603.7 lbs (1,181.0 kg) WORKING WIDTH 

IMPACT CONDITIONS DYNAMIC DEFLECTION 

IMPACT VELOCITY 45.73 mph (73.60 km/h) ARTICLE DAMAGE ,. Damage to Modules 13 through 17. 

IMPACT ANGLE 25.9° VEHICLE DAMAGE 

IMPACT LOCATION/ ORIENTATION 3.5 ft. (1 .1 m) upstream from the joint connecting 

module 13 and 14 

VEHICLE DAMAGE SCALE ....___..... 1-FR-1 

COLLISION DAMAGE CLASSIFICATION -~--L._ 01FREW1 .J 

9 TR-P36117-01-A 
SECTION 4 

MASH TEST 2-91 SUMMARY 

Test Article: TrafFix Devices LCD Wall Project No. P36118-01 

Test Program: MASH 2-91 Test Date: 05/20/16 

SEQUENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHS 

~ 

~-~--' -';' ' -, "· 

' 

'

, .... 

- :a. - .- 0.000 s 0.100 s 0.500 s 0.800 s 1.300 s 

PLAN VIEW 

-90 ft -75 ft -60 ft -45 ft -30 ft -15 ft 0 ft 15 ft 30 ft 45 ft 60 ft 75 ft 90ft 

__) 

• 

Pre-Test 

Article 

~ • v ehicle 

Post-Test 

e Article 

e Vehicle 

8 TR-P36118-01-NC 
SECTION 4 ... (CONTINUED) 

MASH TEST 2-91 SUMMARY 

Test Article: TrafFix Devices LCD Wall Project No. P36118-01 

Test Program: MASH 2-91 Test Date: 05/20/16 

TEST AGENCY 

TEST NUMBER 

TEST DESIGNATION 

TEST DATE 

NAME/ MODEL 

TYPE 

KEY ELEMENTS 

ARTICLE LENGTH 

TOTAL INSTALLATION LEN

HEIGHT 

MAXIMUM WIDTH 

ROAD SURFACE 

TYPE / DESIGNATION 

YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL 

CURB MASS 

TEST INERTIAL MASS 

GROSS STATIC MASS 

IMPACT VELOCITY 

IMPACT ANGLE 

IMPACT LOCATION/ ORIEN

GENERAL INFORMATION EXIT CONDITIONS 

- EXIT VELOCITY KARCO Engineering ........____..[ , LLC. N/A 

P36118-01 EXIT ANGLE N/A ~ 

I 2-91 VEHICLE STABILITY Satisfactory 

73.5 ft. (22.4 m) downstream, 19.4 ft. (5.9 m) 5/20/16 FINAL VEHICLE POSITION 

towards non-traffic side. 

TEST ARTICLE VEHICLE SNAGGING None T 

VEHICLE POCKETING None r LCD Wall 

Lonqitudinal Channelizer MAXIMUM ROLL ANGLE -15.0° i 

MAXIMUM PITCH ANGLE I 4.8° 

Water Barricades, Drop T-Pins 

MAXIMUM YAW ANGLE 6.6° : 

73.0 in. (1,854 mm) KINETIC ENERGY 338.2 kip-ft (458.5 kJ) _...r-r---1 

GTH 153.2 ft. (46.7 m) OCCUPANT RISK VALUES 

32.0 in. (813 mm) OCCUPANT IMPACT Longitudinal 21 .3 ft/s (6.5 m/s) 

18.0 in. (457 mm) VELOCITY Lateral 2.3 ft/s (0.7 mis) ~ 

Concrete RIDEDOWN Longitudinal -3.4 g J 

ACCELERATION I TEST VEHICLE Lateral 2.0 g 

2270P THIV 21 .3 ft/s (6.5 m/s) 

2012 RAM 1500 PHO 3.6 a 

4,977.9 lbs (2,258.0 kg ) ASI 0.37 ~ 

5,002.3 lbs (2,269.0 kg) TEST ARTICLE DEFLECTIONS 

5,002.3 lbs (2,269.0 kg ) WORKING WIDTH N/A 

IMPACT CONDITIONS DYNAMIC DEFLECTION N/A 

ARTICLE DAMAGE __, 44.97 mph (72.37 km/h) Damage to Modules 13 through 17. 

25.4° VEHICLE DAMAGE 

- TATION 2.9 ft. (0.9 m) upstream from the joint connecting VEHICLE DAMAGE SCALE 1-FD-2 ---- module 13 and 14 COLLISION DAMAGE CLASSIFICATION _.....____,...- 01FDEW1 

---

9 TR-P36118-01-NC 
8 2 

146.0in 

[ 3708.4mm]

It " ~ D - D

ll=ii CJ CJ - CJ -

- - - CJ 0 Ill! 

-I E::::i, Eil)=D ~I 1, E3 ~ 

C C 

A 

EXPLODED VIEW 

WATER WALL BARRIER ASSEMBLY 

/ 

/ 

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED: 

ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES (mm] TrafFix 160 Aventda La Para S .J11 Clci,u.:ritc, CA 926 73 

Devices Inc. ~tl',3~J-~~~920s ® www tr.;tHxl.H!vif..·t1~.,:um 

TITLE: TL-1 & TL-2 A 

TrafFix Water Wall 

Array SIZE DWG. NO. REV DRAWN SY: DATE: Cl"ristophef Jaime 01/07116 

CHECKED SY: DATE: B 300-233 FA 01/07116 

APPROVED SY: DATE: 

FA 01/071\6 SHEET I OF 2 

8 5 3 

C 
8 

73.0in 

D [ 1854.20] D 

(/)l.50in 

[38.10mm] 

C C 

6.00in 

[152.40mm] 

32.0in 

[812.80mm] 

UNLESS OTHERWISESPEC IFIED : 

ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [mm] TrafFix 

Devices Inc. Cll, 

1bU Avemcta La Para SJ11 Clw 11c11 /c, CA 92 6 73 

Wti'r~~1·5tt,~~~-,205 www lr.J~xc.kvice~.t.·om 

A 

TITLE: 

TL-1 &TL-2 

Traffix Water Wall 

A 

2. Units: Inches [mm] 

l. Material: Polyethylene 

NOTES: UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED 

8 

DRAWN IIY: 

OristopherJairru!I 

CHECP::EDIIY: 

FA 

APPROVEDIIY: 

FA 

3 

DATE: 

01/07/16 

DATE: 

01/07/1 6 

DATE: 

01/07/ 16 

SIZE 

B DWG. NQ 

300-233 

~V 

C 

SHEET 2 OF 2