1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

 Washington, D.C. 20590 

July 1, 2016 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/CC-66C 

Mr. Gerrit Dyke, P.E. 

Lindsay Transportation Solutions 

180 River Road 

Rio Vista, CA 94571 

Dear Mr. Dyke: 

This letter is in response to your December 29, 2015 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 CC-66C and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by 

FHWA that expressly references this device. 

Decision 

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

integral part of this letter: 

• ABSORB 350 with modified connecting rod 

Scope of this Letter 

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

crash test and evaluation criteria contained in the National Cooperative Highway Research 

Program (NCHRP) Report 350. 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 

FHWA previously issued an eligibility letter for the roadside safety system described in your 

pending request. Your pending request now identifies a modification to that roadside safety 

system. 

The original roadside safety device information is provided here: 

Name of system: ABSORB 350 with modified connecting rod 

Type of system: Crash Cushion 

Date of original request: March 6, 2000 

Date of original FHWA eligibility letter: May 11, 2000 

FHWA Control number: CC-66 

The pending modification(s) consists of the following changes: 

1.	 Increase the number of threads on connecting rods 

FHWA concurs with the 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 

If a manufacturer makes any modification to any of their roadside safety hardware that has an 

existing eligibility letter from FHWA, the manufacturer must notify FHWA of such modification 

with a request for continued eligibility for reimbursement. The notice of all modifications to a 

device must be accompanied by: 

o	 Significant modifications – For these modifications, crash test results must be 

submitted with accompanying documentation and videos. 

o	 Non-signification modifications – For these modifications, a statement from the 

crash test laboratory on the potential effect of the modification on the ability of 

the device to meet the relevant crash test criteria. 

FHWA's determination of continued eligibility for the modified hardware will be based on 

whether the modified hardware will continue to meet the relevant crash test criteria. 

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

maintenance requirements to ensure proper performance. 
3 

You are expected to certify to potential users that the hardware rurnishecl has the same chemistry, 

mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for review, and that it will meet the test 

and evaluation criteria of the NCHRP Report 350. 

lssuancc of this letter does not convey propcny rights of any sort or any exclusive pri vilege. This 

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

correct. We reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter ii': ( 1) there are any inaccurac ies in 

the information submitted in support or your request for this letter. (2) the qualilication testing 

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

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

infonnation indicates that the letter was issued in error or othcnvise does not reflect fol l and 

complete information about the crashworthincss of the system. 

Standard Provisions 

• 	 To prevent misunderstanding by others. this letter of eligibility designated as rHWA 

control number CC-66C shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter and the test 

documentation upon which it is based arc public informalion. All such letters and 

documentation may be reviewed 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. 

• 	 If the subj ect device is a patented product it may be considered to be proprietary. If 

proprietary systems are specified by a high,.vay agency for use on rederal-aid projects: 

(a) they must be supplied through competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented 

items: (b) the highway agency must certify that they arc 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 635.4 11. 

Sincerely yours. 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, 0 nice of Safety Technologies 

Office ofSafety 

Enclosures 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 1 of 4 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

of Highway Safety Hardware 

Date of Request: 

Name: 

I.. Company: Cl.I 

~ Address: E 

.Q 

:s Country: II) 

To: 

December29,2015 rNew r. Resubmission I 

Gerrit Dyke, P.E. 

Lindsay Transportation Solutions 

180 River Road, Rio Vista, CA, 94571 

USA 

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 [ight to left starting with Test Le~el I'-1-q 

System Type Submission Type Device Name I Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'CC': Crash Cushions, 

Attenuators, & Terminals 

r Physical Crash Testing 

(e' Engineering Analysis 

ABSORB 350 

NCHRP Report 350 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 NCHRP Report 350 (Report 350) and that 

the evaluation results meet the appropriate evaluation criteria in the Report 350. 

Individual or Organization responsible for the product: 

Contact Name: Gerrit Dyke, P.E. Same as Submitter [81

Company Name: Lindsay Transportation Solutions Same as Submitter [81

Address: 180 River Road, Rio Vista, CA, 94571 Same as Submitter [81

Country: USA Same as Submitter [81 

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


Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 


Safe Technologies, Inc. (STI) performs testing and analysis services for Lindsay Transportation Solutions, Inc. 


(LTS). STI is a wholly owned subsidiary of LTS. STI is a fully accredited crash test facility by A2LA to ISO 17025 and 

recognized by the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to perform full scale crash tests per NCHRP 

Report 350 and MASH criteria. STI also performs crash tests per the European ENl 317 criteria in conjunction with 

an independent Notified Body. An Advisory Board includes third party industry experts and provides oversight 

and guidance to the laboratory management. 

The STI laboratory manager, technicians, and laborers are compensated by LTS for salaries and wages. The STI 

staff does not receive any incentive, compensation, commissions, or professional fees corresponding to the 

outcome of any testing or analysis. The third party members of the Advisory Board are typically paid consultants. 

STI or staff does not receive any research funding or other research support from LTS. STI and staff also do not 

have any financial interest in patents, copyrights, or other intellectual property associated with the products 

they perform testing or analysis on. 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 2 of 4 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

r New Hardware or 

Significant Modification 

Ci' Modification to 

• Existing Hardware Non-Significant 

The ABSORB 350 is a proprietary crash cushion that has been accepted for use on the National Highway System 

by FHWA under letter HSA-CC66. 

The ABSORB 350 is a non-redirective, gating crash cushion primarily intended to shield the approach ends of 

temporary and permanent concrete barriers as well as the end of a Quick Change Median Barrier (QMB) wall. 

The ABSORB 350 system consists of a nose-piece assembly, followed by four, eight, or nine element assemblies 

(dictated by the roadway speed requirements) and terminated by a transition/attachment assembly. 

The element assemblies consist of polyethylene elements that are clamped between two hinge brackets, one 

on each end of each element. The hinge brackets are connected to each other by four structural rods, two on 

each side of the element. The hinge components and connection hardware is made from mild steel. 

The proposed modification involves a slight change to the longitudinal metal rods that attach the steel 

hardware to the polyurethane barriers. Occasionally, due to manufacturing tolerances the rods do not have 

enough threads on their ends to fully clamp down on the elements. This proposal increases the number of 

threads to allow for full clamping regardless of variation in manufacturing. 

This modification represents no change to the function, capacity or performance of the component and 

system. 

CRASH TESTING 

By signature below, the Engineer affiliated with the testing laboratory, agrees in support of this submission that 

the Modification to Existing Hardware is deemed Non-significant for the device listed above to meet the 

Report 350 Criteria. 

Engineer Name: 

Engineer Signature: 

Joseph Nagy 

Joseph Nagy Digitally signed by Joseph Nagy 

Date: 2016.06.17 14:44:50 -07'00' 

Address: 170 River Road, Rio Vista, CA 94571 Same as Submitter 0 

Country: USA Same as Submitter 0 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation 

Results 

3-30 (820() Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

S3-30 {700C Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion, this test does not apply. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

3-31 (2000P) Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

3-32 (820() Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

S3-32 (700() Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

3-33 {2000P) Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion, this test does not apply. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

3-34 (820C) Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion, this test does not apply. Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 3 of 4 

Required Test 

Number 

S3-34 (700C) 

3-35 (2000P) 

3-36 (820C) 

S3-36 (700C) 

3-37 (2000P) 

3-38 (2000P) 

3-39 (2000P) 

3-40 (2000P) 

S3-40 (700C) 

3-41 (2000P) 

3-42 (820() 

S3-42 (700C) 

3-43 (2000P) 

3-44 (2000P) 

Narrative 

Description 

Since the Absorb 3SO is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. 

Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion, this test does not apply. 

Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion, this test does not apply. 

Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. 

Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion, this test does not apply. 

Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. 

Since the Absorb 350 is a Non-redirective 

crash Cushion , this test does not apply. 

This test was originally run to support 

Eligibility Letter CC-66. The proposed 

modification represents no change to the 

function, capacity or performance of the 

ABSORB system. 

Optional test, was not run. This modification 

represents no change to the function, 

capacity or performance of the ABSORB 

system. 

This test was originally run to support 

Eligibility Letter CC-66. The proposed 

modification represents no change to the 

function, capacity or performance of the 

ABSORB system. 

When Eligibility Letter CC-66 was issued, 

this test was determined to be non-critical. 

The proposed modification represents no 

change to the function, capacity or 

performance of the ABSORB system. 

Optional test, was not run. This modification 

represents no change to the function, 

capacity or performance of the ABSORB 

system. 

This test was originally run to support 

Eligibility Letter CC-66. The proposed 

modification represents no change to the 

function, capacity or performance of the 

ABSORB system. 

This test was originally run to support 

Eligibility Letter CC-66. The proposed 

modification represents no change to the 

function, capacity or performance of the 

ABSORB system. 

Evaluation 

Results 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Modification has no effect on crashworthiness 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Modification has no effect on crashworthiness 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted 

Modification has no effect on crashworthiness 

Modification has no effect on crashworthiness 
Version 10.0 (05/16) 

Page 4 of 4 

Testing Laboratory's signature concurs that these modifications are considered Non-Significant. 

Laboratory Name: Safe Technologies, Inc. 

Laboratory Signature: Joseph Nagy Digitally signed by Joseph Nagy 

Date: 2016.06.17 14:55:45 -07'00' 

Address: 170 River Road, Rio Vista, CA 94571 Same as Submitter 0 

Country: USA Same as Submitter 0 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

1851.01, Valid through March 31 , 2018 

. D k °"Jll.illy;•gn"lb7G.mtC> ~ SubmitterSignature'" :Gernt y o.:~J016l>6171<~JO 

orw 

Submit Form 

/\TTACT-1M ENTS 

Allach to this for111: 

I) Additional disclosures of related financial interest as indicated nbove. 

2) /\copy of th<.: full test repo rt, video. and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test co11 cl11ctcd in 

support of this request. 

3) /\drawing or drawings ofthe dcvice(s) that conform to the Tllsk Force- 13 Drnwing Spec ifications 

[I lardwme Guide Orn'' jog S1n11dardsj. For proprietary products. a single isometric line drawing. is 

usually acceptable to illustrate the product. " ith detailed specilications, intcnckd use. and contact 

information provided 011 the reverse. Additional drawings (not in TF-13 fomrnt) showing clctnils that 

are relevant to understnnding the dimensions and perfonnaocc of the de\ ice should also be submitted 

to foci litme our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

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SAfE TECI INOLOGIES. INC. 


170 River Road 


Rio Vista. CA 9-1571 


Joseph Nagy Phone: 707 378 4221 


MEC I IAN ICAL 

Valid To: March 31, 20 18 Certificate Number: 1851.0 I 

In recognition or the successful completion of the A2LA evaluation process. accreditation is granted to 

this laboratory to perform the following full scale crash tests of Roadside Safetv Devices: 

Method 

Full Scale Crash Testing National Cooperative l lighway Research 


(In supportofFHWA Certifi cation) Program - Report 350 Recommended 


(Up to 2000P test vehicle) Procedures for the Safety Performance 


Evaluation of Highway Features 

Full Scale Crash Testing MASH -American Association ofState 


(In support ofFHWA Certification) I lighway and Transportation Oflicials­


(Up to 2270P test vehicle) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware, 2009 


Full Scale Crash Testing European CEN Standard EN-131 7 


(In support of International Certification) Pans 1-5, 7 


(Up to !SOOP test vehicle) 


/ 

(A2LA Cert. No. 1851.0 I)04119/20 16 C::----.J - { . b. ~ Page I of I 

5202 Presidents Court, Suite 220 1 Frederic k. MD 21703-8398 Phone: 301 644 3248 Fox: 240 454 9449 I www.A2LA.org