U.S. Deportment 

of Transportation 

federal Highway 

Administration 

Mr. Douglas Micelli 

Protection Services Inc. 

655 Lucknow Road 

Harrisburg Pennsylvania 17110 

Dear Mr. Micelli: 

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

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

program. 

April 3, 20 14 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Repl y Refer To: 

HSST/WZ-322 

Name of system: 42 Inch Tall Cone 

Type of system: Traffic Cone Channelizer 

Test Level: NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3 

Component Testing by: Washington Laboratories, Ltd. (WLL) 

Date of request: January 21, 2013 

Date initially acknowledged: February 21, 2013 

Date of completed package: November 19, 20 13 

Decision 

The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form whi ch is attached as an 

integral part of this letter: 

• 42 Inch Tall Traffic Channelizer Cone 

Based on a review of crash test results for a similar product submitted by the manufacturer 

certifying the device desc1ibed herein meets the crash test and evaluation criteria of the Nationa l 

Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350, the device is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federa l-aid highway program. Eligibility for re imbursement under the 

Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval or endorsement by the FHW A for any 

particular purpose or use. 

The FHW A, the Department of Transportation. and the United States Government do not 

endorse products or services and the issuance of a reimbursement eligibility letter is not an 

endorsement of any product or service. 
2 

Requirements 

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

and evaluation criteria contained in the NCHRP Report 350 or the American Association of State 

Highway and Transportation Officials' Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

Description 

The device and supporting documentation are described in the attached form. The cone is 

similar to the Traff ix Devices Looper Cone which was covered in FHW A Letter WZ-189. You 

have received written permission from TratFix Devices Inc., to use their full scale crash tests to 

support your certification that the Protection Services 42-inch tall cone meets the crash test 

criteria of NCHRP Report 350. 

The two cone designs are comparable with the exception of the warning light attachment hole. 

The TratFix Devices Looper Cone was crash tested and resulted in a cracked windshield when 

the light detached and impacted the test vehicle. Washington Laboratories, Ltd., conducted 

quasi-static pull tests to assess the strength of the warning light attachment hole for both the 

TratFix Devices Looper Cone and the Protection Services Traffic Cone Channelizer. The WLL 

test report showed that the Protection Services Traffic Cone Channelizer had a greater capacity 

to retain the warning light than the crash tested cone. Therefore windshield damage is less likely 

when warning lights are used on the Protection Services Traffic Cone Channelizer. 

Summary and Standard Provisions 

Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached form is eligible for reimbursement 

and may be installed under the range of conditions tested. 

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

• This finding of eligibility does not cover other structural features of the systems, nor 

conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 

• Any changes that may influence system conformance with NCHRP Report 350 

criteria will require a new reimbursement eligibility letter. 

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

performance reveals safety problems, or that the system is significantly different from 

the version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter. 

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

installation 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 crash test and evaluation criteria of the NCHRP Report 350. 

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

number WZ-322 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 FHW A to use, 

manufacture, or sell any patented system for which the applicant is not the patent 
holder. The FHWA does not become involved in issues concerning patent law. 

Patent issues, if any, are lo be resolved by the applicant. 

• The Protection Services Cones are patented products and considered proprietary. If 

proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on f ederaJ-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 635.4 11 . 

Sincerely yours, 

3 

Enclosures 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 
Version 6.0 (6/12) 

Page 1 of 2 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

Of Highway Safety Hardware 

Date of Request: January 21, 2013 

Name: Douglas Miceli .. company: Protection Services Inc. 

lee New \ Resubmission 

~ Address: E 635 Lucknow Rd., Harrisburg, Pa. 17110 

.a 

~ country: United States of America 

Michael S. Griffith, Director To: FHWA, Office of Safety Technologles 

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

highway program. 

IHeiP1 

System Type Submission Type Device Name /Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'WZ': Crash Worthy Werk Zor (i Physical Crash Testing 

\ FEA & V&V Analysis 

42" Tall Cone I= to Traffrx 

model "looper"WZ189 

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

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

Identification of the Individual or organization responsible for the product: 

Contact Name: Douglas Miceli Same as Submitter C8J 

Company Name: Protection Services Inc. Same as Submitter C8J 

Address: 635 Lucknow Rd., Harrisburg, Pa. 17110 Same as Submitter C8J 

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter 181 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

New Hardware 

42 Inch tall cone, made cf low density polyethylene with a 30 pound base, tapered from 7.75" to 4" at top, with 

light weighing 3 pounds or less Including batteries, attached to the top using a 4 1/8" long 1/2 Inch diameter 

bolt and not (with vandal resistant washer)= to the Traffix Looper 42" tall cone 

CRASH TESTING 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Required Test Narrative Evaluation 

Number Description Results 

2-70(820() Please refer to HSA· 1 O/WZ - 189 Tr affix Loeper cone PASS 

S2-70 (700C) Please refer to HSA-1 O/WZ - 189 Traffix Loeper cone PASS 

2-71 (8200 Please refer to HSA-10/WZ - 189 Traffix Looper cone PASS 

S2-71 (700C) Please refer to HSA-10/WZ-189 Traffix looper cone PASS 
Version 6.0 (6/12) 

Page 2 of 2 

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 aash test reports.): 

Laboratory Name: 

Laboratory Contact: Same as Submitter D 

Address: Same as Submitter D 

Country: Same as Submitter D 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Date: 

ATIACHMENTS 

Attach to this form: 

1) A copy of the full test report, video, and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test conducted in 

support of this request. 

2) A drawing or drawings of the devlce(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 key to understanding the performance of the device should also be submitted to facilitate our 

review. 

FHWA Official Business On!v: 

Ellglbility Letter AASHTOTF13 

Number Date I Designator Key Words 

I 

'Ssyl-9/£L, 

])ov_}.s Mr le J,· 

lee~"'~"...( Service) J1°'""A5 er 

froficfro" :;erv1c~5 {Ac, 
Washington 

Laboratories, 

Ltd. , 

ww w . w ll.co m 

T£STU<O 

EnYironmcntal Test Report 

For the 

Protection Services, Inc. 

TRAFFIC CONE (P /N C-42) 

\\!LL Report I 324 1-01 Rev. 0 

No,"ernber 19, 20 13 

Prepared for: 

P ROT ECTION SEHVICES, I N C. 

635 LUCKNOW ROAD 

H ARJHSDURG, PA 17110 

Prepared by: 

WAS! l lNGTON LABORATORIES, L TD. 

7560 Lir--'DBEHGH D RIVE 

GAITI 11.msnunc, MARYLAND 20879 

Testing Cert AT-1448 

Ccnific;ltc' ,1nll report\ "11.llJ nut be re-produced c~cept JO iulJ. wahuut chc \\ n ucn pcnn1~5-:0rt of \\ a"' 111~1on l ... 1bora11Jnl'""' · Ltd. 
Protection Services, Inc. 

Traffic Cone (P /N C-42) 

Emironmental Test Report 

%%REPORTDATE1%% 

WLL Repon #13241-01 Rev. 0 

Environmental Test Report 

for the 

PROTECTION SERVICES, INC. 

TRAFFIC CONE (P /N C-42) 

WLL Report 13241-01 Rev. 0 

November 19, 2013 

Prepared by: 

Corey Blackford 

Compliance Technician 

Reviewed by: 

Steve Ferguson 

Executive Vice President 

-i- © 2013 Washington Laboratories, Ltd. 
Pro1ccti on Servi ces, Inc. 

T mffic Cone (P / N C-12) 

Abstract 

Emironmcmal Tcsc Rcpon 

%0!.REPOllTOATEl0!.% 

111is report has been prepared on behalf of Protection Sen-ices, Inc. to document the findjngs of the 

environmental tes cing performed o n the Protcccion Services, Inc. Traffic Cone (P / 1 C-42). 

T his Environmental Test Rep ort provides the rest results from resting of the Protection Services, Inc. 

Traffic Cone (PI 1 C-42). The test procedure was developed by \'\' ashingron Laboratories, Ltd based on 

requested testing pro,·ided by Protection Scn·iccs, Inc. Trus test report prO\·ides the rest data. The report 

re,·ision dares and test results are summarized below. 

Report Revision Number Revision D ate Revisio n Summary 

Re,·. 0 No,·ember 19, 2013 Initial release 

T est i'vfcthod Testing Date 

Bolr Pull-Through Force Test 11 / 14/2013 

WLL llcp<rn # 13241-0l llc''· 0 - ii - © 2013 W:os hi n1,•u m L:1hnr:11orics, Lid. 
Proteclion Scnices, Inc. 

Traffic Cone (P /N C-42) 

Eminmmental Test Repon 

%%REPORTDATE1%% 

Table of Contents 

Abstract .............................................................................................................................................................. ii 

1 Administrative ......................................................................................................................................... 1 

1.1 Customer & Customer Representative ............................................................................................................................ 1 

1.2 Test Specimen Identification ............................................................................................................................................. 1 

1.3 l\lanufacturer ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 

1.4 Requirements Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 

1.5 References ............................................................................................................................................................................. I 

1.6 Test Equipment and Instrumentarion .............................................................................................................................. 2 

1.7 Test Results .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 

2 Procedure Deviation .............................................................................................................................. 3 

3 Environmental Testing .......................................................................................................................... 3 

3.1 Bolt Pull-Through Force Test ........................................................................................................................................... 3 

List of Tables 

Table I: Washington Laboratories Em·ironmental Test Equipment List ................................................................................. 2 

Table 2: Test Results Summary ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 

List of Figures 

Figure 1: Bolt Pull-Through Force Test Configuration ............................................................................................................... 4 

Figure 2: Looper-Cone at -367N .................................................................................................................................................... 5 

Fib>ure 3: Looper-Cone at -934N .................................................................................................................................................... 6 

Figure 4: Looper-Cone at -1200N .................................................................................................................................................. 7 

Figure 5: Looper-Cone Following Bolt Pull-Through .................................................................................................................. 8 

Figure 6: C-42 at -693N ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 

Fib>ure 7: C-42 at -1754N ............................................................................................................................................................... IO 

Fi!,>ure 8: C-42 at -2850N ............................................................................................................................................................... 11 

WU. Repon #13241.01 RC\'. 0 - iii. © 2013 Washington l.aboratories, Led. 
Protection Services, Inc. 

Traffic Cone (P/N C-42) 

1 Administrative 

Environmental Tes1 Rcpon 

%%REPORTDATE1%% 

Washington Laboratories, Limited was contracted by Protection Services, Inc. to perform testing on the 

Traffic Cone (P /N C-42). 

This document describes the test setups, test methods, required test equipment, and the test limit criteria 

used to perform compliance testing of the Protection Sen·ices, Inc., Traffic Cone (P /N C-42). 

1.1 Customer & Customer Representative 

Protection Services, Inc. 

Doug l\.ficeli 

635 Lucknow Road 

Harrisburg, PA 17110 

1.2 Test Specimen Identification 

The traffic cone (part number C-42) is an orange marker used to divert and direct traffic. 'Inc unit will be 

referred to as the Equipment Under Test (EU1) for the remainder of this report. 

1.3 Manufacturer 

Protection Services, Inc. 

635 Lucknow Road 

Harrisburg, PA 17110 

1.4 Requirements Summary 

'The test goals were defined by Protection Services, Inc. to assess the force required to cause bolt retention 

failure of the EUT compared to a like model with existing approval ·The test method iss described in the 

test results summary. 

1.5 References 

• Washington Laboratories Quotation No. 67760. 

• Washington Laboratories Quality Assurance Manual 

• ISO 10012-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for Measuring Equipment, dated 1 i\.fay 1993 

WLL Rcpon #13241-01 Rev. 0 -Page I ofll · ~ 2013 Washini:ton Labora1ories, Ltd. 
Test Method Testing Date 

Bolr Pull-ThrOuf!:h Force Test 11 / 14/ 2013 

Proccction Services, Inc. 

Trnffic Cone (P /N C-12) 

1.6 Test Equipment and Instrumentation 

Em·ironmcmal Tcs1 Repon 

%%REPORmATE1%% 

All instrumentation, measuring, and rest eguipmem used for measurement in che p<.:rformancc of this test 

pr06l"fam were calibrated in accordance with ISO 10012-1. Standards used in performing all calibrations are 

traceable to the Nacional Tnstitute of Standards and T ech no logy (N lST) by report number and dace. When 

no natio nal standards ex ist, the standards arc traceable to international standards o r the basis for calibration 

is otherwise documcn t:ed. Table 1 lists Washington Laboratories test equipment used for the environmental 

tesrmg. 

Table 1: Washington Laboratories Environmenta l Test Equipment Llst 

WLL Envirnnmental Testing Test Oare(s): 11 / 14/ 2013 

Asset# Manufacturer/ M.odel Description Cal Due Date 

00402 EO&D PFl-1000 Digital Force Gauge 7/ 10/ 2014 

00300 Chicago Digital Calipers 11 / 27/2014 

1.7 Test Results 

Table 2 pro,;des a summary o f the rest results. 

Table 2: T est Results Summary 

WLL Report #13241-01 Rev. 0 - Page 2 or IJ - <D 20U W:ishington J_aborncorics, Ltd. 
Pro1cccion Scniccs, Inc. 

Traffic Cone (P/N'C-42) 

2 Procedure Deviation 

No deviations from the test procedures arc noted. 

3 Environmental Testing 

Environmcnlal Tcsl Rcpon 

%%REPORTDATE1%% 

Environmental testing was carried per test conditions, equipment, accuracy, tolerances, and levels as 

required to meet the test goals specified by Protection Services, Inc. 

3.1 Bolt Pull-Through Force Test 

The purpose of this test is to determine the linear force required to pull a standard bolt through the hole on 

a traffic cone designed to secure a warning light. The object was w determine if the Protection Service Inc. 

Traffic Cone, part number C-42, required an equal or greater force to pull the bolt through when compared 

to a similar product, the Traffix Looper-Cone (an approved unit). 

The test configuration consisted of three major parts; the traffic cone under test, the cone restraint, and the 

force gauge assembly (consisting of the force gauge, lever arm, and linear gauge sled). The cone restraint 

was set at a height just below the bolt hole location on the test cone, with adequate space to allow the cone 

to flex or distort around the bolt. The traffic cone was then placed behind the restraint, the test bolt placed 

in the traffic cone, the lever arm attached to the test bolt, and the force gauge attached to the lever arm. 

The force gauge was then installed on the linear gauge sled, which allmved for consistent force application 

speed and ensured the force gauge was kept on a linear path during testing. The lc\·cr arm had a ratio of 

1:6.67. 

The gauge sled was moved by turning a nut on the all-thread sled to obtain a constant force without sharp 

or sudden movement. 

The force required to attain complete bolt pull-through with the Traffix Looper-Cone was approximately 

1260N (2831bt). Complete bolt pull-through was not attained with the Protection Services Inc C-42 cone, 

due to the force required exceeding the capability of the force gauge to measure. The highest recorded 

force was 2850N (640lbt). 

Figure 1 shows the test configuration, and Figure 2 - Figure 8 show test results. Note that in Figure 8, the 

C-42 was exhibiting distortion at the edges of the bolt connection node but "pull-through" did not occur. 

WLL Rcpon #13241-01 Rev. 0 - Page 3 ofll · <D 2013 Washington Labora1ories, Lid. 
Figure 1: Bolt Pull-Through Force Test Configuration 

Protection Services, Inc. 

Traffic Cone (l' /N C-42) 

WLL Rcpon #13241-01 Re''· 0 

-Environn1cnral "rest Report 

%%REPORTDAT E1%% 

- Page 4 of II • (\) 2013 Washingion Laboraiorics, Lid. 
Figure 2: Looper-Cone at -367N 

l'rc11ec1ion Scn;ccs, Inc. 

T r.1ffic Cone (P /N C-12) 

\VI.I. Rcpon #13241-01 Re''· 0 - Page 5 of II 

Em·ironmcn1al Test Report 

%%REPORTDATEl%•fe 

2013 Washington ~bormoric , Lid. 
Figure 3: Looper-Cone at - 934N 

Proccction Scn;ccs, Inc. 

Tmffic Cone (P/N C-42) 

WLL Rcpon 11 13241-01Rev.0 • Page 6 of 11 • 

Etwironn1cn1aJ Test Repon 

°l•°l•REPORTDATE 1%0!t 

© 2013 Wa_<hingion Labor:uorics, Ltd. 
Figure 4: Looper-Cone a1 - 1200N 

Protcctinn Set'\ices, Inc. 

Tr:iffic Cane (P/N C-l2) 

WI.I. Hcpon # 13241-01 Re\'. 0 • P.1gc 7 u(ll 

Em ironmcm:il T est Hcport 

%"/ollEPOHTDATEl"lo'le 

D 2013 W:•s hini:wn Lnbormories, Ltd. 
Figure 5: Looper-Cone Follo,ving Bolt Pull-Through 

ProtecLion Services. Jue. 

Traffic Cone (I' /N C-42) 

WLL Rcpo" # IJ241-01 Hcv. 0 

E11vironn1cnrnl T es1 llcpon 0

/t%REPORTDATEl°lto/o 

- Pai:c 8 of II · © 2013 Wn•h inirton Lahor:itorics, Ltd. 
Figure 6: C-42 at - 693N 

f>ro1cclion Services, Inc. 

Trnffic Cone (P /N C-42) 

WLL Rcpon #13241·01 Rev. 0 - Page 9 of II . 

Environmenial Test Report 

%%REPORTDATEt%% 

© 2013 W•tShington Laboratori es, Lui. 
Figure 7: C-42 at - 1754N 

Prn1cction Scniccs, Inc. 

Traffic Cone (P/':-i C-12) 

Wl.L Rc pori 11 132·11 ·01 Hcv. 0 • l'ngc JO of II • 

Em-ironmcnrnl ,..,,, Rcpon 

%%REPORTDA TE1•1.% 

\\) 2013 Wnshington L~born1nric , Lid. 
Figure 8: C-42 nt - 2850N 

Protection S<:niccs, Inc. 

Trnffic Cone (P /N C-42) 

WU. llcpon IJIJ241-01llcv.0 • l'ngc II o( I I • 

Em ironmcn1al Tc" llcpon 

t;.t;.REPOllTDATEI "•% 

i{) 2013 Wnshingrnn -~ rnwric , Lid. 
TrafFix 

11/8/12 

Ref. Extending permission for Protection Services, Inc. to use TrafFix Devices, Inc Accepted 

Category 11, Tall Cone with attached standard Barricade Light Test result, (WZ-189) 

Dear Mr. Artimovich 

I hope you are doing well. 

Please consider this letter as recognition that TrafFix Devices considers the Protection 

Services, Inc. Tall Cone and standard lightweight barricade light as comparable products to the 

TrafFix Devices Looper Cone and barricade light items tested and accepted to the NCHRP-350 

Standard as a Category 11 Device per WZ-189. 

Further, TrafFix Devices, Inc. extends permission to Protection Services, Inc. to extrapolate from our 

test results and be given the same recognition and acceptance for their comparable items. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

Thank you for your assistance with this matter. 

Jan Miller 

Business Development Manager 

160 Ave. La Pata 

San Clemente, California 92673 

(949) 361-5663 

FAX (949) 361-9205 

www.traffixdevices.com 
From: Doug Miceli 

To: "!mlller@traffixdey!ces com" 

Cc: Doua Danko 

Subject: Protection Services request for permission letter for FHWA 

Date: Friday, November 02, 2012 4:14:09 PM 

Hello Jan, 

What we need specifically is a letter (on company letterhead) stating that Traffix has extended 

permission to Protection Services Inc. for the purpose of "piggy-backing" off the NCHRP350 

category II device testing submitted for the Looper Cone - 42" w/standard barricade light attached 

and approved under acceptance letter WZ-189 for the sole purpose of Protection Services Inc. 

reference to said testing in their submission for approval of PSl's 42" - Cone w/lightweight 

barricade light as a similar category II device meeting the NCHRP350 crashworthiness 

requirements. 

It is our hope that FHWA will agree that the two devices are simi lar in function enough to wave our 

requirement for independent lab testing and grant us category II device acceptance for our 42" -

Cone. 

We appreciate very much Traffix wi llingness to help us, and look forward to receiving your letter 

granting us permission to reference your test results. 

Have a great weekend. 

~I Technical Services Manager 

Protection Services 

ph.717.257.4228 

fax 717.236.1281 

www.protectionservices.com 
Mr. Felipe Almanza 

TrafFix Devices 

220 Calle Pintoresco 

San Clemente, Californ ia 92672 

Dear Mr. Almanza: 

Thank you for your letter of May 20, 2004, requesting Pccleral Highway Administration 

(FHWA) acceptance of four of your company's products as crash worthy traffic control devices 

for use in work zones on the National Highway System (N HS): 

• Looper Cone with 30 pound base and standard barricade light 

• Metro A Cade with Phoenix Extruded Rail and standard barricade light 

• Big Buster Sign Stand with dual springs. Aluminum inner mast and .080 Aluminum 

sign 

• Phoenix Sign Stand with 12 gage, 1.75" PSST upright, .080 Aluminum sign and 

standard li ght 

Accompanying your letter were reports of crash testing conducted by Karco Engineering and 

video of the tests. You requested that we find these devices acceptable for use on the NHS 

under the provisions of the National Cooperati ve Highway Research Program (NCH RP) 

Report 350 ·'Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway 

Features ... We initially responded on August 4. 2004, and additional information was provided 

by Karco on November 29, 2004. 

400 Seventh St., S.W. 

U.S. Deportment Washington, D.C. 20590 

ot Tronsp0<totion February 8, 2005 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

In Reply Refer To: HSA- 1 O/WZ-189 

In trod uctiou 

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 arc those lightweight devices which are to be self-certified by the vendor. Category I I 

devices are other lightweight devices which need individual crash testing but with reduced 

instrumentation, Category Ill devices are barriers and other fixed or heavy devices also 

needing crash testing with normal instrumentation, and Category IV devices are trailer 

---:~Ci
mounted lighted signs, arrow panels, etc. for which crash testing requirements have not yet 

been established. 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 Ill. 

A brief description of the devices follows: 

Looper Cone with 30 pound base and standard barricade light 

This 42 inch tall cone tapers from a bottom diameter of7 3/4 inches to 4 inches at the top. It is 

made oflow density polyethylene with a nominal wall thickness of 3/16 inches, and is 

ballasted with a 30 pound (recycled crumb rubber) base. A conventional Type A or C warning 

light, weighing 3 pounds, including batteries, was attached to the top using a 4 118 inch long, 

1/2 inch diameter bolt and nut, (along with a vandal resistant washer.) 

Metro A Cade with Phoenix Extruded Rail and standard barricade light 

This Type II barricade consists of two A-Frame legs, which support, and are perpendicular to, 

the two 8.25 inch wide Itasca Plastics striped rails. The 96-inch long rails weigh 5.9 pounds 

each, and the 39.36 inch tall A-Frame legs weigh 6.2 pounds apiece. The rails are extruded 

high density polyethylene plastic (HOPE) and the legs are injection molded HOPE. A conventional Type A or C warning light, weighing 3 pounds, including batteries, was attached to 

the top using a 4 1/8 inch long, 1/2 inch diameter bolt and nut, (along with a vandal resistant 

washer.) 

2 

Big Buster Sign Stand with dual springs. Aluminum inner mast and .080 Aluminum sign 

This "X-footprint" portable sign stand has an aluminum upright mast measuring I 112 inches 

square, out of which telescopes the I 114 inch square aluminum inner mast. The total height of 

the extended mast is 131 inches, which supports a 48x48 inch diamond sign approximately 60 

inches above the pavement. The mast is supported on dual springs mounted on I 114 inch 

square folding legs which measure 125 inches each when extended. The signs are held in place 

with a set of TratFix Devices rigid sign brackets. 

Phoenix Sign Stand with 12 gage. l.75"PSST upright, .080 Aluminum sign and standard light 

The I 02 inch tall mast of this stand is 12 gage, I. 75 inch square perforated square steel tubing 

simply supported by a recycled rubber and steel base. The bottom of the sign is mounted 

13 inches above the pavement. A 48x48 inch diamond, 0.080 inch thick aluminum sign was 

bolted to the mast. A conventional Type A or C warning light, weighing 3 pounds, including 

batteries, was attached to the top using a 4 118 inch long, 1/2 inch diameter bolt and nut, (along 

with a vandal resistant washer.) 

Testing 

Full-scale automobile testing was conducted on your company's devices. Two stand-alone 

examples of the device were tested in tandem, one head-on and the next placed six meters 

downstream turned at 90 degrees, as called for in our guidance memoranda. 
3 

Test Numbers TR-P23 I 63-

Test Number -0 I-NC -02-NC -03-A -04-NC 

Device Tested Looper Cone Metro A Cade Big Buster Phoenix 

Weight of Device 35.3 pounds 24.2 pounds 65 pounds 72 pounds 

Mounting heights NIA NIA 60 in 12 in 

f-'lags? Lights? I Light None None 1 Light 

Mass of Vehicle 18 19 # 1819# 1819 # 1819 # 

Impact Soeed IOl.4km/hr IOI.I km/hr I 00.4 km/hr 102.0 km/hr 

Velocity Change 0.8 mis 0.4 mis 0.6 111/s 1.6 mis 

Ex tent of contact Light hit windshield Rai l hit wind. Dents in hood Dents in hood 

Windshield Damage Minor cracking None Glass shattered Glass shattered 

Other notes None No damage No holes No holes 

The tests are summarized in the table below. 

Findings 

Damage was limited to the bumper, sheet metal damage to the hood and roof. and minor to 

modest cracking to the windshield. The results of the testing met the FH WA requirements and. 

therefore. the devices described in the various requests above and detailed in the enclosed 

drawings arc acceptable for use on the NHS under the range of conditions tested. when proposed 

by a tatc. 

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to the Fl IWA letters of acceptance: 

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

not cover their structural features. nor confo rmity 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 1'1-1 WA discover that the qua Ii fi cati on 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 wil l meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA and 

the NCI IRP Report 350. 

• To prevent misunderstanding by others. this letter of acceptance. designated as number 

WZ-189 shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter. and the test documentation 

upon which this letter is based. is public in formation. All such letters and documentation 

may be reviewed at our office upon request. 

• The Tra!Fix devices are patented products and arc considered "proprietary." The use of 

proprietary work zone traffic control devices in Pcderal-aid projects is generally of a 

temporary nature. They are selec1ed by 1/ie co111rac1or 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 by a highway agency for use on 

Federal-aid 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. These provisions do not 

apply to exempt non-NHS projects. Our regulations concerning proprietary products are 

contained in Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 635.411, a copy of which is 

enclosed. 

This acceptance letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by the FHWA to 

use, manufacture, or sell any patented device for which the applicant is not the patent 

holder. The acceptance letter is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the 

candidate device, and the FHW A 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, 

/Origi11al Sig11ed by Harry W. Taylor/ 

-forJohn R. Baxter, P.E. 

Director, Office of Safety Design 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 

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SPECIFICATION 

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SIGN STAND \./ITH RIGID METAL SIGN BRACKETS 

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPEC!f!EO: 

AU. DIMENSIONS ARE IN 'INCHES. 

TrafF'uc OiiJJI Devic~ Inc. !J& 

220 Cal/fl PintorflSCO 

San ctemente, CA 92672 

(949)·361-5663 

FAX/949 361-9205 

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TRAFFIX BIG BUSTER WITH DUAL 

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DRAWN BY: OAT£: 

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48" X 48" ALUMINUM SIGN SHOWN, 

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102". STEEL ffiSPAR UPRIGHT 

(PART NO. 10710-102) 

LOCK PIN (PART NO. 90005-LP) 

BASE ASSf (PART NO. 90003-RS) 

CONSISTS Of RECYCLED RUBBER BASE & STEa BASE 

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