To whom it may concerns:

| request the following devices be considered eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway
program.

System Type: WZ: Crash Worthy Work Zone Traffic Control Devices

Device Name/Variant: +FRC750 Tilt-Adjust, Roll-Up Sign Stand/FRC786 Tilt-Adjust, Roll-Up Sign Stand
with Spring

Testing Criterion: NCHRP Report 350

Test Level: TL3

By submitting this request for review and evaluation by the Federal Highway Administration, | certify
that the product(s) was (were) tested in conformity with the National Cooperative Highway Research
Program (NCHRP) Report 350 and that the test/evaluation results meet the appropriate evaluation
criteria in the NCHRP.

Contact Name: Matthew Racine
Company Name: Accuform Signs
Address: 16228 Flight Path Drive
City/State/Zip: Brooksville/FL/33604
Country: USA

Product Description

The roll-up signs are held in place with fiberglass substrate rail which is then clamped to the post of the
tilt adjust stand. The post assembly has a large spring, which acts as a damper when the sign is blown by
the wind. This relieves the amount of stress applied to the threaded stud, which is connected to a ball.
The ball is between two plates held together by a socket head screw and adjustable handle. The top
plate can be loosen allowing the post assembly to tilt up to 20° in any direction.

The post assembly is connected to the base of the stand. The legs telescope allowing the stand to have a
foot prints either 44” x 27” or 65” x 43”. The four legs are connected to a bracket that guides the legs in
the upright and down position. A spring inside each leg holds it in desired position. A handle is used to
assist in the positioning of the legs and designed to be ergonomically friendly.

Modifications from FRC750 Roll-Up Sign Stand

The new spring version stand functions the same as the current tilt adjust stand with only a few
changes. The changes are listed below.

1. The locking mechanism changed from a push bottom to a pin sliding guide, which is more users
friendly, ergonomic, and fast.


Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility
Of Highway Safety Hardware

July 16, 2012

By:

Matthew Racine
Accuform Signs
16228 Flight Path Drive
Brooksville, FL 33604


2. Spring adds flexibility to withstand gusts from the wind and any other weather related items.
This helps reduce the potential of tip-over of the stand from the wind and reduce the amount of
strain on the threaded stud.

3. The clamp was changed from a tightening bracket to a weld nut on a threaded stud/arm knob,
which makes it easy to secure the roll-up sign to the stand.

Reason for seeking approval for modification

When comparing the two products and reviewing the test done with the FRC750 Tilt Adjust Stand, we
believe the changes will not affect the results of the stand due to the following reason.

1. The heights are similar and only higher by 2” higher.
2. The breaking points for both versions are the same.
3. The changes don’t critically change the structure, but improves on the human interaction.

Crash Testing
Required Test Number: 3-71 (820C)

Narrative Description:

The FRC750 has been successfully crash-tested to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Report 350 (NCHRP 350) testing procedures for Test 3-71 (100 km/her) in both normal and
perpendicular orientations. The sign stand is equipped with a 48” x 48” (1219 mm x 1219 mm) diamond
sign- lightweight and flexible safety-orange colored coated fabric supported by fiberglass cross-ribs. The
sign stand is designed to achieve a 12” (305 mm) minimum bottom sign height, while keeping the overall
height of the device to a minimum.

To represent both typical and worst-case usage, it is anticipated that a smaller or lighter mass sign
(Typically 36” x 36” (914 mm x 914 mm)) of same material with cross-ribs other than tested may be used
without creating an unfavorable crash-results.

Evaluation Results: 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.):

Laboratory Name: E-Tech Testing Services, Inc.
Laboratory Contact: John F. LaTurner, P.E.
Address: 3617 B Cincinnati Avenue

Rocklin, CA 95765 USA

Accreditation Certificate Number: 0989-01
Report: 343

Project: 75-8142

Date: 08/2009


@

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
1S.D tment
ofrersportation Washington, D.C. 20590

Federal Highway
Administration

August 29, 2012 In Reply Refer To:
WZ-319

Matt Racine

Accuform Signs

16228 Flight Path Drive
Brooksville, Florida 34604

Dear Mr. Racine:
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: FRC786 Tilt Adjust Stand — Spring Version
Type of system: X-Footprint Portable Sign Stand

Test Level: NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3

Testing conducted by: N/A

Date of request: April 24, 2012

Date initially acknowledged: May 8, 2012
Date of completed package: July 16, 2012

Decision
The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an
integral part of this letter:

e FRC786 Tilt Adjust Stand — Spring Version

Based on a review of crash test results submitted by the manufacturer certifying the device and
subsequent modifications described herein meets the crash test and evaluation criteria of the
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350, the device is 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.

The FHWA, 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.


FRC750 - TILT ADJUST STAND

@} -—SLIDING PLATE CLAMP

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CO
FRC 786 - TILT ADJUST STAND W/SPRING

SECTION D-D
TACK 2x a
G T

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DETAIL E
SCALE 1:2

TACK 2X

SCALE 1:2
SECTION A-A

WELDED CLAMP—~

DETAIL B
SCALE 1:2 SCALES 2



Requirements

To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, roadside safety devices should meet the crash test
and evaluation criteria contained in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program
(NCHRP) Report 350 or the Americart Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).

Description
The initial device, the FRC750 stand, was the subject of FHWA Letter WZ-286 dated November
12, 2009. Your present request is to modify that stand as follows:

1. The locking mechanism changed from a push button to a pin sliding guide, as shown in
the enclosed drawing, to be more user friendly.

2. A spring mechanism was added to the base to add flexibility and shed wind gusts. It also
helps to reduce the potential for tip-over of the stand from wind and reduce the amount of
strain on the threaded stud.

3. The clamp was changed from a tightening bracket to a weld nut on a threaded stud/arm
know, making it easier to secure the roll up sign to the stand.

You also provided the following comparisons supporting the fact that the proposed changes are
insignificant with regard to crash performance:

1. The heights are similar and within 2” of each other.

2. The breaking points of both versions are the same.

3. The changes do not affect the structure of the stand but improve human interaction.

You provided this information in your “Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility of
Highway Safety Hardware” dated July 16, 2012. A copy is enclosed for reference.

Summary and Standard Provisions

Therefore, the system described in FHWA Letter WZ-286 and modified as described above, and
detailed in the enclosed drawings is eligible for reimbursement and may be installed under the
range of conditions initially crash tested.

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA 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 FHWA 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-319 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 FHWA does not become involved in issues concerning patent law. Patent issues,
if any, are to be resolved by the applicant.

¢ Accuform sign stands are patented products and considered 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 635.411.

Sincerely yours,

Miho % TLbfde

Michael S. Griffith
Director, Office of Safety Technologies
Office of Safety

Enclosures