1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

February 21, 2013 

FHWA:HSST:NArtimovich:sf:x61331:2/12/13

File: s://directory folder/HSST/SS178_GroundConnectionFIN.docx

cc: HSST: NArtimovich

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/ SS-178

Mr. Ron Powell

Chief Executive Officer

Ground Connection, LLC

P.O. Box 5668

Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71611

Dear Mr. Powell,

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: Ground Connection Ground Screw Foundation

Type of system: Base for breakaway slip bases

Test Level: NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3

Testing conducted by: Texas Transportation Institute

Date of request: October 24, 2012

Date initially acknowledged: November 13, 2012

Date of completed package: November 13, 2012

Decision

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

integral part of this letter:

Ground Connection, LLC, Ground Screw Foundation with integral break away plate.

Based on a review of crash test results submitted by the manufacturer certifying the device 

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.
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. Test 510602-GCL 

P1 consisted of a 4 foot x 8 foot sign mounted on a 2 1⁄2 diameter schedule 80 pipe support on a 

Texas triangular slip base of 1⁄2-inch thick steel. The sign assembly was bolted to a triangular

slip base plate welded to a single 3 1⁄2-inch diameter, 42-inch long ground screw installed in 

standard soil. The generic slip base hardware had been crash tested under NCHRP Report 350 

criteria on numerous occasions on rigid foundations. It is commonly referred to as the “omnidirectional,” “three-bolt,” or “triangular” slip base. The Ground Screw Foundation is considered 

a modification to the foundation of the previously tested slip-base system. Because there was no 

change to the slip base mechanism itself, FHWA agreed that the system may be tested and 

evaluated under NCHRP Report 350 criteria.

Summary and Standard Provisions

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

reimbursement and may be installed under the range of conditions 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 SS-178 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.
3

• The Ground Connection LLC anchors are patent-pending 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,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety

Enclosures