1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

May 7, 2012 

FHWA: HSST: WLongstreet: sf: x60087:3/16/12: Revised 5/7/12

File: h://directory folder/HSST/ CC-112A_QuadGuard Elite M10.docx

cc: HSST Will Longstreet 

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/CC-112A

Mr. Barry D. Stephens, P.E.

Sr. Vice President Engineering

Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.

3617 Cincinnati Avenue

Rocklin, CA 95678

Dear Mr. Stephens: 

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 device: 8-bay QuadGuard® Elite M10

8-bay QuadGuard Elite M10 Wide

4-bay QuadGuard® Elite M10

4-bay QuadGuard Elite M10 Wide

Type of device: Impact Attenuator and Transitions

Test Level: MASH Test Level 2 (TL-2) and Test Level 3 (TL-3)

Testing conducted by: E-Tech Testing Services, Inc.

Task Force 13 Designator: 8-bay QuadGuard® Elite M10: SCI33

8-bay QuadGuard® Elite M10 Wide: SCI34

4-bay QuadGuard® Elite M10: SCI35

4-bay QuadGuard® Elite M10 Wide: SCI36

Date of request: July 8, 2011

Date of completed package: March 8, 2012

Decision:

The following device is eligible, with details provided:

• TL2 4-bay QuadGuard®; Elite M10 and Elite M10 Wide

• TL3 8-bay QuadGuard®; Elite M10 and Elite M10 Wide

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 American Association of State 

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

Requirements

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

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

Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

Description

The QuadGuard Elite M10 (QGE M10) is a redirective, non-gating crash cushion. The TL2 QGE 

M10 is a 4-bay system and the TL3 QGE M10 is an 8-bay system. The Elite M10 family of 

systems is basically the existing successfully crash tested QuadGuard M10 components (i.e., 

Eligibility Letter CC-112 dated February 2011) that substitutes standard crushable cartridges 

specified in the QuadGuard M10 with high density polyethylene (HDPE) Cylinder Assemblies. 

The QGE M10 8-bay system has an overall length of 7.97 m [26’-2”] and the QGE M10 4-bay 

system has an overall length of 4.60 m [15’-1”]. The overall height of both systems is 817 mm 

[32 inches]. The QGE M10 system can be configured with backup widths of 610 mm [24 

inches], 762 mm [30 inches], and 914 mm [36 inches]. The QGE M10 Wide systems can be 

configured with backup widths of 1753 [69 inches] and 2285 mm [90 inches]. Both QGE M10 

and QGE M10 Wide systems consists of energy absorbing cylinder assemblies that are 

surrounded by a framework of steel Quad-BeamTM guardrail that can telescope rearward during 

head-on impacts. The systems have a center monorail that will resist lateral movement during 

side angle impacts and a backup structure that will resist movement during head-on impacts.

Details of the 4-bay and the 8-bay QGE M10 systems (for narrow & wide) are included as an 

enclosure to this correspondence.

Findings 

The following crash testing was conducted according to the MASH. 

I. TL2: 4-bay QuadGuard®; Elite M10 and Elite M10 Wide

A. MASH Test 2-31: 

Conducted on Elite M10 with backup width = 610 mm (24 inches).

Impact speed = 70.3 km/h

Ridedown = -17.8 g’s

Longitudinal ΔV = 7.9 m/s

B. MASH Test 2-32: 

Conducted on Elite M10 Wide with backup width = 2285 mm (90 inches).

Impact speed = 70.3 km/h

Ridedown = -12.0 g’s

Longitudinal ΔV = 9.9 m/s

Analysis conducted of Test 2-31 data and as per formulas provided for the mid-sized vehicle 

contained in AASHTO MASH Section G. Analysis results determined MASH Test 2-38 (i.e., 

1500A crash test) is not required.

The following table lists all required crash tests as per MASH for Test Level 2:
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Illustration Test # Completed Notes

2-30 NO Test 2-32 was completed as 

“Worst Case” for the 1100C.

2-31 YES Passed all ORV’s.

4-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested 

and passed all Occupant Risk 

Values.

2-32 YES Passed all ORV’s.

4-Bay 2285 mm [90 inches] 

Wide System was tested.

2-33 NO Test 2-31 tested system 

capacity for 2270P and is 

considered worst case.

2-34 NO Test was conducted in the QG 

M10 test program and Passed 

all ORV’s.

5-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested.

2-35 NO Due to the lateral stiffness of 

the QuadGuard M10, this test 

is the same as test 2-36 and 

can be waived.

2-36 NO Test was conducted in the QG 

M10 test program and Passed 

all ORV’s.

5-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested.

2-37 NO Test was conducted in the QG 

M10 test program and Passed 

all ORV’s.

6-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System attached to a 

w-beam transition.

2-38 YES The recommended MASH 

analysis was completed and 

all calculated ORV’s passed.
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A one-page test summary for each conducted crash test is included as enclosure to this 

correspondence.

II. TL3: 8-bay QuadGuard®; Elite M10 and Elite M10 Wide

A. MASH Test 3-31: 

Conducted on Elite M10 with backup width = 610 mm (24 inches).

Impact speed = 96.4 km/h 

Ridedown = -13.1 g’s 

Longitudinal ΔV = 9.3 m/s

B. MASH Test 3-32: 

Conducted on Elite M10 Wide with backup width = 2285 mm (90 inches).

Impact speed = 98.3 km/h

Ridedown = -8.9 g’s

Longitudinal ΔV = 11.8 m/s

Analysis conducted of Test 3-31 data and as per formulas provided for the mid-sized vehicle 

contained in AASHTO MASH Section G. Analysis results determined MASH Test 3-38 (i.e., 

1500A crash test) is not required.

In addition, the following requests are based upon previous testing results from original 

QuadGuard family of systems (i.e., CC-112 dated February 11, 2011):

A. The occupant risk values of Test 3-31 & Test 3-32 were determined to be within 

parameters set by MASH are also considered to be worst case scenario (i.e., risk values 

higher than Tests 3-30 & 3-33). Therefore both Test 3-30 & Test 3-33 were not conducted.

B. The redirective tests 3-34, 3-36, and 3-37 were determined to be within parameters set by 

MASH. Since previously successfully crash tested QuadGuard M10 metallic structural 

components are identical to the QuadGuard Elite M10, tests 3-34, 3-36, and 3-37 were not 

conducted.

The following table lists all required crash tests as per MASH for Test Level 3:

Illustration Test # Completed Notes

3-30 NO Test 3-32 was completed as 

“Worst Case” for the 1100C.

3-31 YES Passed all ORV’s.

8-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested 

and passed all Occupant Risk 

Values.

3-32 YES Passed all ORV’s.

8-Bay 2285 mm [90 inches] 

Wide System was tested.
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Illustration Test # Completed Notes

3-33 NO Test 3-31 tested system 

capacity for 2270P and is 

considered worst case.

3-34 NO Test was conducted in the QG 

M10 test program and Passed 

all ORV’s.

5-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested.

3-35 NO Due to the lateral stiffness of 

the QuadGuard M10, this test 

is the same as test 3-36 and 

can be waived.

3-36 NO Test was conducted in the QG 

M10 test program and Passed 

all ORV’s.

5-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System was tested.

3-37 NO Test was conducted in the QG 

M10 test program and Passed 

all ORV’s.

6-Bay 610 mm [24 inches] 

Narrow System attached to a 

w-beam transition.

3-38 YES The recommended MASH 

analysis was completed and 

all calculated ORV’s passed.

A one-page test summary for each conducted crash test is included as enclosure to this 

correspondence.

In addition, the following transitions as described in CC-112 dated February 9, 2011 are also 

included within this correspondence for use with the TL2 4-bay QuadGuard®; Elite M10 and 

Elite M10 Wide; and the TL3 8-bay QuadGuard®; Elite M10 and Elite M10 Wide:

1. Transition QG M10 to W-beam

2. Transition QG M10 to thrie-Beam

3. QG 4” offset Transition to CMB 

4. QG 9” offset Transition to CMB (No wide system version)

5. Transition QG to vertical wall

6. QG 6” offset transition to single slope barrier
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Summary and Standard Provisions 

The QuadGuard® Elite M10 4-bay and 8-bay systems as described herein meet the evaluation 

criteria for a MASH redirective, non-gating crash cushion at TL-2 and TL-3 impact conditions 

respectively, and are eligible for reimbursement, and may be installed under the range of 

conditions tested. It is further acknowledged that the QuadGuard Elite M10 can be installed with 

existing QuadGuard M10 Transition hardware.

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

• This letter provides a AASHTO/ARTBA/AGC Task Force 13 designator that should be 

used for the purpose of the creation of a new and/or the update of existing Task Force 13 

drawing for posting on the on-line ‘Guide to Standardized Highway Barrier Hardware’ 

currently referenced in AASHTO Roadside Design Guide.

• 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 MASH 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 crashworthiness requirements of the Manual for Assessing Safety 

Hardware. 

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

CC-112A 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. 

• The QuadGuard® Elite M10 attenuators are patented products and considered proprietary. 

If proprietary devices are specified by highway agency for use on Federal-aid projects, 

except exempt, non-NHS 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.
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• 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 FHWA 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,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety

Enclosures