1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

April 1, 2016 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST/B-201A 

Mr. Bret Eckert P.E. 

Engineering Applications Manager 

Trinity Highway Products 

3617 Cincinnati Avenue 

Rocklin, CA 95677 

Dear Mr. Eckert: 

This letter is in response to your December 16, 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 B-201A 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: 

• Vulcan® Gate Modification 

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: 

Name of system: Vulcan® Gate 

Type of system: Barrier 

Date of original request: July 1, 2009 

Date of original FHWA eligibility letter: January 12, 2010 

FHWA Control number: B-201 

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

1. The Latch Hinge pin use in the hinge during gate opening has been modified to be 

adjustable to align with the hinge points. The part is in a stored position when the gate is 

closed and performing as a longitudinal barrier. The Latch Hinge pin has no effect on 

Vulcan® Gate impact performance. 

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. 
3 

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

maintenance 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 test 

and evaluation criteria of the NCHRP Report 350. 

Issuance of this leller does not convey property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege. This 

leller is based on the premise that information and reports submitted by you are accurate and 

correct. We reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter if: (I) there are any inaccuracies in 

the information submitted in support of your request for this letter, (2) the qualification testing 

was nawecl, (3) in-service performance or other information reveals saCety problems, (4) the 

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

information indicates that the letter was issued in error or otherwise does not reflect full and 

complete information about the crashwo11hincss of the system. 

Standard P rovisions 

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

control number 8-20 I A shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter and the test 

documentation upon which it is based arc public information. 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 subject device is a patented product it may be considered to be proprietary. If 

proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Fedcrul-aid projects: 

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

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. 

Enclosures 

Sincerely yours, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 
Version 9.1 (11/15) 

Page 1 of 3 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

of Highway Safety Hardware 

.. 

1! 

E 

.a 

:I 

en 

Date of Request: March 14, 2016 I ('New Ci' Resubmission 

Name: Bret R. Eckert, P.E. 

Company: Trinity Highway Products, LLC 

Address: 3617 Cincinnati Avenue, Rocklin CA 95765 

Country: USA 

To: 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. 

11-1-q 

Test System Type Submission Type Device Name I Variant Testing Criterion Level 

NCHRP Report 350 TL3 'B': Barriers (Roadside, (' Physical Crash Testing Vulcan° Gate Median, Bridge Railings) (i' Engineering Analysis 

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: DonPyde Same as Submitter D 

Company Name: Trinity Highway Products, LLC Same as Submitter [81 

Address: 70 West Madison Street, Suite 2350, Chicago, IL 60602 Same as Submitter D 

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. 

The Vulcan" Gate is the commercial embodiment of intellectual property that is protected by patents that are 

owned by SafeRoads Pty. Ltd and Trinity Highway Products LLC (THP). SafeRoads Pty. Ltd. licenses the right to 

sell that commercial embodiment, known as the Vulcan" Barrier system to THP. The associated United States 

Patent Office patent number for the Vulcan• Barrier (8,393,822) is assigned to SafeRoads Pty. Ltd. The Vulcan• 

Gate patent number (8,647,012) is assigned to THP. 

EAS sponsored certain crash tests of the Vulcan• Gate. Such tests were conducted by E-Tech Testing Services, an 

Independent, wholly-owned subsidiary ofTHP. E-Tech Testing Services Is an International Standards 

Organization (•ISO") 17025 accredited laboratory with American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) 

Mechanical Testing certificate 989.01. Full-scale crash testing on the Vulcan• Gate was performed In accordance 

with testing criteria, as set forth by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (•NCHRP") In the 

NCHRP Report 350 (1993). 
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

r New Hardware or I'::' Modification to IN Si ifi t 

·Significant Modification \• Existing Hardware on- gn ican 

Original submission date December 22, 2015. The Vulcan" Barrier was originally accepted on February 14, 2005 

with FHWA eligibility letter HSA-10/8-134 as a NCHRP 350 TL-3 Longitudinal barrier. It was subsequently 

accepted for use with a Vulcan• to CMB transition on November 17, 2005 with FHWA eligibility letter HSA-10/ 

B-134( as a NCH RP 350 TL-3 longitudlnal barrier. Additionally FHWA eligibility letter HSA-1 O/B-134D, apply to 

the Vulcan" Barrier for TL-4 use. The Vulcan• Gate was accepted on January 12, 2010 with FHWA ellglblllty letter 

HSSD/B-201. The Vulcan• Gate Is a NCHRP 350TL-2, TL-3 and TL-4 redirectlve, longitudinal barrier that opens as 

a gate. 

This request for continued eligibility is to notify the FHWA of necessary revisions that have occurred since May 

18, 2015. All revisions have been justified through engineering analysis and judgment and have since been 

determined to be non-significant and will have no bearing on the as-tested performance of the system. These 

revisions include the following: 

1. The Latch Hinge pin use in the hinge during gate opening has been modified to be adjustable to align with 

the hinge points. The part is in a stored position when the gate is closed and performing as a longitudinal 

barrier. The Latch Hinge pin has no effect on Vulcan" Gate impact performance. (4112) 

Version 9.1 (11/15) 

Page 2 of 3 

CRASH TESTING 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description Evaluation Results 

The Vu lean" Barrier Test 3-10 was conducted and 

3-10 (820() 

documented In Laboratory Test No. 01-8430-002 date of test 

February 1 o, 2004 in the Vulcan• Barrier Crash Test Report 

#247. The non-significant modifications described In the PASS 

Product Description will have no bearing on the as-tested 

performance of the system. 

S3-10 (700C) Not Applicable. Test S3· 10 is an optional test and not 

required for system eligibility. 

The Vulcan• Barrier Test 3-11 was conducted and 

3-11 (2000P) 

documented In Laboratory Test No. 01-8430-001 date of test 

January 21, 2004 and Laboratory Test No. 55-8430-003 date of 

test October 13, 2004 in the Vulcan• Barrier Crash Test Report PASS 

#247. The non-significant modifications described in the 

Product Description will have no bearing on the as-tested 

performance of the system. 

3-20 (8200 

The Vulcan• Gate Test 3-20 was waived in FHWA eligibility 

letter HSSD/B-201. The non-significant modifications 

described In the Product Description will have no bearing on 

the as-tested performance of the system. 

Non-Critical, not conducted 

S3·20 (700C) Not Applicable. Test 53-20 is an optional transition test and 

not required for system eligibility. 

The Vulcan• Gate Test 3-21 was conducted and documented 

3-21 (2000P) 

in Laboratory Test No. 01-8430-010 date of test August 20, 

2009 In the Vulcan• Gate Crash Test Report #345. The nonsignificant modifications described In the Product Description 

will have no bearing on the as-tested performance of the 

PASS 

system. 
Submit Form 

Version 9.1 (11/15) 

Page 3 of 3 

Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with NCH RP Report 350 by the following accredited 

crash test Laboratory. By signature below, the Laboratory agrees in support of this submission that all 

critical and relevant crash tests for the device listed above were conducted. (cite the laboratory's 

accreditation status as noted in the crash test reports.): 

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

Laboratory Name: E-Tech Testing Services, Inc. 

Laboratory Signature: Paul Kruse Digitally signed by Paul Kruse 

Date: 2016.03.14 15:02:04 -07'00' 

Address: 36178 Cincinnati Ave., Rocklin, CA 95765 Same as Submitter D 

Country: USA Same as Submitter 1:8J 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current A2LA Certificatell 989.01, November 20, 2015 to November 30, 2017 

Accreditation period : 

~""~"' Submitter Signature": Bret Eckert P.E. ~.;';~ .. ".,,., 0Atf' 10 16.0l.141S.l~ 4J 0100 

AITACHMENTS 

Attach to this form: 

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

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

support of this request. 

3) A drawing or drawings of the device(s) that conform to the Task force-1 3 Drawing Specifications 

[Hardware Guide Drawing Stnndards]. 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 fonnat) showing details that 

are relevant to understanding the dimensions and performance of the device should also be submitted 

to facilitate our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter AASHTO TF13 

Number Date Designator Key Words 
LATCH PIN 

~ J: 

C) 

:c 

MODIFIED LATCH PIN 

VULCAN® GATE 

ADJUSTABLE LATCH PIN 

~ • TRINITY 

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