U.S. Deportment 

of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Federal Highway 

Administration April 25. 20 16 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST/CC 12T 

Mr. Bret Eckert P. E. 

Engineering Applications Manager 

Trinity Highway Products 

36 17 Cincinnati Avenue 

Rocklin , CA. 95677 

Dear Mr. Eckert: 

This letter is in response to your December 16, 20 15 request for the Federal 11 ighway 

Administration (FHWA) to review a roadside safety device, hardware, or system for eligibility 

for reimbursement under the Federal-aid higlnvay program. This fHWA letter of eligibility is 

assigned FH\VA control number CC- l 2T and is valid unti l a subsequent letter is issued by 

fHWA that expressly references this device. 

Decision 

The following devices are eligible. with details provided in the form whi ch is attached as an 

integral part of this letter: 

• ET-Plus 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 ofTransportation. and the 

United Stales 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 FHW A, the Department ofTransportation, 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 ofeligibility is limited to lhe crashworthiness of the system and docs not cover other 

structural features, nor conforn1ity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 

Archived 

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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: ET-Plus 

Type ofsystem: W-Beam Guardrail Terminal 

Date oforiginal request: September 13, 1999 

Date oforiginal FHW A eligibility letter: January 12, 2000 

FHWA Control number: CC-120 

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

1. 	 Steel embossed serial number tag attached to the ET-Plus® Head. The tag will be used for 

product tracking and replaces a decal attached to the ET-Plus® Head that contains only 

patent information with a product decal that contains both product and patent information. 

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 

Ifa manufacturer makes any modification to any of their roadside safety hardware that has an 

existing eligibility letter from FHW A, the manufacturer must notify FHW A 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. 

Archived 

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

maintenance requirements to ensure proper performance. 

You are expected to certi fy 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 letter does not convey property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege. This 

letter 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 Oawed, (3) in-service performance or other information reveals safety problems, (4) the 

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

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

complete Lnformation about the crashworthiness of the system. 

Sta ndard Provisions 

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

control number CC- I 2T 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 upon request. 

• 	 This letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by the FH WA to use, 

manufacture, or sell any patented system for which the applicant is not the patent holder. 

• 	 Ifthe subject device is a patented product it may be considered to be proprietary. lf 

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 635.4 11. 

Sincerely yours, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office ofSafety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 

Archived 

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Only
Date of Request: March 29, 2016 

Name: Bret R. Eckert, P .E. 

I rNew le Resubmission

... 

cu Company: Trinity Highway Products, LLC 

~ Address: E 3617 Cincinnati Ave, Rocklin, CA 95765

.c 

:I Country: Cl) USA 


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

Version 9.1 (11/15) 

Page 1 of 4 

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility 

ofHighway Safety Hardware 

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

highway program. 

11-1-11 

System Type Submission Type Device Name I Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'CC': Crash Cushions, 

Attenuators, & Terminals 

r Physical Crash Testing 

le Engineering Analysis 

ET-Plus<> 

NCHRP Report 350 TL3 

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 NCH RP 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: Michael Bennett Same as Submitter D 

Company Name: Trinity Highway Products, LLC Same as Submitter 181 

Address: 2525 Stemmons, Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207 Same as Submitter D 

Country: USA Same as Submitter 181 

Enter below all disclosures of financial interests as required by the FHWA 'Federal-Aid Reimbursement 

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document. 

The ET-Plus" system technology is covered by patents that were applied for by Texas A&M University System 

(TAMUS) and Exodyne Technologies, Inc. Trinity Highway Products, LLC (THP) has a license agreement to make 

and sell the ET-Plus111 system which is a commercial embodiment ofthose patents. 

THP sponsored crash tests ofthe ET-Plus111 system conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute ('TII") 

Proving Ground. TTI Proving Ground Is an International Standards Organization ("ISO") 17025 accredited 

laboratory with American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) Mechanical Testing certificate 

2821.01. Full-scale crash testing on the ET-Plus" system was performed in accordance with testing criteria, as set 

forth by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program ("NCHRP") in the NCHRP Report 350 (1993). 

THP pays royalties to TAMUS and Exodyne for sales ofthe ET-Plus"' system and parts, pursuant to an executed 

license agreement. THP is willing to discuss confidential treatment ofthe content ofthe license agreement 

with the FHWA, in a manner that does not cause a breach of the I icense agreement. 

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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 


r New Hardware or (i' Modification to IN s· ifi t 

Significant Modification • Existing Hardware on- ign ican 

Original submission date December 22, 201 S. The ET-Plusll> was originally accepted on January 18, 2000 with 

FHWA eligibility letter HMHS-CCl 2G as a NCHRP 350 TL 3 Guardrail Extruder Terminal. It was subsequently 

accepted with as a TL-2 device on February 18, 2000 with FHWA eligibility letter HMHS-CCl 2H and again with 

various post combinations in subsequent FHWA letters HSA/CC-121 dated April 10, 2000, HSA-1 O/CC-12J dated 

June 24, 2002, HSA-10/CC-12Kdated August 28, 2002, HSA-10/CC-12L dated April 11, 2003, and HSA-10/ 

CC-12M dated June 16, 2004. The ET-Plus" is a energy absorbing guardrail end treatment used for termination 

of w-beam barriers on the shoulder or median ofa roadway. 

This request is for continued eligibility of the ET-Plus& utilizing an steel embossed serial number tag attached to 

the ET-Pluss Head. The tag will be used for product tracking. This request is also to replace a decal attached to 

the ET-Plus<11 Head that contains only patent information with a product decal that contains both product and 

patent information. 

These modifications are not part ofthe structural elements of the ET-Plusll> and have been reviewed and 

justified through engineering analysis and judgment to be non-significant and will have no bearing on the astested performance ofthe system. The Testing Laboratory's signature concurs that these modifications are 

considered Non-Significant. 

CRASH TESTING 

A brief description of each crash test and its result: 

Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description Evaluation Results 

3-30 (820() 

Test 3-30 was waived for the ET-Plus'" as stated in FHWA 

Eligibility letterCC-12G; Test 3-31 with a 2000-kg pickup truck 

is most critical to demonstrate acceptable performance ofthe 

modified extruder head. 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 

53-30 (700( Not Applicable. Test S3-30 is an optional test not required for 

the ET-Plus<ll system eligibility. 

3-31 (2000P) 

Test 3-31 was conducted and documented in Laboratory Test 

m No. 400001-LETl I test date October 5, 1999, in Test Report 

entitled NCHRP Report 350Test 3-31 ofthe ET-2000 PLUS. 

The non-significant modifications described in the Product 

Description will have no bearing on the as-tested 

performance of the system. 

PASS 

3-32 (820() 

Test 3-32 was waived for the ET-Plus& as stated in FHWA 

Eligibility letterCC-12G; Test 3-31 with a 2000-kg pickup truck 

is most critical to demonstrate acceptable performance ofthe 

modified extruder head. 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 

53-32 (700() Not Applicable. Test 53-32 is an optional test not required for 

the ET-Plus11 system eligibility. 

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Required Test 

Number 

Narrative 

Description 

Evaluation Results 

3-33 (2000P) 

Test 3-33 was waived for the ET-Plus" as stated in FHWA 

Eligibility letterCC-12G; Test 3-31witha2000-kg pickup truck 

is most critical to demonstrate acceptable performance ofthe 

modified extruder head. The non-significant modifications 

described in the Product Description will have no bearing on 

the as-tested performance ofthe system. 

Non-Critical, not conducted 

3-34 (820() 

Test 3-34 was waived for the ET-Plus" as stated In FHWA 

Eligibility letter CC-12G; As no other changes were made in 

the terminal anchor design, none of the side impacts in the 

Report 350 test matrix were necessary. 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 

53-34 (700C) Not Applicable. Test 53-34 is an optional test not required for 

the ET-Plus" system eligibility. 

3-35 (2000P) 

Test 3-35 was waived for the ET-Plus" as stated in FHWA 

Eligibility letter CC-12G; As no other changes were made in 

the terminal anchor design, none of the side impacts in the 

Report 350 test matrix were necessary. 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 

3-36 (820C) 

Not Applicable. Test 3-36 is required for nongating devices 

and not applicable for a gating redirective terminals such as 

the ET-Plus" system. 

53-36 (700C) Not Applicable. Test 53-36 is an optional test not required for 

the ET-Plus"system eligibility. 

3-37 (2000P) 

Not Applicable. Test 3-37 is required for nongating devices 

and not applicable for a gating redirective terminals such as 

the ET-Plus" system. 

3-38 (2000P) 

Not Applicable. Test 3-38 is required for nongating devices 

and not applicable for a gating redirective terminals such as 

the ET-Plus0 system. 

3-39 (2000P) 

Test 3-39 was waived for the ET-Plus" as stated in FHWA 

Eligibility letter CC-12G; As no other changes were made in 

the terminal anchor design, none of the side impacts in the 

Report 350 test matrix were necessary. The non-significant 

modifications described in the Product Description will have 

no bearing on the as-tested performance ofthe system. 

Non-Critical, not conducted 

3-40 (2000P) Not Applicable. Test 3-40 is for nonredirectlve, gating devices 

and not applicable for the ET Plus" system eligibility. 

53-40 (700() 

Not Applicable. Test 53-40 is an optional test for 

nonredirective, gating devices not required for the ET 

Plus0 system eligibility. 

3-41 (2000P) Not Applicable. Test 3-40 is for nonredirective, gating devices 

and not applicable for the ET Plus" system eligibility. 

3-42 (820() Not Applicable. Test 3-40 is for nonredlrectlve, gating devices 

and not applicable for the ET Plus., system eligibility. 

53-42 (700C) 

Not Applicable. Test 53-34 is an optional test for 

nonredirective, gating devices not required for the ET 

Plus.,system eligibility. 

3-43 (2000P) Not Applicable. Test 3-40 Is for nonredirective, gating devices 

and not applicable for the ET Plus" system eligibility. 

3-44 (2000P) Not Applicable. Test 3-40 is for nonredlrective, gating devices 

and not applicable for the ET Plus" system eligibility. 

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Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with NCHRP 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 th e crash test reports.): 

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

Laboratory Name: Texas Transportation Institute 

Laboratory Signature: Dean C. Alberson °'9-'• t "9"'f"dbrDI...,( A.:lbtttOft 

'"'"'°" "' AWnof\ .. f'•l\AMl rvlpOl't JOinln.t::.ictt,OU•~•t 

tiy...., ,,_ .al S«-'°"''' [)""MOf'I. ""' ..0.- 'bt'fw~tliMft.lf'Ckl.C US 

O.tt l'0160l1' 1019 .U .(1100' 

Address: 3135 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 Same as Submitter 0 

Country: USA Same as Submitter ~ 

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period : 

A2LA Certificatell 282 1.01, Valid to April 30, 2017 

°"l~·Y•"l"'dbt 

Submitter Signature*: Bret Eckert P.E. :;-.~:<: c:.'::"..,.,,,.., 0 1tf" M116..0U907.1• l0 0100' 

Submit Form 

ATTACHMENTS 

A11ach to this form: 


I) Additional disclosures of rela1ed financial in1crcs1as indica1cd above. 


2) A copy of 1hc full tcs1 rcpor1, video, and a Tcsl Da1a Summary Sheet for each test conduc1ed in 


suppor1of1his request. 

3) A drawing or drawings of the device(s) that conform to the Task Force- I J Drawing Specifications 

[Hardware Guide Drawing Standards]. For proprietary products, a single isometric line drawing is 

usually acceptable to illus1rate the product, wi1h de1ailed specifications, intended use. and contact 

infonnation provided on the reverse. Additi onal drawings (not in TF- 13 format) showing de1ails that 

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

to facilitaie our review. 

FHWA Official Business Only: 

Eligibility Letter AASHTO TF13 

Number Date Designator Key Words

Archived 

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Research 

and 

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Only
STEEL EMBOSSED 

SERIAL NUMBER TAG 

ET PLUS® 

SN TAG AND 

PRODUCT/PATENT DECAL 

TRINITY 

HIGHWAY 

PATENT INFORMATION/ 

PRODUCT DECAL 

Archived 

For 

Research 

and 

Historical 

Purposes 

Only