Mr. John Schwarz, P.E. Sales Engineer

Component Products, Incorporated 

521 Morse Avenue 

Schaumburg, Illinois 60193­4529 

Dear Mr. Schwarz: 

Thank you for your letter of October 10, 2005, requesting the Federal Highway Administration 

(FHWA) acceptance of a modification to your company’s cast aluminum pedestal bases as

breakaway bases for supporting signs, signals, vehicle detection devices, and other traffic 

control hardware on the National Highway System (NHS). Accompanying your letter was an 

analysis of the proposed modification from the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). You 

requested that we find model “CPI­BAS­1PX” bases, cast using a permanent mold, acceptable 

for use on the NHS under the provisions of the National Cooperative Highway Research 

Program (NCHRP) Report 350 “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance

Evaluation of Highway Features.”  The original sand­cast base, “CPI­BAS­1,” was found 

acceptable via FHWA Acceptance Letter LS­38, dated August 4, 1995. The permanent mold 

base, “CPI­BAS­1P” was found acceptable via the FHWA acceptance letter LS­54 dated 

July 10, 2003.

Introduction and Testing of Original Base

Testing of the supports was in compliance with the guidelines contained in the NCHRP Report 

350, Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features. Requirements for breakaway supports are those in the American Association of State Highway 

and Transportation Officials' Standard Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway 

Signs, Luminaires and Traffic Signals.

The Component Products square aluminum base of 319 alloy, CPI­BAS­1P, is a frangible base 

for mounting 114 mm (4.5 in) outside diameter galvanized pipe to support various information 

assemblies. The casting is 356 mm (14 in) square at the base and 394 mm (15.5 in) tall. Detailed information on the casting is shown in the enclosed drawing. A flashing beacon and a 

610 x 1220 mm (24x48 in) sign, 1.5 m (5.0 ft) to the base of the sign, were attached to the 

400 Seventh St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590

In Reply Refer To: HSA­10/LS­59 

January 4, 2006
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2.44 m (8.0 ft) long galvanized pipe.  The pipe was threaded into the cast aluminum base and 

the aluminum casting was rigidly attached in the pendulum facility with four 19 mm (3.4 in)

bolts. Total mass of the system was 59 kg (131.25 lbs).

Pendulum testing showed that the velocity changes, including the extrapolation for a high­ speed impact, were all within acceptable limits. The only stubs remaining were shards no taller 

than the anchor bolts, which were set below the 4 in minimum. The results of testing met the 

FHWA requirements and the CPI­BAS­1P was found acceptable for use as test level 3 (TL­3)

devices on the NHS under the range of conditions tested, when proposed by a State.

Proposed Modification

Your proposal is to add a threadless extended collar which extends above the threads on top of

the base and adds one inch to its over all height. The extended collar provides a more secure 

anchorage for a pole threaded into the top of the base. All other features of the two products are 

identical. The analysis by the TTI indicates that the threadless extension would have no 

adverse affect on the breakaway performance of the base. We concur in this analysis and find 

the CPI­BAS­1PX cast aluminum pedestal base acceptable for use as TL­3 devices on the NHS 

under the range of conditions that the original base was tested, when proposed by a State.

Please note the following standard provisions, which apply to the FHWA letters of acceptance:

· Our acceptance is limited to the crashworthiness characteristics of the devices and does

not cover their structural features, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic 

Control Devices. · Any changes that may adversely influence the crashworthiness of the device will require 

a new acceptance letter. · Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in­service 

performance reveals unacceptable safety problems, or that the device being marketed is

significantly different from the version that was crash tested, it reserves the right to 

modify or revoke its acceptance. · You will be expected to supply potential users with sufficient information on design and 

installation requirements to ensure proper performance.

· You will be expected to certify to potential users that the hardware furnished has

essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for

acceptance, and that they will meet the crashworthiness requirements of the FHWA and 

the NCHRP Report 350.

· To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance, designated as number 

LS­59, shall not be reproduced except in full. As this letter and the supporting 

documentation which support it become public information, it will be available for

inspection at our office by interested parties.
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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. Patent issues are to be resolved by the 

applicant and the patent owner.

Sincerely yours,

/original signed by/

John R. Baxter, P.E.

Director, Office of Safety Design 

Office of Safety 

FHWA:HSA­10:NArtimovich:tb:x61331:12/29/05 

File:  h://directory folder/artimovich/LS59­ComponentFIN.doc 

cc:  HSA­10 (Reader, HSA­1; Chron File, HSA­10; 

N.Artimovich, HSA­10)