Safety Eligibility Letter CC-112A

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

May 7, 2012

In Reply Refer To: HSST/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. 

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-Beam™ 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.

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

• 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:

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.

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

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

• 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):

• 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.
• 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.
	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:

• Transition QG M10 to W-beam
• Transition QG M10 to thrie-Beam
• QG 4" offset Transition to CMB
• QG 9" offset Transition to CMB (No wide system version)
• Transition QG to vertical wall
• QG 6" offset transition to single slope barrier

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.
• 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, /* Signature of Michael S. Griffith */ Michael S. Griffith Director, Office of Safety Technologies Office of Safety

Enclosures