U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
February 21, 2013
In Reply Refer To: HSST/CC-65H
Mr. Geoff Maus
Director of Engineering
TrafFix Devices, Inc.
160 Ave. La Pata
San Clemente, California 93673
Dear Mr. Maus:
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 system: | Scorpion Trailer Attenuator with Arrow/Display Panel |
---|---|
Type of system: | Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) |
Test Level: | NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3 |
Testing conducted by: | KARCO |
Date of request: | December 6, 2012 |
Request Initially acknowledged: | December 12, 2012 |
Date of completed package: | December 6, 2012 |
Decision
The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an integral part of this letter:
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 National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350, 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
Roadside safety devices should meet the guidelines contained in the NCHRP Report 350 or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).
Findings
Full-scale crash testing according to NCHRP Report 350 was conducted on the Scorpion TMA and TMA Trailer and documented in these FHWA letters:
Number | Date | Test Level | Description |
---|---|---|---|
CC-65 | 07/14/00 | TL-2 | Scorpion A 10,000 TMA |
TL-3 | Scorpion C 10,000 Truck Mounted Attenuator | ||
CC-65A | 12/08/00 | TL-3 | Design change (to steel diaphragms and hinges) |
CC-65B | 03/16/07 | TL-3 | Scorpion Trailer Attenuator |
CC-65C | 03/03/08 | TL-3 | Scorpion TMA & Trailer – infinite weight truck |
CC-65D | 03/03/08 | TL-2 | Scorpion TL-2 Trailer TMA |
CC-65E | 02/13/09 | TL-3 | Modified Scorpion – reduced weight |
CC-65F | 04/20/11 | TL-2 | TMA on lightweight shadow vehicle |
CC-65G | 04/20/11 | TL-2 | Full acceptance of Trailer TMA via crash testing |
In order to evaluate the performance of the Scorpion Trailer TMA with the arrow/display panel attached, you conducted a developmental test with a device using production aluminum tube frames, but without the internal aluminum honeycomb filled cartridges. The arrow panel and frame was in place during the test, and the video shows that the arrow panel remained rigidly attached to the trailer frame and showed no potential for impacting the test vehicle or penetrating the occupant compartment.
Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached form is eligible for reimbursement and may be installed under the range of conditions tested.
Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA eligibility letters:
Sincerely yours, /* Signature of Michael S. Griffith */
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Enclosures