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
July 3, 2013
In Reply Refer To:
HSST/SS-179
Mr. Gregory R. Brinkmeyer, P.E.
Hori-Zone Concepts LLC
14417 Chandler Road
Taylor, Texas 76574
Dear Mr. Brinkmeyer,
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: | Centerline Supply Triangular Slipbase Locking Sign Collar Assembly |
---|---|
Type of system: | Breakaway sign support |
Test Level: | NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3 |
Testing conducted by: | N/A |
Date of request: | May 15, 2013 |
Date initially acknowledged: | June 12, 2013 |
Date of completed package: | May 15, 2013 |
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 referenced by the manufacturer certifying the device described herein conforms to the Texas Department of Transportation standard triangular slip base for small sign supports, and 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
To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, roadside safety devices should meet the crash test and evaluation criteria contained in the NCHRP Report 350 or the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).
Description
The device and supporting documentation are described in the attached form and drawing. It augments the standard generic three-bolt slip base breakaway sign support by adding a collar and locking mechanism to prevent the sign from rotating due to vibrations.
Summary and Standard Provisions
Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached form and drawing 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 */ Michael S. Griffith |
Enclosures
Submitter | Date of Request: | May 15, 2013 | New Resubmission |
Name: | Gregory R. Brinkmeyer, P.E. | Signature: /s/ Gregory R. Brinkmeyer, P.E. | |
Company: | Hori-Zone Concepts LLC | ||
Address: | 14417 Chandler Road; Taylor, TX 76574 | ||
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.
System Type | Submission Type | Device Name/Variant | Testing Criterion | Test Level |
---|---|---|---|---|
'SS': Breakaway Sign Supports, Mailboxes, & other small sign supports | Physical Crash Testing FEA & V&V Analysis |
Centerline Supply Triangular Slipbase locking Sign Collar Assembly | 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 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: | Foy Barrett | Same as Submitter ☐ |
Company Name: | Centerline Supply, LTD | Same as Submitter ☐ |
Address: | 530 Jesse Street; Grand Prairie, TX 75051 | Same as Submitter ☐ |
Country: | USA | Same as Submitter ☐ |
New Hardware | Modification to Existing Hardware | Non-Significant – Effect is positive or Inconsequential |
---|---|---|
The Centerline Supply Triangular Slipbase Locking Sign Collar Assembly uses the same crashworthiness design principles of the omni-directional, triangular three-bolt slipbase commonly referred to as a the "Texas Triangular Slipbase". The modification to this basic design uses a tapered locking collar to secure the 2.875" outside diameter sign support. The locking action resulting from the collar's contact around the entire circumference of sign support minimizes the potential for the sign support and attached signs to rotate during strong wind conditions. This is a problem with many of the other previously approved triangular slipbase upper castings which use set-bolts to prevent support rotation. The raw material used is 65-45-12 Ductile Cast Iron (ASTM A536). The assembly weighs approximately 11.9lbs. The three- 5/8" diameter triangular slipbase bolts are to be tightened to 40 foot-pounds. The two- 5/8" diameter locking collar bolts are to be tightened to 60 foot-pounds. |
A brief description of each crash test and its result:
Required Test Number | Narrative Description | Evaluation Results |
---|---|---|
3-60 (820C) | WAIVER REQUEST | |
S3-60 (700C) | WAIVER REQUEST | |
3-61 (820C) | WAIVER REQUEST | |
S3-61 (700C) | WAIVER REQUEST |
Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with Report 350 by the following accredited crash test laboratory (cite the laboratory's accreditation status as noted in the crash test reports.):
Laboratory Name: | ||
Laboratory Contact: | Same as Submitter ☐ | |
Address: | Same as Submitter ☐ | |
Country: | Same as Submitter ☐ | |
Accreditation Certificate Number and Date: |
Attach to this form:
FHWA Official Business Only:
Eligibility Letter | AASHTO TF13 | Key Words | |
---|---|---|---|
Number | Date | Designator | |
SS-179 | June 17, 2013 | N/A | Breakaway Slip Base Sign Support |
Hori-Zone Concepts LLC Gregory R. Brinkmeyer, P.E. |
14417 Chandler Road Taylor, Texas 76574 (512) 217-2580 E-mail: gregory.brinkmeyer@att.net |
Mr. Nick Artimovich
FHWA Office of Safety
1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Centerline Supply Locking Sign Collar Assembly
Per our conversation yesterday, on behalf of Centerline Supply, I am submitting this request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility of Highway Safety Hardware for the subject component of a Breakaway Sign Support System.
As you can see from the photos below, the basic slipbase characteristics of this upper triangular slipbase casting are identical to what is commonly referred to as the "Texas Triangular Slipbase" (as described in NCHRP Web-Only Document 157 Volume 1: Evaluation of Existing Roadside Safety Hardware Using Updated Criteria-Technical Report).
The Centerline Supply modification to the basic triangular slipbase design consists of using a tapered locking collar to secure the 2.875" outside diameter sign support post into the upper slipbase casting. As you are aware, other approved designs use set bolts installed through the
upper casting wall to make contact with the sign support post. In windy conditions, sign post
using the set bolt design rotate, resulting in sign messages no longer being legible to road users. The locking action of Centerline Supply Triangular Slipbase Locking Collar assembly
makes surface contact with the entire circumference of the sign support post minimizing the
potential for sign rotation.
The raw material used for this upper casting is 65-45-12 Ductile Cast Iron (ASTM A536). The assembly weights approximately 11.9 lbs. The three- 5/8" diameter triangular slipbase bolts are to be tightened to 40 foot-pounds. The two-5/8" diameter locking collar bolts are to be tightened to 60 foot-pounds.
Attached with this email submission are the detail drawings and the "Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility of Highway Safety Hardware" form.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (512) 217-2580 or gregory.brinkmeyer@att.net. We appreciate your time and effort in reviewing this submittal.
Sincerely,
/S/
Submitted Electronically
Gregory R. Brinkmeyer, P.E.
Hori-Zone Concepts LLC
Texas Firm Registration Number F-9512