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September 25, 1996

Refer to: HNG-14/SS-70

Mr. Richard Buehler
DeKalb County Highway Department
1826 Barber Greene Road
DeKalb, Illinois 60115

Dear Mr. Buehler:

This is in reply to your letter and package of information you sent to Nicholas Artimovich regarding the "Sleeve It ‘N Go" plastic sleeve sign repair device. You requested our review to determine if signs repaired with your sleeve would be considered "breakaway" and acceptable for use on the National Highway System. Samples, a video showing installation, and patent drawings of the sleeve were received on September 12.

Our review of past tests on 89-mm x 89-mm wood posts (nominal 4-in by 4-in) shows that they are quite crashworthy, even when two posts mounted in "weak" soil are struck. Because of the flexible nature of the sleeve and its thin (approximately 2 mm) wall construction, we believe that a single "4x 4" wood post repaired with the 610-mm long "Sleeve It ‘N Go" would be crashworthy. Therefore, a single "4x4" (actual dimensions 89-mm x 89-mm) wood post, repaired with the JMS Sleeve It N Go ground, will be acceptable for use on the National Highway System when requested by a State. A drawing of the "4x4" sleeve is enclosed.

You indicated that you intend to produce 89-mm x 452-mm (4 x 6 inch) sleeves also. Single or dual "4 x 6" posts, repaired with the sleeve, will require crash testing before they can be accepted for use. We recommend that this testing of a repaired post be conducted in both strong and weak soil on "4 x 6" posts.

Sincerely yours,

Seppo I. Sillan, Acting Chief
Federal-Aid and Design Division

Enclosure


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