Ls-8

t3U.S.Depwmentot TmnspcutationFederal HighwayAdministration REFER TO:

HNG-14

Mr. Arthur M. DinitzPresidentTranspo Industries, Inc.20 Jones StreetNew Rochelle, New York 10801-6024

Dear Mr. Dinitz:

We have evaluated the information forwarded with your letters of August 14,18, and December 21, 1989, to Mr. Thomas 0. Willett and other availableinformation on your company's Pole-Safe breakaway couplings used withluminaire supports. Included in your transmittal were a Southwest ResearchInstitute (SwRI) report (dated July 1989) and supplementary information onpendulum tests you had performed. The tests were conducted to assess thecompliance of the Pole-Safe breakaway couplings with the requirements of the1985 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials(AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Structural' Supports for Highway Signs,Luminaires and Traffic Signals. These specifications have been adopted, withminor modifications, by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

In total, we have reviewed the results of 11 dynamic tests of these devices, aZO-m.p.h. and two 60-m.p.h. automobile tests run by Caltrans, a 20-m.p.h. anda 60-m.p.h. bogie test run by FHWA, and six 20-m.p.h. pendulum tests run bySwRI. From the results of these tests, we conclude that your Pole-Safecouplings designated 201 and 301 will meet the FHWA breakaway criteria whenused with conventional light poles weighing no more than 900 pounds.

Therefore, Pole-Safe breakaway couplings 201 and 301, as shown in the encloseddrawings, are acceptable for use on Federal-aid highway projects for use withconventional lighting poles weighing no more than 900 pounds, if proposed by aState. This acceptance is limited to breakaway characteristics of thecouplings and does not cover their structural features. Presumably, you willsupply potential users with sufficient information on structural design andinstallation requirements to ensure proper performance. We anticipate thatthe States will require certification from Transpo Industries that couplingsfurnished have essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, andgeometry as those used in the tests, and that the supports mounted on themwill meet the FHWA breakaway requirements. By copies of this letter and theenclosed drawings of the couplings we will inform our field offices of thisfinding.

Since the Pole-Safe couplings are a proprietary item, to be used in aFederal-aid highway project they; (a) must be supplied through competitivebidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the State highway agencymust certify that they are essential for synchronization with existing highwayfacilities, or that no equally suitable alternate 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 and have been recently furnished to you with other correspondence.

Sincerely yours,

L. A. Staron Chief, Federal-Aid and Design Division

Enclosure

(6) EQUAL DIVISIONS

\ I gs. (USE 2z;owi 60-2

\ TYP. DOUBLE AN&E- CUTTERS)

TYP.

RETAIL ‘A’ SCALE - 3/l

CAST INSERT , 1’;8UNC TOP STUD, THREADED

b&rSPC ioiz

TAP I’43UNC --LB X 2.625.FUL~ THRD.DPTn.

THE CAST PART IS TOBE COATED AS FOLLOWS 1. IRRIDITE PER MIL-C-5541 2. 3.

LUBRICATE INTERNAL THREADS APPROX. 6 MILS. OF BLACK

1 TtiNSPO INDUSTRIES INC_ I NEW ROCNELLE N .Y.

-I- 7

-y;,ft ‘k M-J T DICu.uL_S~_ -

- SAFE BREAU A WAY - . . . . , . . PPOltT COUPLWJG

NYLON FUSION BONDED POWDER COAT

u-UM.TDRQUEmoLNurHEXSEPARATES4T SPECIFIED.TORQUE) - 0

TOP WASHER HDG3/I!” X 2” OD

POLE ANCHORBASE

BOTTOM WASHER HDGrm! - 3/8” X 2 l/2-3” O D

r3-5116”

t

4-314”

304 STAINLESS STEELTHDSTUDl”-8UNC

383.2 DIE CASTALUMlNUM ALLOY-COUPLING

304 STAINLESS-SlZELTHDm

l”8UNC

SPECIFICATION

Breakaway Support Coupl ings (longitudinaliygrooved) conforms to AASHTO standards forbreakaway supports for light poles and areapproved for FHWA participation.

Tensile strength 25.0 kips min.Restrained shear 3.6 kips min., 6.5 kips max.

Nut torque 175 fr 25 ft. lbs. orcontrolled by nut

Female Anchor 304 stainless steelimemal thread to fitI”-IIUNC, 1 5/8” deep

Coupling coating: Irridate and nylon (MIL-C-554 1)Installation note: Support utilizes femaleanchoring system. I t i s ins ta l led l/8” to 3/8”off the anchor foundation and provides forl eve l ing .

INTENDED USE

The breakaway support coupling is used withpoles which will be installed in locat ionsexposed to vehicular collisions, on femaleanchor sys tem-304 s ta in less steel - internalthread to fir I”-8UNC - 1 5/8” deep.

BREAKAWAY SUPPORT COUPLINGSFOR LIGHT POLES - FOR FEMALE ANCHORSYSTEM (1”)Model No. 301-(H or T)

1’30 T-VP.

DETAIL ‘A’ SCALL 3/l

.

NOTES :

\ CAST INSERTo , I* - 8 UNC CA!iT INSERT, I*-6 UNC TOP STUD, TWREADED BOTTOM STUD, -lWRLADED

No_ SPC IO11 No. SPC IOIZ- A

FOLLOWS. THE CAST PART IS TOBE COATED AS 1. IRRIDITE PER MI L-C-5541 2. APPROX. 6 MILS. OF BLACK

NYLON FUSION BONDED POWDER COAT

-.-_ __- _

CATE!SYd

f I’-8 UNC ROLLED THREAD

i CHAMF. 3/32X 45” \ jXBURR

NOTES : f - MATERIAL : 304 ST. STL. IX- VAPOR DEGREASE STUDS

TOLERANCES (ExcEPr AS

TRANSPO NOTID) NEW ROCHELLE

-__

D=C I?.& L M4TtTRIAL

rt NOTE FF.&CrGftdL TI TLC

+ TOP STUD ANGULAR 1 DA-cc DRAWING

+ i 4-29-85 i -

-.--.._ --

/

I ‘I- 8

+o” * - kQ”

L CHAMF. =2&’ X 45”

NOTES: I- MATERIAL: 304- ST. S-I-L. II- VAPOR DEGREASE STUDS

. F LA-r

MTE SYY REVISION RtXORD hTH DR. CK.

NOTES : I-

II- III-

l- I”-8 UNC -26

MECHANICA\- PROPERTIES : ASTM 14563, GFttADE A DlMENSIOIslS : ANSI BIB. 2, .2 COATING : HOT DIP GALVANIZE PEK. ASTM A- 153

r CHAMF. 45 o

II ’ II I VIEW “A” SCALE = 5 X

I -lXANSPO INDUSTRIES INC.

P O.D.

2-

1 I.D. -rjii- NOTES :

I,- MA7ERlAL : CARBON STEEL ASi1 -1OI.B

II- COATING : HO-I- D\P CALVANIZL, XXI-M:-: A - 153

POLE SAFE

DATE 5YM. REVISION RECORD rtUlH DR. CK

I I 1 I I

3 0.0. .! -zq- ---c

r

.375 + ,031 -- 047

NCTES : I - MATEFUAL : CARBON STEEL

A I-51 \010 II- cGAT\NG: HQT D\P GAL.VAN\ZE,

AS-fM A-153

POLE SAl=E r

;Z:$“; NOTED)

~E-N&‘c’E~N4 USTRI ES iI&. . .

DECIMAL MATERIAL + NOTE -1

FRACTIONAL TI-fLfi

* k2 WASHER, ROUND - L-

ANGULAR PA-rE DRAWING WO. + 4 -zbo-as - SPC 1016

9 .- :.. _.-- _ :,-.f . . . . ._ - . /

I v

. fil. 27 A/ (_Iz_------r (6) ANNULAR GROOVES

EQUALLY SPACED .03L

f <TAP I-8 N-C. (.O;LOOYERSlZ X I ‘/a MIN. THRD. DPTH. 6

SCALE = 2X CHAMF. START OF THRD . TYPE 304 ST. STL. 1.062.MIN. Dlh .X45-

/

(+) WIRE .437 DIA. C-1035 MEDIUM CARIKJN ASSEMBLY - SEE NOTES-n, ar

TYPE 3Q4- ST.STL. , FERRULE

/ SEE DETAIL ‘A’ /

WELD WASHER TO FERRULE kU)SED - COIL SEE NOTES -I, -llL .290 DIA,WIRE

c C - IO35 MEDIUM CAR=+4 _. O-TURNS , lz&.D. X 2’/32CG. I

NOTES : X-FILLET WELD VVASHERTO FERRULE AT 9 _

RUCES 90’ APART -WELD MUST-NOT. PENETRATE-.THROUCH

THE WMHER -WASHER MUST M PERPENDiCUtiRTO Xffi

FERRULE CENTER LINE II WIRES(4) TO BE PERCUSSION WELDED -PO

FERRULE ANP TO l-MC CLOSED - COIL DX:WELO MUST NOT I-ENPTRAKE T9ILRRuLL .

JNTERLDR THREADS

BRIG/W -- SAFE

T RANSPO INDUSTRIES INC a NrW ROCHELLE N.Y.

Mmmalu SPEClFlEP

Lightpole Breakaway Support System

pok-mk@ is Approved For Use on Federal Aid Projects

I

and Meets AASHTO Specifications

Model 301 Model 201 New, improved Design Offers These Benefits. - a For New Construction

Lightpole /nsta//ation Install the Model 301 female anchor into new concrete footing for new pole placement. It will accept the 301 coupling, which simply screws into the female anchor. The light pole base attaches to the top of the couplings.

For Existing & Retrofit Lightpoles The Model 201 coupling screws down on standard, 1” hot dipped galvanized anchor bolts. It easily unscrews from a concrete base and lightpole for simple replacement after impact occurs. A new Model 201 coupling can quickly replace the original. It simply screws into an existing or new lightpole and base.

0 Meets AASHTO standards for roadway lightpole breakaway support systems.

l Approved for FHWA participation. 0 Exhibits effective and consistent

breakaway characteristics on vehicle impact from any angle.

l Economical and easy to install on new or existing (retrofit) light- poles...requires no torque maintenance.

0 Eliminates or greatly reduces pole and foundation damage...simple to replace after impact.

0 Independent laboratory corrosion and material fatigue test data available.

0 Model 301 eliminates need for “chipping out” concrete and re- placing bent,or damaged anchor bolts before replacing lightpole.

l Saves expensive, time-wasting efforts.

0 Assures faster, simplerturnaround forrepositioning poleafter impact.

Engineered for superior strength and reliability, all “Pole Safe” coupl- ings are made of longitudinally grooved, die-cast aluminum and have stainless steel threaded upper studs. They are easy to install, re- quire little, if any, maintenance and deliver proven, consistent breakaway performance. They are supplied complete with: 1” coupl- ings, nuts and washers - (4 per set for each pole installation). 1” fe- male anchors are available for the Model 301 coupling.

1985 American Association of State Highway andTransportation Officials (AASHTO) “StandardSpecifications for Structural Supports for HighwaySigns, Luminaires and Traffic Signals” stipulatesthat all lightpoles or ground mounted sign postswithin 30 ft. (9.14m) of a highway shall be placedon Breakaway Supports to minimize injury to theoccupants and damage to the impacting vehicle.According to these AASHTO Specifications,“Satisfactory dynamic performance is indicatedwhen the maximum change in velocity for astandard 1800 lb. (816.48kg) vehicle, or its equiva-lent, striking a breakaway support at speeds from20mph to 6Omph (32 kmph to 97 kmph) does notexceed a velocity change of 16 ft. per second.

The US Federal Highway Administrationreviewed 11 dynamic tests of the new “Pole-Safe”201 and 301 devices which included 20mph andtwo 60mph vehicle crash tests; and 20mph and8Omph “bogie” tests. In addition, SouthwestResearch Institute conducted six 20mph pendulumtests. Subsequently, the Federal Highway Admin-istration concluded that “Pole-Safe” couplings 201and 301 meet the new AASHTO breakaway criteriawhen used with conventional lightpoles weighingup to 900 Ibs.

Thousands Installed inMore Than 35 States...And in Countries Worldwide

How “‘Pole-Safe” ProvidesHigh Tensile Load Capacity andLow Breakaway Force Requirements

Tensile orCompressiveLoad

Under tensile load, the longitudinal couplinggrooves do not become stress-risers since thestress field is parallel to the groove root as shown.Therefore it can support required structural loads.Under vehicle impact, forces are perpendicular tothe grooves, efficiently concentrating stresses atthe groove root and initiating fracture which ispropagated down along the groove. This allows thethreaded stud to break out of the aluminumcoupling inducing a “peel-away action” and rapidbreakaway at relatively low impact force levels.

p&-#af6 Assembly and Installation

Performance

A Specifications

i Breakaway Support Couplings

(longitudinally grooved) shall con- form to 1985 AASHTQ specifica- tions for Breakaway Supports for lightpoles and shall be approved for FHWA participation. The Breakaway Support Couplings shall be as manufactured by Transpo Industries Inc., New Rochelle. NY 10801. Models 201 and 301 “Pole-Safe” 1” couplings are available for lightpole mounting heights up to 50 ft. and weights to 900 Ibs. The Breakaway Support Coupling is intended for use with poles installed in non- pedestrian locations exposed to vehicular collisions.

,del301 Coupling anspo Female Anchor

(I) Fasten couplings and level. (2) Set pole in place. (3) Tighten nuts to specified (4) Installation with cover skirt. torque to complete installation.

Met 201 Coupling fndard HDG Anchor Bolt Supplied By Others

US PATENT 4.007.526

20 Jones Street, New Rochelie, NY 10801 Tel.: (914) 636-1096 TLF: (800) 321-7870 FAX: (914) 636.1282