FHWA letters of Approval for the V-LOC™ Sign Support System

• September 6, 2002
• January 13, 1997
• March 26, 1987

US Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh St. S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Refer to: HSA-10/B-13A

Mr. Bob Christiansen
Marketing Director
Traffic & Parking Control Company, Inc.
800 Wall Street
Elm Grove, Wisconsin 53122

Dear Mr. Christiansen:
Thank you for your July 15, 2002, e-mail message to Mr. Nicholas Artimovich of my office requesting the Federal Highway Administration (FHWAA) correct our Internet Web Site reference to the V-LOC™ breakaway mailbox support system. The V-LOC™ system was tested by Foresight Products, Inc. Our acceptance letter, B-13 dated March 26, 1987, was addressed to them and is the document of record. We acknowledge that Traffic & Parking Control Company, Inc. (TAPCO), purchased the V-LOC product line from Foresight. The purpose of this present letter, B-13A, is to supplement the original letter and indicate that Traffic & Parking Control Company, Inc., is the current manufacturer/supplier of the V-LOC™ system. The V-LOC™ breakaway mailbox support system remains acceptable for use as a Test Level 3 device on the National Highway System under the range of conditions tested, when proposed by a State. Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA letters of acceptance:

• Our acceptance is limited to the crash worthiness characteristics of the devices
  and does not cover their structural features, nor conformity with the Manual on
  Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Any changes that may adversely influence the crash worthiness of the device
  will require a new acceptance letter.
• Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service performance reveals unacceptable safety problems, or that the device being marketed is significantly different from the version that was crash tested, it reserves the right to modify or revoke its acceptance.
• You will be expected to supply potential users with sufficient information of design and installation requirements to ensure proper performance.
• You will be expected to certify to potential users that the hardware furnished has essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as the crash tested hardware, and that they will meet the crash worthiness requirements of FHWA and NCHRP Report 350.
• To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of acceptance, designated as number B-13A, shall not be reproduced except in full. As this letter and the supporting documentation which support it become public information, it will be available for inspection at our office by interested parties.
  
  Sincerely yours,
  Carol H. Jacoby, P.E.
  Director, Office of Safety Design

MARCH 26, 1987
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

400 Seventh St., SW
Washington DC 20590

Mr. Dave Chandler
President
Foresight Products Inc.
10780 Irma Drive, Unit #22
Northglenn, Colorado 80233

This is in response to your February 16 letter requesting the Federal Highway Administration acceptance of your V-LOC™ mailbox support system for use on Federal-aid highway projects. You also enclosed a Southwest Research Institute report of December 1986 containing full-scale crash test information and a VHS film of the crash tests.

The V-LOC mailbox support system consists of a length of 2-inch outside diameter, 14 gauge ASTM Grade AS13 steel tubing, a foundation socket, a wedge, and mailbox bracket kits. The tube is equipped with an alignment stabilization screw which engages the socket to prevent rotation after installation. The foundation socket is driven into the soil to ground level, the steel tubing support is placed in the socket and the wedge is driven between the tube and socket to secure the system and assure proper alignment.

Three models of the mailbox support system are available. These are Model No. 20-S for a single mailbox, Model No. 20-D for two mailboxes, and Model No. 20-M which accommodates up to five mailboxes and is the largest of the three models.

Four full-scale crash tests were conducted with a 1,830 pound vehicle and using the Model No. 20-M mailbox support system with five mailboxes attached. The mailbox supports were aligned with their longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of vehicle travel. Test conditions and results are as follows: