August 28, 2002

HSA-10/B29D

Mr. Russell A. Walker
Director, Sales & Marketing
RAMCO INTERNATIONAL
P.O. Box 56
Imperial, PA 15126

Dear Mr. Walker:

Your July 25 letter to Mr. Richard Powers of my staff requested acceptance of a modified recycled plastic offset block for use with w-beam guardrail. Whereas the original block , accepted on January 9, 1995 (acceptance letter B-29), was rectangular with a nominal 6-inch width, your modified block tapers along each side from a 5-inch width at the post flange to a 4.25-inch width at the traffic face. All other dimensions, including its 7.5-inch depth and field-side routing remain unchanged.

The modified block described above, and called the PolyLumber PL5814R, is acceptable for use with strong-post w-beam guardrail on the National Highway System. Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA letters of acceptance:

• Any changes that may adversely influence the crashworthiness of the device will require a new acceptance letter.
  
  
• Should the FHWA discover that in-service performance reveals unacceptable safety problems, or that the device being marketed is significantly different from the version that was approved, it reserves the right to modify or revoke its acceptance.
  
  
• You will be expected to certify to potential users that the product furnished has essentially the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for acceptance.
  
  
• If proprietary devices are specified for use on Federal-aid projects, except exempt, non-NHS projects, they: (a) must be supplied through competitive bidding with equally suitable non-patented items; (b) the highway agency must certify that they are essential for synchronization with existing highway facilities or that no equally suitable alternative 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.

Sincerely yours,

(original signed by Carol H. Jacoby)

Carol H. Jacoby, P.E.
Director, Office of Safety design