
www.energyabsorption.com Revision A May 2013
www.highwayguardrail.com 6 All rights in copyright reserved
Limitations and Warnings
Energy Absorption Systems, in compliance with the National Cooperative Research Highway
Program 350 (NCHRP Report 350) “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance of
Highway Safety Features”, contracts with FHWA approved testing facilities to perform crash
tests, evaluation of tests, and submittal of results to the Federal Highway Administration for
review.
The BarrierGate®system was tested to meet the impact criteria, requirements, and guidelines of
NCHRP Report 350 and has been accepted by the FHWA for use on the national highway
system. These tests, specifically set forth by FHWA, evaluate product performance by utilizing
established criteria for impacts outlined by NCHRP Report 350 involving a typical range of
vehicles on our roadways, from lightweight cars (approx. 820kg [1800 lb.]) to full size pickup
trucks (approx. 2000 kg [4400 lb.]) to single-unit van trucks (approx. 8000 kg [17,600lb.]) as
specified by the FHWA. A product can be certified for multiple Test Levels. The BarrierGate®is
certified to the Test Level(s) as shown below:
Test Level 3: 100 km/h [62 mph]
Test Level 4: 80 km/h [50 mph] @ 15°
These FHWA directed tests are not intended to represent the performance of systems
when impacted by every vehicle type or every impact condition existing on the roadway.
This system is tested only to the criteria of NCHRP 350 as approved by FHWA.
Energy Absorption Systems does not represent nor warrant that the results of these
NCHRP 350 tests show that vehicle impacts with the products in other conditions would
necessarily avoid injury to person(s) or property. Impacts that exceed the specifications of the
system may not result in acceptable crash performance as outlined in NCHRP Report 350,
relative to structural adequacy, occupant risk, and vehicle trajectory. Energy Absorption
Systems expressly disclaims any warrant or liability for injury or damage to persons or property
resulting from any impact, collision, or harmful contact with products, other vehicles, or nearby
hazards or objects by any vehicle, object or person, whether or not the products were
assembled by or under the direction of Energy Absorption Systems or by third parties.
The BarrierGate®system is intended to be assembled, delineated, and maintained in
accordance with specific state and federal guidelines. Energy Absorption Systems offers a
reflective delineator panel and has reflective tabs for its BarrierGate®line of products. However,
the material is only intended to supplement delineation required by the Department of
Transportation’s “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” (MUTCD). Design tables are
provided in this Manual to aid in selecting the most appropriate product configuration for proper
application to the site. The appropriate highway authority approved engineer should be careful
to properly select, install, and maintain the product. Careful evaluation of the site geometry,
vehicle population type, speed, traffic direction, and visibility are some of the elements that
require evaluation for the proper selection of a safety appurtenance by the appropriate
specifying highway authority.
After an impact occurs, the product must be repaired to its original condition as soon as
possible. When a safety product is impacted, it is mandatory that the highway authority inspect
all the components for damage and repair and/or replace components as necessary. If the
system is not repairable, a complete system replacement is required. The determination of
whether or not a system is repairable should only be determined by a trained and experienced
engineer, experienced in highway products, directed by the appropriate highway authority. That
determination rests in the sound discretion of the appropriate highway authority, who specified
the use of this system, only.