Simple Four-Piece Kit Renders Triton Barrier Crashworthy to 100 km/hr
12 October 1998
Simple Four-Piece Kit Renders Triton Barrier Crashworthy to 100 km/hr
CHICAGO--Oct. 9, 1998--The Triton TL-3 Kit, a quick-and-easy-to-install accessory that gives the water-filled Triton Barrier Test Level 3 100-km/hr (62 mph) impact performance, has been introduced by Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.The simple assembly, designed to be mounted on the Triton Barrier section, consists of two molded polyethylene pedestals, two nylon straps, and two buckles . The pedestals are affixed to the base of each section using the straps which loop up through the fork-lift holes.
According to Michael Dreznes, Energy Absorption Systems Vice President for Marketing, "The beauty of the Triton TL-3 Kit is in its simplicity. The TL-3 Kit remains true to the original design intent of the Triton, which was to provide crashworthy protection so portable that it would promote usage in temporary or short-term work zones -- areas often left unprotected."
Now, using two lightweight pieces, an agency can quickly convert Triton Barrier sections from NCHRP Test Level 2 (70 km/h, 45 mph) to a barrier approved for the higher Test Level 3 (100 km/h, 62 mph). Total installation time is less than five minutes per section, and the kits can be installed with equal ease at the yard or the work site.
"The concept of a lightweight barrier with internal steel frame that can be deployed quickly, then made crashworthy simply by adding water, has made the Triton Barrier the most popular barrier of its type in the industry," Dreznes said. "From the beginning, we knew that the design of any modification kit would have to be just as simple and straightforward."
"A significant benefit of the Triton Barrier is that it can been put in place quickly, reducing the time the crew is exposed to moving traffic. Since the new TL-3 Kit can be installed in the yard, we think it is far safer than any other method for upgrading a barrier to the higher level of crashworthiness."
The Triton Barrier with the TL-3 Kit was approved as a NCHRP 350 Test Level 3 Barrier when used with 30 sections or more. The approval procedure encompasses a comprehensive series of crash tests using light cars and trucks, and high-center-of-gravity pick-up trucks. For approval, the barrier must prevent penetration by the vehicles at speeds up to 100 km/hr (62 mph), impacting at angles up to 25 degrees. A copy of the Federal approval letter is available by contacting Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Quixote Corporation, Energy Absorption Systems is the leading manufacturer of highway attenuators and other related safety devices. Headquartered in Chicago, the company has research and development facilities in Rocklin, Calif., and manufacturing facilities in Pell City, Ala., and South Bend, Ind.
