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Received this report of an extrication challenge from a southern Florida fire officer. This is just the beginning I'm afraid.
Report:
We attempted to cut the A-post on a 2007 VW Jetta with our Holmatro 3020-UL C-cutter, but were unable to get through on the first attempt. It took three tries to get through the A-post, but the B-post was impossible to cut with our hydraulic cutters. Apparently, Volkswagen has installed a creased sheet metal roll bar in the center of the roof on this model, that runs through both B-posts, and across the top of the roof. The A-posts and C-posts are similarly reinforced, but we were able to cut through both with considerable difficulty.
I would like to know if you have any helpful information on what makes and models are using this new design, and how we can approach it in an extrication. Fortunately, we accomplished this extrication by just cutting sheet metal, and flapping the roof back. Your input is much appreciated.
My Reply:
You're sort of at the cutting edge of this new problem and I do not have a lot of information out on it yet. The exotic metals we speak about such as Boron, are becoming more popular with the 07 models because the government changed the side impact standard, effective with the 07 model year. So what you guys ran into is going to become a more and more frequent occurrence.
Automakers have reached a point of no return with side impact airbags, Seats, doors, and roof is just about all they can do from the airbag perspective. But the new government standard pushes them further. So with airbag technology maxed out, they have turned to a beefed-up side structure as the solution to meet the Standard. That's why we'll see more and more stronger, cut-resistant B-pillars for example.
Subaru started on this impact standard mission back with their 2003 models. I cut a 2003 Forester B-pillar with a rotary saw just to see what it was made of. It was 7 layers of steel with an actual rebar rod welded inside the core of the pillar. That was 2003!
Maybe what we will collectively come up with will be alternative roof extrication techniques. Many of our current hydraulic cutting/shearing tools have problems coping with these pillars. Our hacksaws, reciprocating saws and air chisels are useless against these exotic metals. Rotary saws with abrasive blades will overpower this metal and cut the pillar but their use isn’t practical at extrication scenes.
During roof removal evolutions, the B-pillar must typically be cut through. As an alternative to cutting a Subaru B-pillar, rescuers will be able to make two cuts into the roof rail at the top of the B-pillar forming an inverted ‘V’ cut. This will separate the roof from the top of the pillar allowing the roof to be removed. Another option will be to ‘flip’, ‘flap’, or ‘flop’ the front portion of the roof, making a hinge cut in the roof rail in front of the B-pillar. Remember, the A-pillars and roof rail are of a conventional design and will not offer the resistance that the Subaru B-pillars will.
Another option is to not cut any of the roof rails or roof pillars. Instead cut all layers of the sheetmetal parallel to the sides of the roof. In other words, make a giant sunroof to extricate the patients through.
Who knows what creative rescuers will come up with. What we do know right now is that we are just at the tip of this big challenge.
Besides rescuers preparing options for cutting exotic high strength, high tension structural metals, the challenge is out there for our rescue tool manufacturers to create power cutters that can deal with these reinforced pillars. With the Federal government pushing for better vehicle side impact performance and standards to require better roof crush performance being developed, we will be seeing more reinforced "A", "B", "C" & "D" pillars and we will see the increased use of exotic martensite (boron) high strength, high tension steels.
Report:
We attempted to cut the A-post on a 2007 VW Jetta with our Holmatro 3020-UL C-cutter, but were unable to get through on the first attempt. It took three tries to get through the A-post, but the B-post was impossible to cut with our hydraulic cutters. Apparently, Volkswagen has installed a creased sheet metal roll bar in the center of the roof on this model, that runs through both B-posts, and across the top of the roof. The A-posts and C-posts are similarly reinforced, but we were able to cut through both with considerable difficulty.
I would like to know if you have any helpful information on what makes and models are using this new design, and how we can approach it in an extrication. Fortunately, we accomplished this extrication by just cutting sheet metal, and flapping the roof back. Your input is much appreciated.
My Reply:
You're sort of at the cutting edge of this new problem and I do not have a lot of information out on it yet. The exotic metals we speak about such as Boron, are becoming more popular with the 07 models because the government changed the side impact standard, effective with the 07 model year. So what you guys ran into is going to become a more and more frequent occurrence.
Automakers have reached a point of no return with side impact airbags, Seats, doors, and roof is just about all they can do from the airbag perspective. But the new government standard pushes them further. So with airbag technology maxed out, they have turned to a beefed-up side structure as the solution to meet the Standard. That's why we'll see more and more stronger, cut-resistant B-pillars for example.
Subaru started on this impact standard mission back with their 2003 models. I cut a 2003 Forester B-pillar with a rotary saw just to see what it was made of. It was 7 layers of steel with an actual rebar rod welded inside the core of the pillar. That was 2003!
Maybe what we will collectively come up with will be alternative roof extrication techniques. Many of our current hydraulic cutting/shearing tools have problems coping with these pillars. Our hacksaws, reciprocating saws and air chisels are useless against these exotic metals. Rotary saws with abrasive blades will overpower this metal and cut the pillar but their use isn’t practical at extrication scenes.
During roof removal evolutions, the B-pillar must typically be cut through. As an alternative to cutting a Subaru B-pillar, rescuers will be able to make two cuts into the roof rail at the top of the B-pillar forming an inverted ‘V’ cut. This will separate the roof from the top of the pillar allowing the roof to be removed. Another option will be to ‘flip’, ‘flap’, or ‘flop’ the front portion of the roof, making a hinge cut in the roof rail in front of the B-pillar. Remember, the A-pillars and roof rail are of a conventional design and will not offer the resistance that the Subaru B-pillars will.
Another option is to not cut any of the roof rails or roof pillars. Instead cut all layers of the sheetmetal parallel to the sides of the roof. In other words, make a giant sunroof to extricate the patients through.
Who knows what creative rescuers will come up with. What we do know right now is that we are just at the tip of this big challenge.
Besides rescuers preparing options for cutting exotic high strength, high tension structural metals, the challenge is out there for our rescue tool manufacturers to create power cutters that can deal with these reinforced pillars. With the Federal government pushing for better vehicle side impact performance and standards to require better roof crush performance being developed, we will be seeing more reinforced "A", "B", "C" & "D" pillars and we will see the increased use of exotic martensite (boron) high strength, high tension steels.
Throw in the 12 airbags, 400 volt silent drive hybrids, etc and their heads were spinning.
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