See all posts in the network tagged with
Most departments have a reciprocating saw on rescue trucks. A good quality saw is only as good as the blade on it. The best blade in my book for cutting Boron is a Lenox Gold because it has Titanium coated teeth. Lenox states the Titanium cutting makes it the longest lasting reciprocating saw blades. Anytime you cut a piece of Boron, if you make it through with one blade you are lucky, and if you do, throw out that blade because it is now useless!
Sorry for no Boron updates over the last day or two. Finishing up my 3rd rides for EMT, plus school, work, the department, and family stuff. Check back tomorrow! I have some good info that I will be posting!
Chrysler is like many other automakers that have begun to increase the use of Advanced-high-strength steels (AHSS) in its vehicles. These forms of steel include dual-phase and boron. Chrysler uses boron in the B-pillars and rocker panels. Boron is also is used for the reinforcement in the A-pillar inner on the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and the 2008 Sebring.
GM has made their Collision Technical Repair information availbile online for free. Check it out at GM Collision Site. Look for the “Structure_Identification” pdf file for a location and type of steel used on each vehicle.
At the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and I-CAR annual meeting in 2006 GM’s Bob Hartman said right now GM doesn’t use any boron steel in the structure of its vehicles. Based off that information, a Firefighter can take a quick look at the VIN or registration can tell you the model year and determine if you need to worry about Boron. Firefighters may still encounter other high strength steels, just not Boron.
Start learning about where automakers are using Ultra High Strength Steel. By 2010, 50% of the body structure of new vehicles will be made from advanced steels.
.nobr br { display: none }
| Grade | Typical Applications |
| Mild Steel, Bake Hardened, Solid Solution Strengthened | Body Panels (Closures, floor pan, dash panel, etc.) |
| High Strength Low Alloy | Rails, Structural Members |
| Dual Phase, trade names DUAL-TEN and DP-600 | Rails, Rocker Panels, B-pillars and Side Panels |
| Ultra High Strength Steel (Martensitic, Boron) | Rocker reinforcements, door beams, bumper beams |
| TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) Steel | The enhanced formability allows for more complicated parts than other high strength steels |
Gensis Rescue System clearly has the largest selection of “Boron Capable” cutters. Hurst and Amkus each have one cutter that is cable. I can personally speak for the Hurst MOC II is a cutter cable of cutting through boron. My department recently trained with local departments and Ford Motor Company. The MOC II picked up when other cutters had difficulty cutting Boron and other High Strength Steel. Research cutters before you purchase, many dealers will offer demos, so take advantage of any that are available. If a dealer will not let you test cutters on Boron or do not have independent testing done, I would be very cautious. Below is a list of cutters that the manufacturer states can cut Boron.
Champion Rescue Tools
Gensis
AMKUS Rescue Systems 
Holmatro
Hurst
5000 psi Sytem:
10,500 psi System:
TNT Rescue
The Dodge Caliber uses advanced steels in the front and rear rail, tunnel reinforcements and floor cross members. Dual-phase steel is used in the tunnel reinforcements and floor cross members.
The A and B-pillar uses a tailor-rolled, hot stamped steel B-pillar. What is important for a Firefighter to know is the pillar is made in two pieces. The lower section is made from mild strength steel and tailor-rolled ultra high-strength steel for the upper section.
The content of ultra high-strength boron steel in the New 2010 Ford Taurus is no widely known. However, the B-pillar features ultra high-strength boron steel for added side impact protection. Another important feature to note about the body structure of the Taurus is the Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE™). This architecture is comprised of a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames, providing additional strength in the side of the vehicle. In the event of a side impact, the beam helps divert crash forces away from the occupants. A strong roof cross member and side impact door beams work with the floor-mounted tube to further improve side impact protection. Just remember to have this information in the back of your head if you need to roll a dash or take the roof.
The New 2010 Ford Fusion gets some of its core strength from the use of lightweight high-strength steel in the body structure. The structure of the Fusion helps it withstand intrusion in many accidents, including the most common frontal and side impacts. The tailor-welded B-pillars between the front and rear door frames are stronger at the top of the vehicle – from below the belt line upward – than at the bottom. Below is some information where the reinforced steel is located. I will add some more pictures as soon as I get them.
Fusion’s front and side-protection elements include:
The 2009 F-150, with an all-new hydro formed steel body structure including an industry-first use of tubular ultra-high strength steel, is engineered to earn top safety ratings from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
For additional crash protection, the F-150 safety cage features advanced hydroformed ultra-high-strength steel. Additionally, continuous tubes run from the A-pillar base through the roof rail to form a safety cage around the occupants of the truck, and dual hydroformed front tubes, located on either side of the engine bay, are shaped to absorb impacts.
Standard safety equipment includes: AdvaceTrac® with RSC®; ABS; Safety Canopy™ side curtain air bags with roll-fold technology for enhanced head protection in rollovers and side impacts; front seat-mounted side air bags.
Additional roof and B-Pillar information can be found on Ford F150 Roof and B-Pillar made of UHSS and Boron
Cosma International INC, Troy, Michigan a division of Magna International anticipates that the rising demands for advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) will continue to increase the demand for hot-formed components. Cosma believes that about 8 to 12 percent of body structures will be martensite material (hot-stamped Boron), and should plateau at that level. Just an FY for Firefighters,
Boron steel in its original state has tensile strength of around 50 KSI but
is about 200 KSI after it is hot-formed.
Common terms for different metals:
 This blog is part of the Emergency Services Ad Network. For marketing opportunities, please click here |
WEBSTER GROVES • Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire Saturday on the roof of Webster Groves… (more)
A MASSIVE EXPLOSION demolished an occupied row home in Nottingham, England, Sunday evening.… (more)
LODD info from Dallas and Phoenix, Moore (OK) Tornado devastation update, Vote for Hack, and more… (more)
Contact Us
Get the scoop on hosting your blog or podcast here, site suggestions, questions and technical support.
