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Overcoming Extrication Challenges with Boron and UHSS Guide

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Firefighters are always looking for information to improve their skill set. The long over due Overcoming Extrication Challenges with Boron and UHSS Guide is Here! It is a working draft. I will be adding user submitted techniques and revising the guide often. Only the latest guide will be available to download. Right now the guide is available from Google apps and I will also make a PowerPoint and PDF for you as well.

Overcoming Extrication Challenges with Boron and UHSS Guide


Written by firefighters for firefighters. Please feel free to contact me at ffsmitty900@gmail.com with any suggestions or comments.

Posted by on October 29, 2009 • Filed under: extrication, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Boron Updates and Ron Moore’s Presentation

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I am working on adding/ updating a page that will list all the automakers and provide links to all the vehicle information currently available on this site. You can access information by automaker right now by using the labels on the left vertical menu bar.

Another post will cover some of the highlights from Ron Moore’s Overcoming Extrication Challenges with Advanced Steel Structures. If you missed, register for the presentation and you can watch it anytime you want.

Moditech Rescue Solutions BV has developed a computer program called Crash Recovery System. The Crash Recovery System has data for all mass-production vehicles with airbags in the United States and other countries. Along with airbag location data, the program is now including the locations of UHSS and Boron steel in vehicles.

The folks across the pond at ResQMed provide great training resources that can be helpful to us in the states and anywhere cars are driven. Their research and study on extrication is top notch and they provide a ton of free information on their website, check out their Collection, Sharing, and Study Program. Anyone who gives out useful free information gets a thumbs up in my book! Thanks resQmed!

One last thing, I found a very good training resource if your department is looking for some hand outs, quizzes, and structure for your next extrication drill. Check out the website of Camano Island Fire and Rescue. They have a very good document put together called Vehicle Rescue Class Training Outline.

Posted by on October 28, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,

How Well Do You Know the Body Structure of a Vehicle?

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Posted by on October 27, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

EERE: Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center Program

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The U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has a very informitive website for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles. The Vehicle Technologies Program Home Page is stocked full of information, images, and links. Below is an example of what you can find on the site. Check it out.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Energy Storage Systems
An energy storage system is an essential component in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Batteries used in HEVs should have high power (with high-peak and pulse-specific power), high specific energy at pulse power, high charge acceptance to maximize regenerative braking utilization, and long calendar and cycle life. See below to learn about HEV battery options, ultracapacitors (another energy storage device), and battery thermal management strategies.
Posted by on October 27, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

Subaru Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Body Structure

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Many first responders are well aware of the fact that if they encounter a Subaru vehicle in a MVA, there will be UHSS or Boron to deal with. Here is so information that Subaru made available on their website.

The A-Pillars and B-Pillars in the Subaru Forester are reinforced with Ultra-High Strength Steels. For example, notice the orange colored rod in the image of the B-pillars on the left? That short reinforcement rod mounted along the mid section of the B-pillar is Boron. The reinforcement that is colored blue is a steel plate made from UHSS. Both are in the same location on the B-Pillar. These Notice the solid steel rod in the A-Pillar section on the right? That is a Boron reinforcement what Ron Moore calls a “rod that resembled a concrete reinforcement bar (rebar)”.

Subaru uses what is called a Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame. The structural body pieces form three rings the connect around the sides, top, and bottom of the vehicle. Below is an image of the Subaru Forester. The green body structure members are what makes up the Ring-Shaped Reinforcement. The three Ring-Shaped reinforcement sections include the A-, B- and C-pillars.

Posted by on October 26, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,

2010 Honda Odyssey Body Structure

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As usual, little information on the type of steel Honda use in the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure. I would safety assume that any of the colored stampings have some form of Ultra-high Strength Steel (UHSS) or Boron. Also take note of the side-impact door beams.
The ACE body structure incorporates a front-end frame structure that absorbs and disperses crash energy over a large area. ACE increases Odyssey passenger protection, and makes it more crash-compatible with vehicles of differing heights.

The Honda Odyssey has three rows of seating. So naturally any side impact airbag would cover all three rows. If the side impact air bags are not deployed. Use caution when making cuts to the B and C-pillars. There is most likely multiple inflators.

Just a little extra information. The Honda Odyssey earned a 5-star rating in frontal- and side-impact tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That means there are some very tough parts of the body structure.

Posted by on October 23, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

2010 Ford Edge UHSS?

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The 2010 Ford Edge has earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That would mean there is some Ultra-high Strength Steel mixed in the body structure. Check back for what type of steel is used, but looking at the images, there are some major side impact protection in the doors!

Just a little extra information on the Edge. The Edge has Ford’s Personal Safety System which include all the things that make us take a second look before climbing in to hold c-spine! There are dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, safety belt pretensioners, and seat weight sensing system for the passenger seat and crash severity sensing. Which means, if the passenger was light enough or close enough to the airbag, the airbag may not have deployed.

Just in case you were wondering, the Edge has a two-row side air curtains on both sides to think about!

Posted by on October 21, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,

2010 Ford Fusion Side Impact Protection

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With the Ford Fusion one of the best selling cars in the US. Here are a few things to think about the Fusion’s side-protection elements.

  • Two energy absorbing foam blocks between the inner door panels and interior trim, aligned with the occupants’ chest and hip.
  • Side-intrusion beams inside the door, anchored at the hinge and latch areas.
  • Tailor-welded steel in the B-pillar structure with extra thickness–nearly a quarter inch of solid steel–above the beltline.
  • Seat-deployed thorax air bags for front occupants and side-curtain air bags for head protection in both rows.

Notice the extra thickness of the B-pillar? A quarter inch of solid steel above the beltline. Ford states that from below the beltline upward you will run into the additional steel. Store that nugget away in your mental toolbox.

Your cut needs to be below the red line. The picture is the shoulder belt from the front passenger perspective. The picture belows displays the outside location of the beltline.

Posted by on October 20, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

2009 Audi A4 UHSS

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The A4 is not an aluminum car. But what’s somewhat striking is that even the top U.S. Audi executive, de Nysschen, notes the fact that there is an extensive use of ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS UHSS Ultra-High-Strength Steel ). This is not the sort of thing that is typically glossed by someone with their eye on business and sales, not structural engineering. Yet the use of the material is absolutely notable, and contributes to a rigid body structure, as well as enhancing safety.

There is the use of hot-formed boron boron alloyed steel blanks to produce various components. In the hot forming operation, the blanks are heated to 1,742[degrees]F, formed, and quenched. To put out (a fire, for example); extinguish. The resulting tensile strength of the component is as much as 1,600 mPa. Among the ultra-high-strength steel applications are the center tunnel, inner sills, B-pillars and firewall transverse beams. Overall, about 12% of the body-in-white is made of hot-formed UHSS; 18% is UHSS; 32% is high-strength steel; and 38% is conventional deep-drawing steel grades.

Posted by on October 20, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

What is a Body in White (BIW)?

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Today I want to focus on a little terminolgy. First off, BIW stands for Body in White . All activities in the production of a Vehicle Body or Shell before it goes to the Paint shop are done in a weld shop and the end product of a Weld shop is referred to as BIW. Two kinds of BIW Structures :

  1. Monocoque : In this type of structure, all the members of the body are load carrying and they are integrated with each other. Here chassis is inbuilt with the BIW itself and there is no separate chassis. Wheels are directly mounted to the BIW with the help of suspension system. Used in all the passenger cars and to some extent in utility vehicles.

  2. Body on frame : In this type of body construction, the body is placed on frame which is the major load carrying member. Body is mounted on a separate chassis/frame and the wheels are mounted on the chassis and not to the body. Used in utility vehicles, trucks, buses.


Automakers like Ford Motor Company and General Motors offer for sale Body In White (BIW) kits like the 2010 Camaro pictured above.

Posted by on October 19, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , ,

The Challenges of Extrication Involving Vehicles with Advanced Steel Structures

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Sign up for a free presentation online called The Challenges of Extrication Involving Vehicles with Advanced Steel Structures

Presented By Ronald E. MooreOctober 27 , 2009 – 2 pm (ET)

OVERVIEW: With increasing frequency, fire departments are reporting an inability to cut through common structural areas, such as the B-pillars, roof pillars and rocker channels on a wide array of late-model vehicles. This webcast will equip responders with many of the lessons learned by the University of Extrication’s Ronald E. Moore after a year of intense hands-on research. Register For Free Here

AMKUS Rescue Systems
Click Here to Register Now!

Posted by on October 14, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,

VW List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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VW List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 13, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

Volvo XC90 BIW Boron and UHSS

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The XC90’s body structure as shown in the image below. High strength steels (Dual Phase, HSLA and el Rephos) make up the majority of the front end and rear structure. The front rails are hydroformed. Of the 13 parts that make up the roof and side structures, seven are Dual Phase 600, with Boron and el Rephos making up the remainder of that structure. The B-Pillar outer was designed in Boron steel to reduce weight and because of its formability for this type of part. The B-Roof bow and the rear seat frame are also made of Boron.

I know must firefighters are familiar with Volvo use of Boron and UHSS. I just liked the brake down of the parts in the image above. Understanding what the parts we cut up look like is very important to understanding each parts role in the safety cage of a vehicle.

Posted by on October 13, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , ,

Free UHSS Extrication Training DVD

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I received a copy of an extrication DVD put together by State Farm. The DVD is only a couple years old but has boat loads of useful information. One of the contributors in this DVD is Ron Moore. Many of you know Ron from the University of Extrication in FireHouse magazine. He is also the Fire Training Manager of Plano (TX) Fire Rescue. The DVD covers extrication from A to Z. Hazards that we encounter on the scene of a vehicle extrication are covered clearly and separately. Topics like airbags, UHSS, exotic metals, seat belt pretensioners, OCS systems are broken down and covered. Click this link, Order a free DVD!, fill out your info, and State Farm will send you two DVDs for free! Get this DVD, watch it, then present it to your chief and get some bonus points!

For more information, check out State Farm’s Auto-Fire Response Training website. State Farm has really set the standards high for other insurance carriers to follow! Thanks State Farm!

For additional information on Ron Moore, check out the monthly series he writes at the University of Extrication. Ron has also written a great book called Vehicle Rescue and Extrication. Check them out!

Posted by on October 12, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , ,

UHSS Guide

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I am currently putting the finishing touches on a PowerPoint presentation as a UHSS Guide. This guide has all parts of the vehicle that we may need to understand what type of steel is used and how thick it is in critical locations. The UHSS Guide will also have several different tips and techniques that you can put in your mental toolbox. Check back over the weekend to download it and use it as you please.

Just a quick update, I got behind over the weekend. My department held our annual Open House on Saturday and training Drill Sunday. My weekend was over in the blick of the eye. Look for the UHSS Guide to show up in the next day or two. Thanks!

Posted by on October 9, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

Volvo List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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Volvo List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 9, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

2010 Ford Fusion and Milan Hybrids Battery Location

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High Voltage (HV) Battery

The 2010 Fusion/Milan Hybrids have a 275-volt nickel-metal hydride HV battery, compared to the 330-volt battery on the first generation hybrids, but the battery is optimized so it produces 20% more power. Improved chemistry allows the battery to be run at a higher temperature, so it can be cooled using only cabin air. The Escape/Mariner hybrids require an outside vent located in the driver side quarter window and a dedicated rear air conditioning system to cool the battery.

The HV battery is mounted vertically behind the rear seat. Dropping the rear seat forward to access the front of the battery, and the service disconnect, requires accessing the back of the battery from the trunk. There are two backrest latch release levers located under the package shelf, one for the right seat back and one for the left. Slide the latch release lever toward the outboard side of the vehicle to drop the seat forward . The service disconnect is the familiar slide, pull, and remove type.

Posted by on October 9, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

2010 Acura TL Ultra-high Strength Steel

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The 2010 TL has widespread use of high-strength sheet steel, which provides benefits in ride, handling and overall durability. The TL uses five different types of high-strength steel, including ultra high-strength hot-stamp steel that is heated before it is stamped into shape for the front unit-body rails, doorsills, B-pillar and side roof rails. A total of 47.6-percent of the steel used in the TL is high-strength steel. Hot-stamp steel and 980 grade high-strength steel, two premium types of steel, are used in the TL for the first time.

Posted by on October 7, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

Toyota List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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Toyota List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 3, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Scion List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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Scion List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 3, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Nissan List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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Nissan List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 3, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Mazda List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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Mazda List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 3, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Hyundai List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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Hyundai List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 3, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Honda List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS,

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Honda List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 3, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

Ford List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

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Ford List of Vehicles with Boron and UHSS

Posted by on October 3, 2009 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,