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2011 Ford Mustang Body Structure

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Ford has stated that the 2011 Mustang uses high-strength steel in its body structure and ultra-high-strength steel in the door intrusion beams for additional side-impact protection.  One thing to keep in mind is the Glass Roof that is available on the Mustang.  The glass roof is large, therefore the has to be so major reinforcements running cross car to connect to the A and C pillars. 

One last thing to consider is the glass roof is constructed of laminated safety glass.  Ford states the glass roof is also designed to maintain excellent interior acoustics and quietness, thanks to a built-in polyvinyl layer. On top of all that, Mustang and Shelby models equipped with this roof maintain their five-star crash-test ratings.  So think of the glass windshield as a “2nd” windshield that will need to be cut out.
Posted by on June 26, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Renault Megane Body Structures

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2009 Renault Megane RS

2009 Renault Megane 

  

2010 Renault Megane Estate

  • The programmed crumple structure absorbs impact energy, – the third-generation Renault System for Restraint and Protection incorporates anti-submarining functions, double pretensioners, load limiters and adaptive airbags.
  • Twin side-impact sensors with dual-chamber thorax/groin/abdomen airbags as first seen on Laguna III and now available across the full Mégane range,
Posted by on June 26, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

2007 Renault Megane Sport

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Posted by on June 26, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

2010 Honda Jazz Body Structure

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  1. The Jazz is built round a survival cell constructed of 42% high tensile steel. Incredibly strong, it disperses crash energy across the body frame and away from the dash and interior, boosting protection to those inside by a further 20%. Front and rear crumple zones provide additional protection and greatly reduce harm to pedestrians.
  2. Collisions can come from any angle; that’s why the Jazz has airbags fitted all round the cabin. Dual Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) side and curtain airbags run down the entire length of the interior giving increased protection. The Jazz is also fitted with a lock allowing the driver to disengage the front passenger airbag when required. In addition, ISOFix childseat anchors are provided on the rear passenger seats to give added protection for your family and extra peace of mind for you.
  3. In the event of a collision from behind, the active front head restraints automatically move forward keeping the head secure, reducing the effects of whiplash and absorbing any shockwaves. The 3-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts have pre-tensioners and internal structures to securely protect the bodies of all passengers.
  4. Advanced sensors work to constantly monitor the levels of grip in the Jazz. If they sense a problem, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) will engage. It will automatically reduce engine power or add the right amount of braking to the wheels to keep the vehicle in control. Depending on the situation, this could be all four wheels, or just the inner or outer wheels. The system is automatically set to be active but can be deactivated through a switch on the dashboard.
Posted by on June 21, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

2011 Ford Fiesta Boron Body Cage

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Over 50% of the new 2011 Ford Fiesta’s body structure is constructed out of lightweight, incredibly high-strength Boron steel.  The use of Boron Steel is borrowed from Volvo. However, the super steel compound was only used in select key areas, including the Fiesta’s floor structure, front rails and beams, and the integrated “body-side reinforcement.” Essentially an extremely complex roll cage, the primary structural components of the body-side reinforcement include the slim A-pillar, the intrusion-resistant B-pillar, the rocker panels to which the B-pillar is fixed, the stabilizing rocker baffles, side roof arch and the lower A-pillar.

Posted by on June 14, 2010 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , ,

Chevrolet Corvette Body Structure

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vrolet Corvette Body Structure
Posted by on June 14, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

2010 Honda Ridgeline Body Structure

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Designed to be highly rigid for enhanced crash protection, The Ridgeline has a tough backbone that incorporates an integrated closed-box frame and a reinforced unit-body. The result is a robust truck that provides a reduced likelihood of rollover and exceptional safety ratings in its class.

Posted by on June 13, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

2010 Honda Civic Body Structure and Hybrid Battery Disconnect

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Civic Hybrid with Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) was named a 2010 TOP SAFETY PICK by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). According to the IIHS, the award “recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now [for 2010] rollover crashes.”  So there is some Ultra-high Strength Steel lurking in the body structure!  Any body pillar, rail, or rocker that is a different color in the images below is worth taking a mental snapshot.

Honda Civic Hybrid Power train Overview
Securing the power on a Honda Civic Hybrid is fairly straight forward.  The battery disconnect switch is in the image to the left, but hidden from plain view.  On a Honda Civic hybrid, the battery is disconnected by removing the rear seat back cushion, removing two screws from a small cover with the word “UP” on the cover, the flipping the power switch DOWN to the OFF position.
There is a really great article written on aa1car.com on Hybrid Hazards and disconnect procedures on different models.
Posted by on June 8, 2010 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , ,

2010 Dodge Ram Safety Cage and Body Structure

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The cars and trucks are getting more and more safety features built in every model year.  In 201, Dodge added over 25 safety features.  An example of a few are; In the event of an accident, where the airbag deploys and vehicle power and communication network is intact, the Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS) will turn on interior lamps, unlock the doors, turn on hazard flashers and initiate fuel shutoff.  Just a quick note on power seats, make sure your patient is not trapped or pinned by the dash before you secure the power on the vehicle.  Often we need an inch or two and most seat systems are designed to have an average total travel of 7″ horizontally and almost 2″ of vertical travel.
Posted by on June 7, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

2011 Volt Body Structure High Strength Steel

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General Motors has already conducted more than 50 crash tests of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Chevrolet expects Volt to achieve high safety ratings in government tests. With the Volt’s body structure made up of nearly 80 percent high-strength steel I would say that is not an unreal expectation!  I am working hard to get as much information that is available for the Volt posted.  However, with GM getting Ron Moore involved and incorporating his feedback and other fire service personnel into training materials that will be posted on a targeted Web site there should be little to no work on my end!
Posted by on June 3, 2010 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , ,

OnStar, GM will give Volt first responder training

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The Detroit News has an article today about GM’s plan to offer training to first responders.  I spoke with Ron Moore last month from Firehouse.com’s University of Extrication and he told me that he recently visited the GM proving grounds to cut up a new Chevrolet Volt. Aside from all the battery and electric concerns.  He said that this vehicle has some really strong Dual Phase steel to consider also.
GM is offering training on the new Chevrolet Volt for first responders. If you are having trouble watching the video, click here.

During the past several months, Chevrolet has collaborated with first-responder representatives from national safety organizations to develop educational materials for firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians and emergency dispatchers nationwide. This will help ensure the training meets the needs and answers the questions their colleagues are likely to have about electric vehicles.

 

Their feedback is being incorporated into training materials that will be available on the tour and posted on a targeted Web site for departments unable to attend the training sessions. 

The training will include animation and illustrations of the Chevrolet Volt, highlighting locations of high-strength steel, cut points for extrication, first-responder labeling, automatic and manual electrical shut-off and more. 

Notice the last sentence in the quotes?  There are going to be cut points for extrication and first-responder labeling!   A true step in the right direction to help us get our patients out quickless. 

Make sure you are a Fan of Boronextrication.com on Facebook!
Posted by on June 2, 2010 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics, rescues, special-operations, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , ,

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Safet Features

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The body structure is all new and designed to achieve expected safety performance in global markets.  This includes the new roof-crush standards, side-impact standards and Euro pedestrian impact.  This would make me assume that the pillars have some UHSS or maybe even Boron steels.

Also look out for the full-length side-curtain air bags which extend protection to front and rear outboard passengers, seat-mounted side thorax air bags that enhance protection for the driver and front passenger, and active head restraints which deploy in the event of a rear collision.

Posted by on June 1, 2010 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,