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Why do we skin doors?

Hem Flange Door Extrication

Why do we skin doors? Have you ever wondered why your door removal went from bad to worse? The outer skin or panel of the door is usually composed of light-gauge steel which all of us know can separate from the inner door structure during a door removal. Why does this happen? Two reasons, bad technique or the design of the door. Usually we find out it was our technique.

The outer panel (Skin) of the door is attached to the inner structure by a process called hemming to create a hem-flange. Hem-flanges are the edge of metal sheets that are bonded together by bending the edge of one sheet over the edge of another and using a bead of adhesive to seal the sandwiched metal. Take a look at the pictures below to get a quick understanding of what the door looks like that you are spreading. A hem flange is typically 10x the thickness of the sheet metal panel. So lets say the outer door panel is 1mm thick, that means the flange only covers the inner structure by 10mm (less than half an inch). That’s why it is so easy to skin a door!

Posted by Smitty on June 15, 2013 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: Door, Extrication, Firefighter, Flange, Rescue, Structure

2013 Cadillac CTS Safety Cage

The 2013 Cadillac CTS Safety Cage currently uses advanced high strength steels (AHSS) in strategic structural locations.

Posted by Smitty on June 15, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: 2013 Models, AHSS, BIW, Body in White, Body Structure, Cadillac, Extrication, Vehicle Extrication

2013 Opel Corsa Body Structure and Airbags

Here’s a walk through the 2013 Opel Corsa Body Structure and Airbags.

Here’s a screenshot from Moditech’s Crash Recovery System (CRS). A page on Moditech’s webscast has a bunch of examples of how Crash Recovery System can be used for Component Awareness in vehicles. Bar none, nothing beats Moditech’s CRS! This software is a becoming a necessity for fire departments and rescue companies to help keep up with the changing vehicles.

Moditech Extrication CRS Crash Recovery System

Posted by Smitty on June 15, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: 2013 Models, BoronExtrication, Crash Recovery System, CRS, Extrication, iCRS, Moditech, Opel, Vehicle Extrication

2013 Jaguar XJ Body Structure

Nothing too unique about the features on the 2013 Jaguar XJ, battery is in the truck and per the Crash Recovery System screenshot below, the stored gas inflator for the side-curtain airbags is just behind the B-Pillar. Dual-stage front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, first and second row side-curtain airbags, and active head restraints with front-seat whiplash protection.

Posted by Smitty on June 14, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: 2013 Models, Airbags, Body Structure, Crash Recovery System, CRS, Extrication, Jaguar, Moditech, Roof Airbag, Safety

2013 Honda N-Box Minicar Body Structure (Japan)

Check out the 2013 Honda N-Box Minicar Body Structure. The B-Pillar is made from 1,500 MPa high tensile hot stamped steel. Hot stamping is used to increase the strength to more than 1,500 MPa by cooling during stamping process.

Safety features:

i-SRS system for driver side
SRS airbags for front passengers
Side Curtain air bag system
Front seats also feature impact mitigating headrests which protect the driver and front passenger from neck injury.

Posted by Smitty on June 9, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: BIW, Body in White, Body Structure, Extrication, Honda, Japan

2013 honda N-One Minicar Body Structure (Japan)

Here is one for the folks in Japan. Take a look at the 2013 Honda N-One Minicar Body Structure and airbags.

Posted by Smitty on June 9, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: 2013 Models, A-Pillar, Airbags, B-pillar, Extrication, Honda, Hot Stamped, Hot Stamping, Japan, Rescue, UHSS

Hybrid Emergency Responder Training Presentation

So what do you know about how High Voltage systems work? Are you scared you will get shocked by a hybrid or EV? Like everything in the fire service, every firefighter should have a basic understanding on a high voltage system works. Toyota put together a comprehensive hybrid safety training presentation that was developed as a resource to train emergency responders on the safe operation of hybrid vehicles. The presentation is available for download below. The first link provides the ability to view the presentation, while the second link is a zip file that contains the presentation that can be played from a local system, along with Instructor Notes and a Student Handout.

Insulated cables and connectors

All high voltage power cables and connectors are color coded bright orange. The power cables and connectors are insulated to prevent contact with the bare wire conductor.

Low voltage wiring connected to vehicle body ground. The 12 Volt low voltage circuit uses the vehicle metal body as a ground (see picture below illustration). The presentation shows an animation of the low voltage circuit electrical flow through the vehicle metal body ground. A responder contacting the vehicle metal body ground and a bare positive/hot wire completes the low voltage circuit.

High voltage wiring insulated from vehicle body ground. The high voltage circuit does not use the vehicle metal body as ground (see picture below illustration). Instead, a separate ground high voltage power cable is routed from the battery to the component. The battery and component are insulated from the vehicle metal body ground. The presentation shows an animation of the high voltage circuit electrical flow though the high voltage power cables. A responder contacting the vehicle metal body and a bare high voltage positive/hot wire does not complete the high voltage circuit because the high voltage ground is insulated from the metal vehicle body.

Vehicle Off

When the ignition switch/power button is Off, no 12 Volt battery power (red dotted lines) is supplied to the hybrid computer which keeps the high voltage battery pack positive and negative relays open (green boxes). The high voltage circuit is Off, and no electricity flows from the high voltage battery pack to the power cables (orange dotted lines).

Vehicle On

When the ignition switch/power button is turned On, 12 Volt battery power (red solid lines) is supplied to the hybrid computer. The hybrid computer powers the high voltage battery pack positive and negative relays (green boxes) which allows them to close (orange contacts). Once the relays close, the high voltage circuit is On and electricity flows from the high voltage battery pack to the power cables (orange solid lines).

Manual protection

To manually disable the high voltage system, turn the ignition switch/power button Off. This stops electrical flow from the high voltage battery pack to the power cables.

Automatic protection

The hybrid computer provides automatic disabling of the high voltage system. SRS collision sensors (yellow shaded boxes) and high voltage current/voltage sensors (black dashed callouts) are monitored by the hybrid computer. When airbags deploy or when a current/voltage imbalance is detected, the hybrid computer automatically opens the positive and negative relays to stop electrical flow from the high voltage battery pack to the power cables. A fuse located in the high voltage battery pack also provides automatic high voltage disabling during an overload condition.

Posted by Smitty on June 8, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Electric Car, Electric Vehicle Safety Training, Emergency Response Guide, ERG, EV, Extrication, High Voltage Battery, High Voltage Cable, Hybrid, Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Hybrid Emergency Responder Training, Training

Honda develops new technology to join steel and aluminum

The new technology to join steel and aluminum that Honda uses will not very much for use in the extrication world except for one thing. If you look at the bottom 2 pictures you will see that this new technology adds an additional hemming on the flange. This should help keep the door outer sheet metal from separating from the inner door.

Honda developed a new technology to join steel and aluminum that enables the adoption of aluminum for outer car body panels. The first production application is the new 2014 Acura RLX. The technology allows to replace outer body panels which are conventionally made of steel with lighter ones made out of aluminum.

Honda used this application on the outer door panel of the 2014 Acura RLX that went on sale in the United States March 2013. The technology is expected to be adopted sequentially to other models.

To join together the dissimilar metals of steel and aluminum, the simultaneous establishment of several different technologies was required such as technologies to prevent corrosion (electrical corrosion) and thermal deformation caused by the different expansion rates of steel and aluminum. The advantages of these new technologies include elimination of a spot welding process required to join conventional steel door panels. The new technology contributes to the improvement of fuel economy and dynamic performance of the vehicle by reducing door panel weight by approximately 17% compared to the conventional all-steel door panel.

Posted by Smitty on June 7, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: 2014 Models, Acura, Aluminu, Door, Extrication, Honda, Training

2013 GMC Terrain Airbags

Here is a look at the 2013 GMC Terrain airbags and the locations of the stored gas inflators.

Posted by Smitty on June 7, 2013 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: 2013 Models, Airbag, Body Structure, Crash Recovery System, CRS, Extrication, GMC, Moditech, Seat Airbags, Stored gas inflator, Training

Hi-Lift First Responder Jack, Puyallup Extrication Team Style!

Check out the Hi-Lift First Responder Jack and the Puyallup Extrication Team helping out on the highway with a pickup truck with and overturned trailer. Make sure you check out the Hi-Lift First Responder Jack and Puyallup Extrication Team websites. Both sites are packed fill of great extrication information and training videos.

Below, the Hi-Lift First Responder Jack is used for vehicle stabilization.

Check out the FDNY Jeep Wrangler Tribute below! Not only is it very cool, it’s sporting a Hi-Lift First Responder Jack. make sure you stop by the FDNY Jeep Wrangler Tribute Facebook page to find out more about it.

Posted by Smitty on June 6, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Extrication, First Responder Jack, FRJ, Puyallup Extrication Team, Stabilization, Vehicle Stabilization

2013 BMW Z4 Battery Location

BMW is notorious for locating the 12 volt batteries in the trunk. The 2013 BMW Z4 is no different. The Z4 also has stationary roll bars behind the seats. In addition to the standard airbag locations, the Z4 also has door mounted airbags. Take a quick look through the pictures below.

Posted by Smitty on June 6, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: 2013 Models, Airbags, Battery, Battery Location, BMW, Body Reinforcement, Door Airbags, Extrication

2013 Suzuki Kizashi Body Structure

Quick look at the 2013 Suzuki Kizashi Body Structure.

Posted by Smitty on June 5, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Extrication, Vehicle, Vehicle Extrication

2014 Silverado Body Structure

The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado will start hitting the streets. The new model is packed full of new design features that have change the body structure. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but some areas to take a look at.

To ensure that the new Silverado is up to the challenge, key elements of the updated frame, including the main rails and major cross members, are made from high-strength steel. Hydroforming is used to improve strength and reduce mass of the front of the frame.

The cab structures are all new, and incorporate high strength steel in the A-pillars, B-pillars, roof rails and rocker panels. Ultra-high-strength steel is used in areas of the rocker panels and underbody in anticipation of new shallow-offset crash tests. In all, about two-thirds of the cab structure is made from high-strength steels.

Posted by Smitty on June 5, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics, special-operations • Tagged: 2014 Models, Body Structure, Chevrolet, Dual Phase, Dual Phase Steel, Extrication, Hot Stamping, Press Harden, UHSS

2014 Subaru Forester Body Structure

Here is a look at the 2014 Subaru Forester Body Structure.

Posted by Smitty on June 4, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Extrication, Subaru

Chevrolet Aveo Hatchback 2013 European Market

Here is a quick look at the body structure and airbags of the 2013 Chevrolet Aveo Hatchback for the European Market.

Posted by Smitty on June 4, 2013 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: Airbags, Body Structure, Chevrolet, European, Extrication, Safety

Magnesium Sheet Metal

General Motors is testing an industry-first thermal-forming process and proprietary corrosion resistance treatment for lightweight magnesium sheet metal that will allow increased use of the high-strength alternative to steel and aluminum.

Follow us: BoronExtrication on Facebook

GM conducted a production run of 50 vehicles to be bought by consumers in the fourth quarter of 2012. However, GM did not indicate the model or models that will test the expanded use of magnesium.

The United States Automotive Materials Partnership estimates that by 2020, 350 pounds of magnesium will replace 500 pounds of steel and 130 pounds of aluminum per vehicle, an overall weight reduction of 15 percent. This weight savings would lead to a fuel savings of 9 percent to 12 percent.

Posted by Smitty on June 4, 2013 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: Extrication, Fire, Firefighter Safety, Magnesium Sheet Metal

Tesla speeds up free nationwide charging network

Just in case you thought a cross country trip in a EV was not possible. Tesla Motors in creating a free nationwide Supercharger network! Tesla Motors is also the company that has set a high bar with their First Responder video.

As the graphic above shows, Tesla says that starting from the few sites mostly along the East and West Coast today, it will triple its Supercharger locations by the end of the month. Within six months, it will expand to most of the upper Midwest and Canada; and before the next 12 months will have an intercontinental network of Superchargers that Musk said should cover 80 percent to 90 percent of the U.S. population. Within two years, Tesla will aim for full coverage, with more than 200 Supercharger stations.

Posted by Smitty on May 31, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: EV, Extrication, Firefighter, High Voltage Battery, HV, Supercharger, Tesla Motors

2013 Mercedes S-Class Body Structure

The front structure is made from aluminium die castings, extrusions and pressings. The passenger compartment is made from steel, including roll-formed boron steel in critical load path areas. The roof panel and all of the closures are aluminium.

The body consists of 50% light alloy in combination with high- and ultra-high strength steels. We have achieved maximum crash safety and outstanding body rigidity for the best noise and vibration comfort.”

Posted by Smitty on May 30, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Body Structure, Boron, Boron Steel, Extrication, MB, Mercede-Benz, UHSS, Ultra High Strength Steel

2013 Kia Rio Body Structure

The 2013 Kia Rio has six airbags and a rigid, reinforced body structure for crash protection. In addition, there is an advanced, impact-sensing door lock system that automatically unlocks the doors following a collision. So make sure you try before you pry!

Posted by Smitty on May 19, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: 2013 Models, Crash Recovery System, CRS, Extrication, Kia, Moditech

FDIC 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb: Joseph Agnello

I must apologize for the delay in posting this story from FDIC. Several reasons for the delay. Some are related to the story; others are some personal stuff that has weighed on my mind for a while with the health of family member. What happened to me before the start of the climb is something I will remember for the rest of my life. The person I met brought a personal side to a fallen brother that still makes my eyes water up.

The 2013 FDIC 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb is about honoring our fallen brothers. Like everyone who signed up for the climb I was given the name of a fallen brother to honor. The name I carried was Joseph Agnello from Ladder 118. I took the time before the climb to learn a little about him. Joey was known for bragging about his toddler boys Sal and Vincent. He had been the target of good-natured ribbing about the way he rang the wrong bells in his first days at the house – hence his nickname Joey Bells.

We all have looked out the window of the rig and stared at the smoke rising from the fire that we’re heading to. However, take a look at the picture below and imagine what was going through their heads, going over the bridge, looking out the window and seeing the two towers like that. The picture below is a verified picture of Ladder 118 responding to the World Trade Center on September 11th. Firefighters studied the picture with a magnifying glass to make sure the truck on the bridge was Ladder 118. The rig’s orange stokes basket was upside down, a Ladder 118 trademark.

The firefighters of Ladder 118 are credited with saving countless lives from the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel. Elevator mechanic Bobby Graff worked frantically to save the lives of others at the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel on Sept. 11, and he remembers who saved his: “Tall firefighters with the numbers 118 on their helmets.”

Lt. Robert Regan and Firefighters Joseph Agnello and Peter Vega were found together on New Year’s Day, more than three months after their last tragic run together September 11th.

I was honored to carry Joseph’s name with on the FDIC 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb this year. What I was not expecting was for someone to be looking for me before the climb. Before the climb started a gentleman was walking around asking for “Mike Smith”. Turns out, that gentleman, John Agnello was Joseph’s cousin. John quickly broke down and almost brought me to tears. He showed me a few pictures of Joseph’s name at the 911 Memorial and told me a few things about him. I was so caught up in the moment I didn’t think to get his contact info. After John walked away a lady came up to me and said “that made my whole week at FDIC”.

I’m still trying to find out how to contact John, so if you know, please let me know. My plan is to always honor Joseph Agnello on every stair climb I do and continue to find out a little more about him and his family each time.

Never Forget!

Posted by Smitty on May 14, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, firefighter-safety-health, special-operations • Tagged: Extrication, FDIC, FDIC 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb, FDNY, Joseph Agnello

Winching Guides: Heavy Rescue Germany

Here’s a great winching guide from our friends over at Heavy Rescue Germany! If you don’t follow their Facebook page, you need too! Below is the English version, there is also a German version available.

The idea is to print it out, laminate it and put it in the box with the winch Here’s the English version of the PDF:

Page 1: Load calculations

Page 2: Tables and tips

Make sure you stop by their page and says thanks!

Posted by Smitty on April 30, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Extrication, Facebook, Germany, Guide, Heavy, Heavy Rescue Germany, Heavy Vehicle Extrication, Winch, working load limit

2013 Lexus ES Body Structure

2013 Lexus ES Body Structure

Posted by Smitty on April 23, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Airbags, Body Structure, Extrication, Lexus, Vehicle Extrication

FDIC Itinerary: Brotherhood, Climbing, Giveaways, and of course Beer!

It’s hard to believe that FDIC 2013 starts next week! We’ve worked up a tentative itinerary. Paul Hasenmeiser and his crew from First Due Tackle will be in Indy for the annual firefighter pilgrimage. There will be great training, networking, brotherhood, and giveaways. Be sure to track us down we have a couple hundred new stickers and a few chips to giveaway.

Like our Facebook to stay update on our location

+Wednesday April 24

Columbia Southern University Networking Social / 530 pm – 830 pm @ the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
Fire Service Warrior Meet Up / 5 pm – @ the Ram Restaurant and Brewery
FDIC FOOLS Brotherhood Bash / 5pm – @ Jackson St and Meridian St

+Thursday April 25

FREE GEAR FROM

The biggest giveaway we know of is coming out of the TECGEN XTREME booth. (Booth 403). Here are the details:

We will be in the TECGEN booth from 2 pm – 3 pm.
During our time in the booth they will be giving away branded collapsable water bottles to all visitors.
Some visitors during our time in the booth will randomly receive Camelback hydration packs.
Here is the best part; every visitor to the booth during the show will have their badge scanned. TECGEN will then select 6 random winners who will receive a set of gear. Similar to what we will be wearing.

BE AT THE TECGEN BOOTH 403 @ 2PM

You’ll see us throughout the day as we drop in on some friends including:

Packaxe Smash
Haix Fire Boots (Booth 713) Haix backpacks are being giving away to the first 400 to visit the booth.
The Pig and The Pigskin (Booth 616)
High Lift Jack Company ( Booth 9003)
FoxFury
Schmitz Mittz (Booth 9936)
HexArmor
Mechanix
Hemming Fire: Fire and Rescue Magazine (Stand 10094) Meet the @thefiregirls from the UK!

We will wrap up the evening at the NFFF’s Stop, Drop, Rock ‘n’ Roll dinner and live auction / 7 pm – 11 pm @ the Indian Roof Ballroom.

+Friday April 26

Our main mission will be to climb in the FDIC 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb / 130 pm & the Lucus Oil Stadium. We’ll be hooking up with The Fire Critic and Captain Wines for the climb. W e’ll be sporting our TECGEN XTREME gear. After the climb the FDT crew is hitting the road because a couple of them are on duty Saturday. I’ll be around until the Fire Critic and Iron Firemen Meet Up / 830 pm @ the Hard Rock Cafe and then hitting the road for a late night drive back up to the Motor City.

Register To Climb

There are still 84 Fallen Brothers that need to be honored at the stair climb. Sign up now! 343, Never Forget!

Posted by Smitty on April 15, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, special-operations, Training, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: brotherhood, Extrication, FDIC, FDT, haix fire boots, michael smith, packaxe, Packexe SMASH, Paul Hasenmeier, Smitty, TECGEN, techgen xtreme, THE PIG, The Pigskin, www.boronextrication.com, www.firstduetackle.com

First Look: Discovery Tasker S Helmet Light / Headlamp

The folks at FoxFury sent a Discovery Tasker S Helmet Light to review and put it through the paces. I received the light and put it on my department issued helmet and plan to also use on my training helmet for different training classes throughout the spring and summer. My first thoughts are this thing is bright and uses AA batteries and not the expensive 3V like my older helmet light. The light was easy to put on the helmet and within a minute or so all the wires were tucked in light looks streamlined with very little to catch on anything. Look for a full review toward the fall of 2013!

So who is FoxFury? They manufactures Application-Specific products, with a focus in Professional Portable LED Lighting. FoxFury’s Philosophy is to provide the Latest Technology available, packaged in the Highest Quality Products that can be made for each intended use.

Make sure you stop by the FoxFury booth at FDIC and take a look at the new Command 20 Fire Tilt headlamp!

Posted by Smitty on April 14, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Equipment, Extrication, Firefighter, First Look, FoxFury, Gear Test, Rescue, Tools, Vehicle Extrication

2013 Lexus LX Body Structure

Here’s a quick look at the 2013 Lexus LX body structure and airbags.

10-airbag system, including: Driver’s and front passenger’s advanced airbag system with front passenger’s twin-chamber airbag, Driver’s and front passenger’s knee airbags, Front and rear Roll-Sensing Curtain Airbags (RSCA), Front seat-mounted side airbags, and Rear seat-mounted side airbags.

Below are a couple of pictures of the rear seat belt pretensioners. These pretensioners are located in the base of the C-Pillar.

Posted by Smitty on April 12, 2013 • Filed under: extrication, special-operations • Tagged: Airbag, Extrication, Lexus, Safety, Vehicle Extrication