rmoore
02-23-2004, 09:07 PM
A Canadian fire officer asked for a review of vehicle side and rear window materials. I had written about laminated window extrication in the August 2000 Firehouse Magazine.
Question:
"I was told that you may be able to give me some info on polycarbonate windows in auto's. What I like to know is what vehicles might have them,how to recognise them and how can you break them in extrication. Any info would be appreciated."
My Reply:
There are laminated glass side windows factory installed in vehicles today but I don't know right off hand about any original installations of polycarb windows.
I went to Detroit awhile back and saw prototype vehicle installations of side and rear poly windows but they weren't in production, only test cars.
We were allowed to bring rescue equipment and actually tear two vehicles apart that had the poly side & rear windows.
Locked vehicle entry was accomplished best with a cordless drill with a 4" key hole saw bit. We just drilled a 4" hole in the poly, reached in, and unlocked the door.
For a jammed door, we learned to leave the poly intact. It bent and warped as the door was forced open and wasn't a problem at all. The time wasted in trying to remove the window wasn't worth it.
For roof removal, we left the windows intact and did total roof removal. The cutter cut into the rear window right at the C-pillar cut and just caused big cracks and splits in the poly rear window.
I also had a chance to travel to Massachusetts and work on a vehicle with laminated side and rear windows. That type of window is common on high-end vehicles from BMW and Mercedes for example.
For getting through a window involved totally removing it. We came up with a really quick technique. We took a Glas-Master windshield saw and cut one long slit along the window, parallel to the door sill. We cut from the door lock button horizontally across to the front A-pillar. All we had to do then was reach under the cut we made, pull the window outward and then downward. Because it was a typical door window designed for raising and lowering, it wasn't mounted along the sides or top. It just came right out, quicker than anything.
Recognition of a rear or side window as other than tempered glass requires either looking at it to see cracks, scratches, or slivers and then attempting to break it out with a spring punch. If you get a little dimple like from a BB-gun shot, then you have either laminated or poly. Go to Plan B.
Hope this helps.
Question:
"I was told that you may be able to give me some info on polycarbonate windows in auto's. What I like to know is what vehicles might have them,how to recognise them and how can you break them in extrication. Any info would be appreciated."
My Reply:
There are laminated glass side windows factory installed in vehicles today but I don't know right off hand about any original installations of polycarb windows.
I went to Detroit awhile back and saw prototype vehicle installations of side and rear poly windows but they weren't in production, only test cars.
We were allowed to bring rescue equipment and actually tear two vehicles apart that had the poly side & rear windows.
Locked vehicle entry was accomplished best with a cordless drill with a 4" key hole saw bit. We just drilled a 4" hole in the poly, reached in, and unlocked the door.
For a jammed door, we learned to leave the poly intact. It bent and warped as the door was forced open and wasn't a problem at all. The time wasted in trying to remove the window wasn't worth it.
For roof removal, we left the windows intact and did total roof removal. The cutter cut into the rear window right at the C-pillar cut and just caused big cracks and splits in the poly rear window.
I also had a chance to travel to Massachusetts and work on a vehicle with laminated side and rear windows. That type of window is common on high-end vehicles from BMW and Mercedes for example.
For getting through a window involved totally removing it. We came up with a really quick technique. We took a Glas-Master windshield saw and cut one long slit along the window, parallel to the door sill. We cut from the door lock button horizontally across to the front A-pillar. All we had to do then was reach under the cut we made, pull the window outward and then downward. Because it was a typical door window designed for raising and lowering, it wasn't mounted along the sides or top. It just came right out, quicker than anything.
Recognition of a rear or side window as other than tempered glass requires either looking at it to see cracks, scratches, or slivers and then attempting to break it out with a spring punch. If you get a little dimple like from a BB-gun shot, then you have either laminated or poly. Go to Plan B.
Hope this helps.