Anti-theft coating on car windows?

[Brando]

Just curious to know if the anti-theft coating on some cars, like my truck, will prevent the FD from breaking the windows with the standard window punch? or will you have to cut it out?

I just started my auto-extrication training about 3 months ago at our volly dept! Its been one hell of a training program so far. I love it. Fortunately we havent had any real bad accidents requiring extracation yet.

[bfrd22]

Laminated Safetyglass all around, You have to cut it out. no way around it. Just like a windshield.

[Kirk]

Glassmakers have now developed a special new type of laminated glass that can be used for side windows. Ordinary laminated glass is too thick, too heavy and is prone to cracking if used for a window that opens(unless held in a frame).
Volvo, Mercedes, BMW and other European automakers are now installing the new glass, called security glazing, impact-resistant glazing or Enhanced Protection Glazing (EPG) as standard or an option on some models.
Volvo's Enhanced Protective Glass is made from polyvinyl butyral (PVB), a new kind of laminated glass specifically developed for side and rear windows of motor vehicles and is engineered to 3.8 millimeters, much thinner than a windshield. (Windshield glass typically runs thicker, between 4 and 5 millimeters, sometimes more.)
It has both its advantages and disadvantages. Because the glass doesn't fragment in an accident, there is less chance of occupants being thrown out of the car in a crash. On the flip side it is more time consuming for us to gain entry.

And yes, it must be cut....

In the Audi A8 all glass side & rear use EPG and it is standard from the 1995 model onward.
In the Mercedes S Class all glass side & rear use EPG and it is standard from the 2000 model onward.

[911Caddy]

Good Info Kirk! Thanks!

[Fireknight]

They are also starting to sell this stuff for homes you can't put an axe through it, we have some issues with this stuff on the market.

nice way to turn a house into a convection oven, "when the firefighter reaches 450 degrees turn once and baste"

[wilderness]

yea so i beleive someone from Vaughn mention that a CO2
will freeze the glass and once you have empty the extinguisher tilt up side down point base towards window and swing like mad hell........ wouldn,t it be nice to have a little more imfo from the OFM or someone...note to self bunker gear need a back pack or big pouches on the legs.........for co2 extinguisher

[firefighter26]

I did a bit of research on this last year and managed to gleam together some good information and pictures from a few different websites. I put together an overhead and handout for the guys to have a look at a while back.

I have posted a copy of it at:

http://www.geocities.com/firefighter_mvfd26/lam_glass.pdf

Share the wealth and pass it on to anyone else who might want it!

The original set of overheads/handouts is 14 pages and covers mostly basic vehicle extrication techneques, such as door removals, roof flaps, cribbing/stabalization, dash pushes, scene size-ups, etc, etc. I found it benificial to print and laminate a set so they were durable enough for for use during hands on training in the training pit to show rookies what we are planning on doing, etc. I guess I could always post them as well if anyone else was interested.....

I hope that helps!

[Squamish-FF]

Thanks 26, handy little tid bit!

[firefighter26]

Thanks!

If your covering the sea to sky highway you probably see the same kind of accidents as we do on the Malahat!

We should compare notes one day!