SUBJECT: Work-around Technique for B-pillar Removal
TOPIC: ‘Ram the Roof Off’ Work-around Technique for B-pillar Removal
OBJECTIVE: Understand procedures necessary to accomplish the “ram the roof off” work-around evolution
TASK: Given a late-model vehicle with the simulation of a front-seat occupant trapped due to a side collision, the rescue team shall accomplish the “ram the roof off” evolution
This University of Extrication article focuses on an alternative technique that rescue personnel may be able to use when confronted with the challenge of advanced steels such as Boron in the structure of a crashed vehicle. The scenario is that the vehicle has been struck in a side-impact collision. As a rescuer on scene, the decision has been made to move or remove the B-pillar to gain access to a trapped patient.
In this situation, however, the patient is trapped in a late-model vehicle that has ultra-high-strength steels within its side structure. To further challenge the rescue team, the training scenario calls for the crew to be unable to accomplish any cuts through the new, ultra-high-strength steel that may be found in the pillar and roof-rail structure. Unless a department has recently purchased a new-model power rescue cutter specially designed to cut through steels such as Boron, they may not be able to cut through the B-pillar or even cut through the roof rail along the side of the vehicle.
With this challenging scenario understood, the work-around technique is referred to as “ramming the roof off”. It involves using a power ram to literally tear the top of the B-pillar off the roof rail near its connection point. The B-pillar is typically spot welded to the roof rail which may be the point where the two structural members separate during this evolution.
After using cribbing beneath the rocker to create a solid base to work from, the work-around technique requires a power ram to push upward against the roof rail both in front of the B-pillar and then behind the pillar, back and forth. The stress of repeatedly going back and forth on each side of the B-pillar is aimed at stressing and then tearing the connection until the top of the B-pillar is free. At that point, the pillar may be able to be forced down and out to provide better access to the interior.
TASK: Given a late-model vehicle with the simulation of a front seat occupant trapped due to a side collision, the rescue team shall accomplish the “Ram the Roof Off” evolution.
RON MOORE, a Firehouse® contributing editor, recently retired as a division chief with the McKinney, TX, Fire Department and now serves with Prosper, TX, Fire Rescue. He self-published the Vehicle Rescue 1-2-3 training manual, authors a new monthly online article in the Firehouse.com "MembersZone" and serves as the Forum Moderator for the extrication section of the Firehouse.com website. Moore can be contacted directly at [email protected].
Ron Moore
RON MOORE, who is a Firehouse contributing editor, recently retired as a division chief with the McKinney, TX, Fire Department and now serves with Prosper, TX, Fire Rescue. He self-published the Vehicle Rescue 1-2-3 training manual and serves as the forum moderator for the extrication section of Firehouse.com . Moore can be contacted directly at [email protected].