International Truck and Engine Corp. says many truck customers already recognize its trucks for their quality, durability and high performance, but they also have an added feature that has not been talked about — cab strength. International says its cab for fire trucks — and all International DuraStar and International WorkStar models — have met the roof strength requirements of the tough European ECE R29 and the SAE J2422 rollover crash tests.
These tests evaluate the structural strength of the cab of these trucks and the roof to ensure they can withstand forces from different directions, as well as a 180-degree rollover to protect firefighters from injury. “These are industry-standard crash tests, and the results underscore how safe the cab and roof are to fire personnel as they go about their often life-threatening duties,” says Bob Neitzel, fire/rescue segment marketing manager for Warrenville, Ill.-based International Truck and Engine. “International truck cabs feature many other safety features to give fire personnel an extra margin of safety.”
The European ECE 29 and SAE J2422 were developed to ensure adequate occupant protection in the event of severe rollover crashes — the most frequent type of injury-causing accident. In the International cab, high-strength steel is utilized in key load-bearing areas such as the A-pillars, door hinge pillars, dash panel and rear sill, in order to deliver consistent quality, strength and durability, according to the company; in addition, the windshield and back glass are bonded to the cab structure to provide a fully integrated cab structural design. With standard seating, as well as with SCBA seating, the International Crew Cab will provide the required occupant survival space when tested with roof loads up to 25,000 lb., according to the company; this exceeds the maximum requirement of 22,000 lb.
Besides passing the crashworthiness tests, the cab also is certified to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 104, 206, 207, 209 and 210 and has a cab-mounting system designed for 20g frontal-impact loading, International says; in addition, its rollover and safety features include a bonded windshield, nonslip steps, door-opening angles of 60 degrees for the front door and 85 degrees for the rear door, and a five-point corrosion-protection system that delivers excellent corrosion resistance.
