Enhanced Protective Glass (EPG) Operating Guidelines PDF

OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR ENHANCED PROTECTIVE GLASS (EPG) Enhanced Protective Glass (EPG) is a glass product that has been used in vehicle windshields for many years. This product is now available for side and rear automobile window protection. EPG is made by laminating a sheet of polyvinyl butyral (...

OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR ENHANCED PROTECTIVE GLASS (EPG) Enhanced Protective Glass (EPG) is a glass product that has been used in vehicle windshields for many years. This product is now available for side and rear automobile window protection. EPG is made by laminating a sheet of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two sheets of glass under heat and pressure. Currently (as of January, 2007), Audi, Bentley, Buick, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Saab, Subaru, Saturn, Volkswagen, Volvo and possibly other car manufacturers offer EPG. Beginning in May 2001, law enforcement agencies can purchase EPG as an option on their Chevy Impala vehicles. Manufacturers are using this product because of the following reasons: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A nearly 50% decrease in occupant ejection during crashes. Enhanced protection from intrusion. Increased protection of crash victims from flying glass pellets. A quieter environment within the car. Can reduce interior temperatures up to 35 degrees and reduce ultra-violet rays by as much as 90%. PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL OF SIDE WINDOW GLASS The first step is to identify the type of glass that you are working with. If a side or rear window is impacted during a crash, the tempered glass may break into small glass nuggets. A laminated window (EPG) may fracture into a spider web design. On an undamaged side or rear window, the word “laminated” instead of “tempered” should be in small print in the window’s bottom corner. Identifying the product this way can be difficult at times due to time of day, location of vehicle (in water), etc. If the type of glass has been identified as EPG or is unknown, the following steps will be followed for removal of a side window. 1. 2. 3. 4. Determine which window will be removed. Protect the patient and personnel inside the vehicle. Attempt to break glass with center punch in a corner of the glass. If window is tempered it will break instantly. If window is laminated (EPG) you will get a BB mark. You will then attempt to break window again by placing the center punch to the left or the right of the first BB mark. If a second BB mark occurs you will attempt to break window one more time with center punch. If window does not break after third attempt it will be assumed as laminated glass. 5. A chopping or cutting tool will be used to make a horizontal cut low along the entire bottom edge (approximately 1 inch above the edge of the door) of the glass. 6. The tool used to make the horizontal cut will then pry out the bottom edge of the window. The bottom edge will be grabbed with a gloved hand and pulled out and downward. This will cause the glass to become disengaged with its framing and easily removed. The rear window will be removed the same way as a windshield. Edited: 1/14/09