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Advanced Glazing Systems Could Save Up to 1,300 Lives Each Year

11 November 1999

NHTSA Report -- 'Ejection Mitigation Using Advanced Glazing: Status Report II': Advanced Glazing Systems Could Save Up to 1,300 Lives Each Year; Dupont SentryGlas(R) Among NHTSA Test Participants

    DETROIT, Nov. 10 -- The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) recently released an updated report entitled, "Ejection
Mitigation Using Advanced Glazing: Status Report II."  NHTSA developed the
study to "report on the progress of advanced glazing research on occupant
protection research to mitigate ejection through window openings."
    According to NHTSA, advanced glazing systems may yield significant safety
benefits by reducing partial and complete ejection through side windows,
particularly in rollover crashes.  Each year on average, about 7,300 people
are killed and 7,800 people are seriously injured because of partial or
complete ejection through car side windows.  NHTSA states that combined with
safety belt use, advanced glazing systems could save between 500 and 1,300
lives per year.
    Extensive research was conducted to evaluate methods in reducing ejection
mitigation (occupants being thrown from a car during an accident).  DuPont
SentryGlas(R) bilaminate was one of the four types of glazing used in the
NHTSA occupant retention assessment test.  The material consists of a 4.0 mm
tempered glass outer layer and a 0.9 mm plastic film on the inside.  In
addition, DuPont commercialized SentryGlas(R) Plus safety and security
interlayer after initial NHTSA testing; updated test results are due soon.
SentryGlas(R) Plus is a rigid laminate system, as such, it is expected to
provide numerous performance advantages even in existing door frame systems
and large fixed windows with decreased glass thickness.
    Michael L. Sanders, automotive marketing manager for DuPont Glass
Laminating Products, said automakers are investigating the benefits of
extending laminated glass to side windows and development programs are
underway.  "This technology responds to a consumer need for safety and
security features, and automakers' interest in adding value by providing these
features without excessive cost increases," said Sanders.
    According to the report, the SentryGlas(R) bilaminate offered more
penetration resistance and glazing containment than the non-HPR (high
penetration resistance) trilaminate.  As described in the report, "When
impacted at the center window location, the bilaminate produced 100 percent
containment without tearing of the plastic layer ... "
    NHTSA performed component-level impact tests to evaluate potential
ejection-mitigating side door-glazing systems.  These systems were then tested
using the free-motion headform (FMH) analysis to evaluate head injury
potential as compared to standard tempered glass.  Criteria addressed during
the testing included glass retention, head injury, neck injury and laceration.
    More than 70 percent of new car buyers said they would be extremely likely
or very likely to purchase a vehicle with break-resistant side windows,
according to a consumer poll conducted by Yankelovich Partners Inc.  The cost
of using DuPont SentryGlas(R) Plus as an OEM option, is estimated between
$200-$400 per vehicle, equivalent to technologies such as cruise control.
    DuPont laminated glass products also provide an added security benefit by
offering protection from unwanted entry, which accounts for $7 billion in
motor vehicle thefts and $1.5 billion in lost articles annually, according to
FBI statistics.
    DuPont offers three families of glass laminated products: SentryGlas(R)
Plus, introduced at the 1999 SAE International Congress and Exposition;
Butacite(R) PVB sheeting, used in windshields for 60 years and in side windows
for more than 40,000 cars annually worldwide; and SentryGlas(R) intrusion-
resistant composite.  DuPont has invested more than $30 million in developing
SentryGlas(R) and SentryGlas(R) Plus for the transportation industry.
    With world headquarters in Troy, Mich., DuPont Automotive offers more than
100 product lines to the global automotive industry including plastics,
coatings, fibers, fabricated products, refrigerants, specialty chemicals and
lubricants.  DuPont worldwide automotive sales currently total $6 billion.
    DuPont is a science company, delivering science-based solutions that make
a difference in people's lives in food and nutrition; health care; apparel;
home and construction; electronics; and transportation.  Founded in 1802, the
company operates in 65 countries and has 97,000 employees.
    Note:  SentryGlas(R) Plus, Butacite(R) and SentryGlas(R) are all
registered trademarks of DuPont.  The NHTSA report is available online at:
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/nrd10/nrd11/glazing.html