Well here I am again, this time putting my twopence worth in regarding the Ionics system, advertised in the Window Cleaners Magazine that dropped onto my Mat today.
On another Post, there is a section regarding this mag as being bias, OK so it is, but who pays for it?? I don't know?
I'm not a Ionics user and my honest and only reason for this is COST and I don't mind admitting it, I would love one.
There very expensive and I could never see how they could Justify the cost? but read on.
That's not the reason I wrote this today, I read their article on crash testing that cost Ionic well over £100,000, the first thing that caught my eye on the back page was the tank frame holding bracket made from cast, when I first seen it, my thoughts were, that will never hold in a head on impact? How wrong I was.
Thatcham Testing center who carry out crash testing was the place all the tests were carried out, so it wasn't an ionics employee who drove the van at a wall at 30mph and jumped out just before impact, this is an official recognised body.
Test 1,2,3 and 4 were the Hyper-G-sled tests, this enabled ionics to test and fine-tune there installed systems.
Test1 impacted at only 12.4mph although a Pass result, it showed ionics that improvements could be made, 2 of the 8 holding brackets failed so ionics improved the holding brackets.
Test 2 was conducted at 18.6mph and Failed, this test highlighted that a system fitted to the thin floor and not the chassis,..at impact the system hinged forward ripping the brackets and steel under plates right through the floor, again 2 brackets failed.
Test 3 Again conducted at 18.6mph but this time the improvements to the clamps and steel chassis resulted in a Pass, no failed clamps in this test and the system stayed were it was fitted, ionics felt that further improvements to the clamps were needed as they showed signs of imminent failure.
Test 4 was conducted at 31.1mph With the redesign of the clamps and the tank frame the test was a Pass, none of the anchor points or clamps failed, ionics were now ready for there 100% barrier crash test.
This test had to be near as possible to a real head on crash, the van was accelerated to 30mph and driven into a 100 tonne concrete barrier, a complete success, the tank frame absorbing a good amount of the impact energy and all the clamps held securely.
All this testing has resulted in ionics gaining the FMVSS-208 safety standard certification for the fitted systems.
Now if its true what ionics say (and I can't see why its not) that insurance companies will soon refuse insurance to van mounted systems, if they are not fitted to the FMVSS standard, this will have a huge impact on van mount system installers who don't hold this certificate. Nice business move Craig, not was it only a good business move, it was an excellent safety move.
I've seen many 1000ltr tanks held in by ratchet straps, that's fine if there the right breaking strain, have a look at ionics test results and see the tonnage forces placed upon the fixings during a crash, I've also seen 1000ltr tanks fitted with ratchet straps that are attached to eye bolts, bolted to the thin metal floor, No good guy's, get the bolts fitted to the chassis, and check the breaking strain? of straps and bolts and only ever use high tensile steel nuts and bolts.
I seen last week a 1000ltr system fitted with timber blocks to stop the tank moving around the van, When I said to the guy about it, his attitude was ''It'll be alright its not going any where??? Crazy or what.
If ionics tests saves just one life? then well done to them in my mind.
Insurance companies may now be looking for approved installed systems before they will insure you.
These tests may have a devastating future impact on window cleaners with van mounts, what if you can't afford a pro fitted system? are you going to drive around with no insurance? are you going to return to ladders? Who knows what the future holds.
I for one, have a trailer system and these tests won't affect me, but I do feel for the van mounted Guy's who may not be able to obtain insurance for the van system in the future.
