A smashing time for ERF
Page 27
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B-series cab stands up to impact tests
ERF'S B-series cab has easily stood up to tests designed to meet the recommendations on frontal impact of the Economic Commission for Europe's vehicle safety committee.
Designed to ensure that the driving compartment is strong enough to meet head on smashes, the tests were carried out at the Motor Industry Research Association's proving ground at Nuneaton by ERF engineers.
They were held with a view to marketing a sleeper form of the B-series cab in the EEC. The all-steel Continental cab already available for European operators will eventually he phased out.
ERF consider that the test, although only a recommendation at the moment, is likely to become a requirement for all EEC truck manufacturers. During it the vehicle is chained to a special rig and a swinging Steel plate measuring 2.5m x 0.79m (8.2ft x 2.6ft) and weighing 1.5 tonnes (1.47 tons) is released to strike the cab at the front of the vehicle.
The internal steel subframe and safety cage on which the ERF cab is 'based suffered minimal damage and there was only very slight damage done to the hot-press moulded glass fibre external planes.
Athbugh not a requirement of this particular test the doors of the cab opened and closed normally. LaSt year the cab frame, on its own, withstood the same test as well as a cab roof crush test, when it was required to carry a weight of 17 tons.