If there were a terrorist attack/explosion and you were trapped in your office building and your only escape is through a window would a spring-loaded center punch work to break the window?

This is just a guess, but methinks the answer mostly depends on whether the window glass in your typical office tower is similar to the tempered safety glass in automobile side windows or is just plate glass. I've never tried it, but just seeing broken windows on TV, office windows don't seem to break like auto glass--into tiny glass fragments. I suppose that you could break the office glass with a center punch, but you'd either just create a small hole or else break big knife-like sheets off which could slice your arm (or your toes!) badly as they dropped down.

Trooper366 (someone with some actual experience doing this) had some comments about breaking glass in this relatively recent post.

And some windows have what seems like a UV film. I would think that it would also make it harder to break through with a small center punch.

If I may digress briefly to related topic. Just bought two RES-Q-ME's; warning on packaging says, "This tool will not break windshields or laminated glass. Some automotive side windows are laminated."

Far as I can find, appears some manufacturers – BMW, Mercedes, Peugot, Audi and Volvo – put lam-glass in side windows on some models, and Chrysler Cirrus and Stratus.

Good to know if you've got escape tool w/same limitations, and one of these vehicles.

So how does one deal with laminated glass? Break it, then peal it back? Cut the laminate with a knife?

While that would work on the side windows of cars I am not sure that would work to go through good plate glass. I lived in a house with two layers of really impressive plate glass windows and so had occasion to think on this for some time. My solution was to use a 12 gauge to knock an escape hole trough it. Probably not an option you can choose but it will let you know what kind of glass you may be up against.

"Bob, you know we don't allow shotguns at work. It makes the other employees nervous. If you could, and it's completely up to you, as I don't have a problem with it, it's all of the other fellow employees, well, except Phil, he's has an NRA membership, are the ones that have complained. I don't want you to think that I don't like you or anything."

"Oh, the shotgun? It's just in case anything happens I can shoot out the window. What, did you think I'd use it against someone if I got mad at them?"

"Oh, no, I'd never think that you would ever use a gun in anger!"

"Would your response be different if the shotgun was sitting here?"

"Bob, I'd love to chat, but I have a meeting in 5 minutes"

Try a healthy dose of C-4 <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

This from rescue equipment company Holmatro USA:

"[Laminated] glass consists of a plastic interlayer, made from polyvinylbutyral, sandwiched between two layers of annealed glass. In general this is used for the windshield."

"[Laminated glass] can be cut with several tools such as an Axe, Air Chisel, Glas-Master tool or reciprocating saw. These techniques will generate small glass fragments and dust. The protection of the victim and rescuer should be considered before the glass is removed."

In other words, your SAK or Leatherman might be inadequate for the job. The suggested C4 on the other hand... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Laminated glass can be tough to get though short of the C4 mentioned earlier. But a auto punch would be useless for opening a hole in it, using a hammer would take a while to open a hole though the glass. But i did see this done in a glass shop, score the glass on both sides, snap it, and then squirt alcohol on the cut and light it. The heat melts the plastic and it neatly separates.

These punches wont work with the safety glass used here in Australia.
Also our regulations state the thickness of glass to the size of the windows and also in multistory windows.
Some companies and homes use a film over the glass to stop theives breaking and entering. So even if you do break the glass it still sticks together.
At the front of one of our local office's I have seen scratches and marks from the local hoons trying to throw things through it while drunk. I haven't seen it broken until a car went through the front.
After seeing the broken glass and watching it being replaced, I wouldnt try breaking it with anything less than the car.