This is not sounding good!

I work on the first floor in an old three story building. We have a center court with windows facing in as well as windows facing out. It is easy to imagine a situation, like a fire, where the exit is blocked and the only escape is through one of the windows. It would be interesting to get a small piece of building glass and see what the center punch does to it.

I bought two ResQMe and was looking for a use for the spring loaded center punch.

I'm not sure Craig, but I think that the windows are made in such a way that they are difficult to break out. One reason is that an open, or broken windows is a conduit to feed oxygen to a fire. So, I think you risk getting the fire to travel your way faster if you crash a window. Perhaps a smoke hood and a good route plan may be a better option. Fire is certainly is a hazard is on my mind whenever in a building, or worse yet on a ship. Let's hope that the firefighters make a rapid response. Phx has one of the best FD's anywhere from what I have seen. Cheers neigbor!

Try asking a local window installer, or someone who does the building maintenence.
They will be answer more specific or tell you where/how to get the answers.

Also ask what plans etc are in place for the building in question.

i have seen special devices that are ment to be sticked on windows. Wenn you need to brake the window, you simply hit the button on the device. They are specially made to shatter dubble glass, which is pretty standard in holland. It doesn;t say anything about laminate's, though.

Couldn't you just use a hammer? It might be too heavy to carry with you at all times but you could strategically place one in your office or something. Also, maybe a fire extinguisher could help soften that window up.

Craig-

Here's a brief overview of glass-types in commercial buildings (Types of Glass bottom of page 4 of 24, as shown at bottom of Adobe Reader), including breakage characteristics.

Not sure it will help much. Says installers have trouble determining which kind of glass by just looking, and all types of glass possibly present in same building. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Some can take a hit with a sledgehammer or a bat. Some of my favorite footage is of “dumb” crooks bouncing concrete blocks or other solid projectiles off said widows onto their head.

Ok so you find a way to break the glass. The influx of O2 is now drawing the fire towards you. Unfortunately the ground is 40 floors down. Do you have a parachute or an awful long rope?

Rumor has it, the first urban base-jumper was just a guy working in a really tall building, trying to escape a fire <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'd think I would just fling my office chair thru the window...oh wait, my second floor office windows actually open. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />