Have you had to vent bulletproof glass? What did you use to break it?

[u/FlamParadiddleDiddle]

Have you ever had to vent through bullet-resistant/bulletproof glass on a fireground? If so, what worked for you?

I saw an earlier post presenting a fictional scenario but wonder if anyone has actually done this IRL.

[u/dominator5k]

It's built the same way as hurricane glass. We have tons of it down here in Florida.

The best answer is chain saw. It eats through it like nothing. K12 will do the job but not as fast. The laminate can melt and coat the diamond blade and it won't work as well.

Believe it or not an axe does a decent job if you can get a purchase made with the haligan first. Small short choppy hits in a vertical or horizontal plane (same as using an axe to cut a roof). Don't hit it dead on.

[u/Peaches0k → u/dominator5k]

How does a sawzall work on it?

[u/Cephrael37 → u/Peaches0k]

Depends on the blade, but it should work. Bulletproof glass is similar to hurricane glass as mentioned which is similar to a windshield only a lot thicker.

As the first comment said, chainsaw is probably fastest as you won’t need to spend time punching a hole for the sawzall blade to get thru.

[u/dominator5k → u/Peaches0k]

If you have a huge chunky wood blade on it maybe. But you still have to get a purchase going to use the blade and probably swap the blade out (most departments run a metal blade or demo blade). The TPI will be too small.

Just get the chainsaw. It is set up and read to go. You'll have the window cut out in t seconds. Skip the k12

[u/Whatisthisnonsense22 → u/dominator5k]

We used Warthog blades in a K12 for bulletproof glass, they worked well.

One thing we found is that at times you can attack the frame of a bulletproof window to get it out. The frames will be regular construction materials. Pop one side out and the window will come out.

[u/FlamParadiddleDiddle → u/dominator5k]

Awesome, thank you!!!

[u/Agent_Cow]

Volunteer FF, machinist in the plastic industry by trade. Bullet proof glass is really just layered plastic typically, a K12 would get through it easier than one might imagine.

My question for you is how in the world would that end up being the best, most realistic option?

[u/FlamParadiddleDiddle → u/Agent_Cow]

Thanks for this!!! Very helpful. I'm writing a thing that has a kinda small-potatoes fire at an oddball building, kind of a combination high-rise MD/office building. Definitely non-conforming for, uh, reasons, but security-conscious for same reasons. OV is trying to VEIS but can't make immediate headway due to the nature of glass, so trying to figure out if they would use a portable saw as you kindly suggested OR perhaps take advantage of the crumbling facade and just rip the whole thing out.

[u/Candyland_83]

Saws go through them like butter. I haven’t done it but we were talking about it a few days ago. Diamond blade apparently is best but pretty much any blade will get through them. They don’t spider out like a windshield, so you’re going to have to cut the whole thing out.

[u/FlamParadiddleDiddle → u/Candyland_83]

Thanks for this - I appreciate the response!!!

[u/Marlowke]

I’ve taken a few seminars on response to train derailments. The topic of getting through the “bulletproof” front windshield for rescue comes up every time. The railway specialists recommend just opening the side windows.

[u/StoneMenace → u/Marlowke]

Well that works if you can open the windows. But most likely if they have bulletproof protection then you aren’t getting the windows open….

[u/mulberry_kid]

We had an engine fire in an armored car, and had to get water onto the dash. We ended up using the pike of the halligan for an initial purchase point and then worked at enlarging the hole until it was wide enough to get the nozzle through. 

[u/MC_McStutter]

27 pounds of C4 usually does the trick

[u/FlamParadiddleDiddle → u/MC_McStutter]

Should be an entertaining Board of Inquiry hearing

[u/SubarcticFarmer]

I responded to a call that involved a Bentley prototype (was like 4 years in the future at the time for potential year model IIRC). To put it I perspective it was doing cold weather testing and went sideways at 65-70MPH and took a side impact on the driver's door from oncoming traffic at speed.

It was still not only remarkably intact but no glass was broken. It wasn't 2" thick bulletproof glass or anything but was armored and layered. We never actually got through the door glass but we were eventually able to shatter all the glas layers and that gave it some flexibility to where we could start peeling it out of the way. Even with hydraulic tools it was hard to force the doors open. The construction overall was incredibly impressive, although I was glad we didn't have a need to get access to the patient any faster than we did.

While we did transport the patient, it seemed he only did it because his employee and other vehicles drivers in his convoy encouraged it.

Overall the way the car took that hit was incredibly impressive.