Forcible Entry Demonstrations
Page 7
Air-blast Resistant Window Systems
Air-blast-Resistant System
Glas s
Attack
Floor
Test
Type
Side
Level
Number
AG
Exterior
1
18
Insulating glass units with inner pane laminated with
AG
Interior
1
19
0.030-inch interlayer
AG
Exterior
2
27
Insulating glass units with inner pane laminated with
AG
Exterior
1
20
0.060-inch interlayer
AG
Interior
1
21
AG
Exterior
1
22
Insulating glass units with inner pane laminated with
AG
Interior
1
23
0.090-inch interlayer
AG
Exterior
2
28
Untreated glass
AG
Exterior
1
12
The untreated annealed glass configuration (Test 12) was used as a control sample to
demonstrate how a standard annealed glass window would break, and the associated
times.
6. Demonstration Procedure
Firefighters from the San Jose Fire Department effected emergency access and egress
through the air-blast-resistant windows mock- ups using typical tools and procedures.
This section describes the specific elements of the demonstrations.
6.1.
Demonstration Structure
All window mock- ups were mounted in the San Jose Fire Department's training tower at
the department's training center at 255 South Montgomery Street in San Jose, California.
The walls of the training tower are cast-in-place concrete and the rough window openings
are 36 inches wide by 60 inches high. The glass and framing window mock- ups were
mounted in steel frame s which were mounted in the rough window openings.
6.2.
Demonstration Participants
San Jose Fire Department firefighters from Engine Company 2 and Ladder Company 2
were used for the forcible entry demonstrations. All participating firefighters were of
average size, and had experience with real life forcible entry in emergency operations.
6.3.
Tools and Techniques
The firefighters first attempted forcible entry using the sta ndard forcible entry tools and
operating procedures of the San Jose Fire Department and the International Fire Service
Training Association (IFSTA). All tools used in the tests are commonly carried on fire
apparatus or by firefighters throughout the United States. Entry was restricted to gaining
access through the glass itself and not by prying the window framing from the wall. If
the firefighters did not gain access with these limitations, provisions were made for the
use of more sophisticated tools. In this set of demonstrations, more sophisticated tools
were not required.
6.4.
Data Collection
A recorder/timer was assigned to gather the following information for each test:
Hinman Consulting Engineers, Inc
www.hce.com
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