Breaking the Glass Coffin: BreachPen's Effectiveness in Underwater Vehicle Extrication

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the DEFCO BreachPen Gen II, a thermal breaching tool, in cutting submerged laminated vehicle glass. The research addresses the increasing drowning risks in vehicle submersion incidents due to the widespread adoption of laminated glass in side windows. The experiment involved using the BreachPen to cut a submerged laminated windscreen underwater. Results demonstrated the tool's ability to successfully breach the glass, with two cuts of 76 cm and 62 cm achieved in approximately 35 seconds each. The BreachPen proved to be six times faster than manual cutting methods. The study highlights the tool's advantages, including its lightweight design, ease of use, and suitability for remote operations. However, limitations such as limited cutting distance per unit and potential safety concerns were also noted. The research provides valuable insights for emergency responders and suggests areas for further investigation, including testing in more realistic conditions and comparing performance with alternative breaching tools.