FF Ch. 10 forcible entry

a. Similar to jalousie windows, except have one to two larger glass panels rather than many small ones (Figure 10-23) b. Operated by hand crank (Figure 10-24) c. Found in residential, commercial, and industrial settings d. Residential ? windows may be framed in wood, vinyl, or metal. e. Commercial and industrial windows are usually metal framed and often use a lock and notched bar to hold the window open instead of a crank. 9. Forcing entry through ? windows a. Break or force open the lower panel and operate the crank. b. Or break out all the panels c. May be easier than a jalousie window to access (enter or exit), depending on the size of the panels

awning windows

i. Many different types of axes ii. Cutting edge of axe used to break into plaster and wood walls, roofs, and doors (Figure 10-8) iii. Flat-head axe iv. Pick-head axe v. Specialty and multipurpose axes

axe

used to cut through a door or break a window. can be used in conjunction with a halligan to force open a door

axe, flathead, pickhead

i. A case-hardened screw used to pull the tumbler out of a lock

bam bam tool

1. Door 2. Jamb 3. Hardware 4. Locking mechanism

basic door construction

can be used to breach walls

battering ram

can be used to cut off padlocks or cut through fences

bolt cutters

may be used in conjunction with chisels or punches to force entry through windows or doors

hammer, mallet

i. Hidden shackles cannot be forced through conventional means ii. If the lock does not have a mounting bracket, locks can be twisted from their mounting tabs with a pipe wrench and cheater bar. iii. If there is a mounting bracket, use a rotary saw or a cutting torch to cut the pin in half two-thirds of the way up from the keyway.

hockey puck lock

i. Lightweight, honeycomb interior ii. Often used for interior doors iii. Easy to force iv. Little fire resistance

hollow core slab door

a. Similar to sliding doors (Figure 10-25) b. Latch is similar as well and attaches to window frame c. Rods and poles are often placed to prevent break-ins. 11. Forcing entry through ? windows a. Force entry is the same as force entry through sliding doors. b. Place pry bar near latch and break the latch. c. If there is a rod in place, look for another entry point. d. Or break glass, which is the last resort

horizontal sliding windows

can be used to force open a door

hydraulic door opener

can be used to break, breach, or force openings in doors, windows, walls, fences or gates

hydraulic rescue tool

i. Include spreaders, cutters, and rams ii. Require hydraulic pressure provided by a high-pressure, motor-operated pump or a hand pump iii. Rabbit (Figure 10-5) iv. Hydra-Ram (Figure 10-6) v. Open a gap between the door and frame, insert the closed jaws of the spreader, and pump to open the jaws vi. Larger hydraulic spreaders usually used in vehicle extrication (Figure 10-7) vii. Hydraulic rams can apply a powerful force in one direction

hydraulic tools

b. If hinges are not visible, the door will swing away from you

indoor

1. Usually constructed of wood or metal studs covered by plaster, gypsum, or sheetrock in residences a. Newer residential construction may contain laminate sheetrock, which is extremely difficult to penetrate. 2. Commercial buildings may have concrete block interior walls. 3. Breaching an interior wall can be dangerous. a. Many walls contain electrical wiring, plumbing, cable wires, and telephone wires. b. May also be load-bearing; extreme caution should be taken if any studs are removed. 4. After determining type of wall, locate a stud away from any electrical outlets or switches. a. Tap on wall; the area between studs will sound hollow. 5. Make a small hole to check for obstructions. 6. If area is clear, expand to reveal studs. a. Breach as close as possible to the studs because this makes a large opening and cutting is easier. b. Enlarge the opening by removing at least one stud to enable escape if possible.

interior walls

a. Adjustable, overlapping sections of tempered glass in a metal frame (Figure 10-22) b. Operated by a small hand-wheel or crank 7. Forcing entry through ? windows a. Can be difficult and time-consuming to force b. Avoid these windows, if possible.

jalousie

provides a "through the lock" method of opening a door, thereby minimizing damage to the door

k tool

a. Also known as safety glass b. Molded sheet of plastic between two sheets of glass c. Commonly used in vehicle windshields

laminated glass

i. Wood doors with horizontal bracing ii. Found on warehouses, sheds, and barns

ledge door

1. Before breaching, first consider whether the wall is load-bearing. a. Load-bearing wall supports the building's ceiling and/or rafters. b. Breaching a load-bearing wall could cause a collapse. c. Nonbearing walls can be removed safely. i. Also called partition walls or partitions1.

loadbearing / nonbearing walls

a. Used to disassemble the locking mechanism on a door b. Cause minimal damage to the door and the door frame c. Experienced user can usually gain entry in less than a minute.

lock tools

i. Clamps a padlock in place so the shackle can be cut, which is safer

locking pliers

a. May be decorative for residential use or utilitarian for warehouses and factories b. May be either hollow-core or solid-core construction i. Hollow-core metal doors have a metal framework interior so they are lightweight ii. Solid-core metal doors have a foam or wood interior to reduce weight without affecting strength c. Metal doors may be set in either a wood frame or a metal frame d. More durable and fire resistant than wooden doors

metal door

a. Like cylindrical locks, are designed to fit in predrilled openings inside a door b. Commonly found in hotel rooms (Figure 10-32) c. Have both a latch and bolt built into the same mechanism, which operate independently of each other d. Latch will lock the door, but the bolt can be used for added security. e. Known for their strength 6. Forcing entry through mortise locks a. Design and construction make them difficult to force. b. Will probably require a through-the-lock technique

mortise locks

a. If hinges are visible, door will swing toward you

outward

a. Commonly used because it is inexpensive b. Larger pieces called plate glass c. Easily broken with a pike pole d. Watch out for shards. i. Can penetrate helmets, boots, and other protective gear

regular or annealed glass

a. Commonly found in upscale buildings and buildings in large cities (Figure 10-18) b. Usually made of four glass panels with metal frames c. Door panels of a revolving door are designed to collapse outward when a certain amount of pressure is applied. d. Generally secured by a standard cylinder lock or slide latch lock e. Revolving doors are usually adjacent to outward-opening doors. i. Less expensive to repair than revolving doors. 11. Forcing entry through revolving doors a. Should be avoided whenever possible b. Opening will not be large enough to allow many people to exit. c. Can be done by attacking the locking mechanism directly or by breaking the glass

revolving doors

a. Specially heat-treated b. Four times stronger than regular glass c. Common in side and rear vehicle windows and commercial or sliding doors d. Breaks into small pellets without sharp edges e. Use a sharp-pointed object in a corner of the pane

tempered glass

1. To effect a rescue 2. To control a fire before it extends 3. When a person needs immediate medical care and cannot unlock the door

time is a critical factor

a. Rotating tools b. Striking tools c. Prying/spreading hand tools d. Cutting tools e. Pushing/pulling tools f. Multiple-function tools g. Special-use/lock tools

types of forcible entry tools

a. Tempered glass with wire reinforcement b. It is often used in fire-rated doors that require a window or sight line from one side of the door to the other. c. Difficult to break and force

wired glass

i. Used to cut metal components, such as bolts, padlocks, chains, and chain-link fences ii. Available in several different sizes based on the blade opening and handle length iii. The longer the handles, the greater the cutting force that can be applied. iv. May not be able to cut into some heavy-duty padlocks made of case-hardened metal

bolt cutters

a. Steel- or wood-frame windows that crank open (Figure 10-26) b. Similar to jalousie or awning windows c. Have a side hinge rather than a top hinge d. Should be avoided because they are difficult to force open 13. Forcing entry through ? windows a. To force entry, break glass, unlock, and open manually. b. Forcing entry through a ? window

casement window

can be used to make small openings through doors or windows

chisel, punch

i. Gasoline-powered circular saws used by most fire departments for forcible entry and cutting ventilation holes ii. Light, powerful, and easy-to-use iii. Blades can be changed quickly. iv. Different blades enable the saw to cut several materials. v. Carbide-tipped blades are specially designed to cut through hard surfaces or wood. vi. Metal-cutting blades are a composite material made with aluminum oxide and used to cut metal doors, locks, or gates. vii. Masonry-cutting blades are abrasive and made of a composite material and can cut concrete, masonry, and similar materials. viii. Check label before using. ix. Blades with missing labels should be discarded. x. Do not store masonry-cutting blades near gasoline because the gasoline vapors will cause the composite materials in the blade to decompose.

circular saw

1. The seriousness of the situation 2. The nature of the call 3. Type of occupancy and construction 4. Type of door or window 5. What type of lock is present

consider when forcible entry is required

a. Primarily used for cutting doors, roofs, walls, and floors b. There are both hand-operated and powered cutting tools. c. Power tools can be powered by batteries, electricity, gasoline, or hydraulics.

cutting tools

a. Two sashes of wood or vinyl move up and down (Figure 10-20) b. Common in residences c. One lock in middle or one on either side 3. Forcing entry through ? windows a. Open or break locking mechanism to force entry. b. Place a prying tool under the lower sash and force it up to break the lock or remove it from the track. c. It may be cheaper and easier to break glass than to damage the frame by attempting to force the lock. d. Forcing entry through ? windows is covered in Skill Drill 10-5.

double hung

a. Used in many homes because it improves home insulation by using two panes with an air or inert gas pocket between them b. Can be expensive to replace c. Forcing entry is basically the same as single-pane windows except that two panes need to be broken separately. d. Watch out for shards.

double/triple pane glass

i. Large metal wedge attached to a handle ii. Opens padlocks by driving the point into the shackles and forcing the shackle apart until they break

duck billed lock breaker

a. Use powerful electromagnets and an armature plate energized by electricity (Figure 10-34) b. May be operated with keyless lock systems c. Exert as much as 1200 lb (544 kg) of force d. Can be either "fail safe" (unlocked when deenergized) or "fail secure" (locked even when power is lost) 10. Forcing entry through electromagnetic locks a. May be forced open by inserting prying tools between the two sides of the plate b. Once these locks are open, tape a small object on the plate to prevent the door from locking again

electromagnetic locks

1. Can be constructed of one or more materials a. Often load bearing b. Many residences have wood and brick, aluminum siding, or masonry block construction (Figure 10-36). c. Commercial buildings usually have concrete, masonry, or metal exterior walls. i. May also have steel I-beam construction or heavy timber construction ii. Know the buildings in your response area. 2. Whether to attempt to breach an exterior wall is a difficult decision. a. Masonry, metal, and brick are formidable materials, and breaking through can be very difficult. b. Best tools to use are a battering ram, sledgehammer, or rotary saw with a concrete blade.

exterior walls

1. Most floors are wood or poured concrete. a. Both can be very difficult to breach. b. Important information about a floor can be observed from below, if it is visible at all. c. Conduct a thorough size-up of the site before considering this route. d. Breaching a floor should be a last resort. 2. A rotary saw with the appropriate blade is the tool of choice. 3. A chainsaw may be a better choice for a wood floor.

floors

1. Many commercial buildings have rear single or double doors that are used for receiving deliveries and removing refuse. 2. Usually constructed of metal and may have no windows or a very small window. 3. A dropdown bar is placed in the brackets and extends beyond the sides of the door frame. 4. Gaining entry through these doors requires you to disable these devices. a. One of the simplest techniques is to cut the heads off the carriage bolts and drive these bolts back through the door.

forcing entry through doors with drop bars

1. Many homes are equipped with metal security gates and security bars over the windows. a. Security gates are usually equipped with a lock that must be unlocked using a key from both inside and outside. b. Security bars should be equipped with a locking mechanism that enables the residents to quickly open the security bars from the inside and use the window for an exit. Unfortunately, many are not. c. The devices that were designed to keep criminals out can make it difficult for fire fighters to gain access to a building to perform search and rescue operations and fire-suppression activities. 2. Fire fighters should check for a lock box and know how to rapidly force entry. a. Some gates that secury driveways may be siren activated. b. Others may be opened using a key card kept on the apparatus. 3. Breaching a security gate a. Remove the lock using a K tool, an A tool, or a bam-bam tool. b. It may be necessary to cut through part of the gate to open it using a circular saw or a hydraulic cutter. c. Or use a hydraulic spreader to force the anchor from the masonry or wood that it is attached to d. Be sure to use PPE and plan your cuts to minimize the amount of metal that needs to be cut

forcing entry through security gates and windows

a. Generally steel frame with tempered glass or tempered glass only with no frame b. Easy to force but produce a large amount of broken glass

glass door

transparent part of the window most commonly made of glass

glazing

a. Range from standard residential garage doors to high-security commercial roll-up doors (Figure 10-19) b. Most residential doors have three or four panels, which may or may not have a window. c. Can roll up or tilt d. Made of wood or metal e. May be hollow core or solid core f. Secured with cylinder locks, padlocks, or automatic garage door openers 13. Forcing entry through overhead doors a. May easily be forced by breaking out a panel or window and manually operating lock from within b. If fire is behind the door, the door springs could be weakened, making entry impossible. Cut the door or find another entry. c. Always prop open doors securely to prevent door closing and potentially trapping fire fighters inside. d. Use the emergency release cord to serve as a second safety measure. e. Triangle method i. If door is a security roll-up door, cut a triangle-shape entry into the door with a torch or saw. ii. Opening an overhead garage door using the triangle method is covered in Skill Drill 10-3. f. Hinge cut i. Makes a large opening that can be opened and closed ii. Requires more time and and more cuts iii. Also called the inverted L cut and West Coast cut

overhead doors

a. Most common locks on the market today b. Both regular- and heavy-duty padlocks are available. c. Come with various unlocking devices i. Keyways ii. Combination wheels iii. Combination dials d. Operating the unlocking mechanism opens one side of the lock to release the shackle and allow entry. e. Shackles for regular padlocks generally have a diameter of ¼" or less and are not made of case-hardened metal. f. Shackles for heavy-duty padlocks are ¼" or larger in diameter and made of case-hardened metal.

padlock

i. Solid wood doors made from solid planks to form a rigid frame with solid wood panels set into the frame ii. Used as both exterior and interior doors iii. Made from various types of wood iv. Resist fire longer than hollow-core slab doors and are easier to breach than solid-core slab doors if entry is attempted at the panels

panel door

1. Shackle a. The U-shaped top of the lock that slides through a hasp and locks in the padlock itself 2. Unlocking mechanism a. The keyway, combination wheels, or combination dial used to open the padlock 3. Lock body a. The main part of the padlock that houses the locking mechanisms and the retention part of the lock

parts of a padlock

a. Commercial plate glass is stronger, thicker glass used in large window openings. b. Being replaced with tempered glass in modern construction c. Can easily be broken with a Halligan tool or pike pole d. Watch out for large shards.

plate glass

cuts openings through doors, walls, fences, gates, security bars, etc

power saw

a. Also called factory windows b. Usually found in older warehouse or commercial buildings (Figure 10-27) c. Awning-type windows can project inward or outward on an upper hinge d. Screens are rarely used 15. Forcing entry through ? a. Avoid forcing entry through a projected window. b. Difficult to force and difficult to enter c. To force entry, break a pane, unlock, and open the window manually. d. If the opening is not large enough, break out the entire assembly.

projected windows

i. A multipurpose tool used to cut and force open doors and windows (Figure 10-4) ii. Includes adze, pick, and claw iii. Consists of two parts: the body and the handle iv. Handle can be extended to provide extra leverage. v. Handle may be removed and inserted into the head of the adze to provide rotational leverage. vi. Use extreme caution. vii. Over time the mechanism that locks the handle into position may become worn, allowing the handle to slip.

pry axe

i. Made from hardened steel in a variety of shapes and sizes ii. Commonly used to force doors and windows, remove nails, or separate building materials iii. Various shapes allow fire fighters to exert different amounts of leverage in diverse situations.

pry bar/hux bar/ crowbar

a. May be simple or mechanically complex b. Halligan tool (Figure 10-3) i. Widely used by the fire service ii. Adze end used to pry open doors and windows iii. Pick end used to make holes or break glass iv. Claw used to pull nails and pry apart wooden slats v. Pairing a Halligan tool with a flat-head axe creates a set of tools often referred to as "the irons." vi. Commonly used to perform forcible entry vii. Can use with a flat-head axe to open a door or window viii. Many different terms are used to describe various parts of the tool.

prying tools

inclues a halligan, flat bar, crowbar, and can be used to break windows or force open doors

prying tools

a. Extend the reach and increase the power of the fire fighter b. K tool (Figure 10-9) is designed to remove a lock cylinder, protecting the door c. A tool is similar to the K tool except the pry bar is built into the cutting part of the tool d. J tool will fit between double doors that have push or panic bars e. Shove knife (Figure 10-10) is a pulling tool used to trip the latch on outward-swinging doors

pushing/pulling tools

i. Powered by electric or battery motor that pulls a saw blade back and forth ii. Most commonly used to cut metal during extrication from a motor vehicle

reciprocating saw

a. Can be surface mounted on the interior of the door frame (Figure 10-33) b. Commonly found in residences as secondary locks to support the through-the-handle locks c. Can be identified from the outside by the keyway that has been bored into the door d. Have a bolt that extends at least 1" (2.5 cm) into the door frame, which makes the door more difficult to force 8. Forcing entry through rim locks and dead bolts a. A through-the-lock method may be the only option. b. Powered circular saw with a metal cutting blade is an additional option

rim locks and deadbolts

i. Powered by electric motors or gasoline engines ii. Round metal blade with teeth or flat abrasive disk iii. Important to match the appropriate blade or disk to the material

rotary saw

a. Apply a rotational force to make something turn b. Includes screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers c. Power tools include rotating power saws

rotating tools

used to open outward swinging doors

shove lock

a. Upper sash is fixed; only the lower sash moves. (Figure 10-21) b. Locking mechanism is the same as double-hung windows. c. May be difficult to distinguish between single-hung and double-hung from the exterior. 5. Forcing entry through single-hung windows a. Use same technique as forced entry through double-hung windows. b. Breaking glass and opening the window is generally easier

single hung

can be used to breach walls or break a window. can also be used with a halligan, to force open a door, or break a padlock

sledgehammer

a. Most sliding doors are constructed of tempered glass in a wood or metal frame. b. Commonly found in residences and hotel rooms that open onto balconies or patios (Figure 10-17) c. Generally have two sections and a double track; one side is fixed in place, while the other side slides. d. A weak latch on the frame of the door secures the movable side. e. Check to see if a wood or metal rod has been placed in the door track before trying to force the door. f. If a rod is present in the track, try to find another place to force entry. 9. Forcing entry into sliding glass doors a. If no rod is present, use a prying tool to lever the door away from the locking mechanism. b. If necessary, break the glass.

sliding doors

i. Solid wood core blocks covered by a face panel ii. Usually entrance doors iii. Heavy and difficult to force iv. Better fire resistance than hollow-core doors

solid sore slab door

a. Used to generate an impact force directly on an object or another tool b. Generally, hand tools powered by human energy c. The head of a striking tool is usually made of hardened steel. d. Flat-head axe i. One side of the axe head is a cutting blade and the other side is a flat striking surface. ii. Fire fighters often use the flat side to strike a Halligan tool and drive a wedge into an opening. e. Battering ram i. Used to forced doors and breach walls ii. Usually made of hardened steel and have handles iii. Two to four people are needed to use a battering ram. iv. More commonly used by law enforcement f. Sledgehammer i. Come in various weights and sizes ii. The head of the hammer can weigh 2 to 20 lb (1 to 9 kg). iii. Handle may be short like a carpenter's hammer or long like an axe handle. iv. Can be used alone to break down a door or with other striking tools, such as the Halligan

striking tools