ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 1 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

FORCING DOORS

There are three basic types of forcible entry operations: conventional, through-the-lock, and special operations (cutting, breaching, etc.). Conventional forcible entry involves two methods: mechanical, which involves the use of hydraulic tools, and manual. Through-the-lock forcible entry involves removing part of a lock, then using a key tool to duplicate the action of the key. Special operations will involve using cutting tools and other equipment to force gates, roll-up doors and other types of high- security devices that would not be easily forced using conventional methods. Some boarded-up applications on vacant buildings may require special tools or operations.

The first operation we will talk about is manual forcible entry. The tools of choice are a Halligan tool and a striking tool, such as a flat-head axe, sledge, or splitting maul. The type of Halligan tool is important.

Pinned or cast tools can fail. Forged tools are better. A tool with a bevel in the fork and slight bevel in the adz is preferred because it imparts more leverage than a straight fork or adz. The fork must be narrow enough to allow it to be forced between the door and jam. Many Halligans on the market today are manufactured with a fork that is entirely too large, preventing it from getting into the jam. A pick axe is not a very good choice for forcible entry because it makes a poor striking tool. A flat-head ax or maul is a much better choice. Heavier, rather than lighter, will help too. Eight-pound axes and ten- or twelve-pound mauls do a great job.

We have talked about a hydraulic tool (Rabbit) already. Other useful items are a rotary saw with a metal-cutting blade, a torch, battering ram (the kind the SWAT teams have are super), a K-tool, and some personal tools. Many lock cylinders, such as a pivoting deadbolt, can be pulled off with pliers, allowing manipulation of the lock with the keys. We must keep a good reversible screwdriver in our personal tool inventory. A shove knife is very handy also. With floor locks, such as the Club for a home, a shove knife will let us know if there is a lock at the floor level by sliding the knife in and hitting the lock or barrier.

This is a look at size-up and tools for some common forcible-entry problems you may encounter. There are many other tools on the market today, their application limited only by your imagination. Burglars keep the lock industry on their toes, but unfortunately, we often find ourselves one or two steps behind the lock industry. It is imperative we continue to pursue new techniques while at the same remembering the basics.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 2 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Swinging Doors

The method used to force a swinging door is determined, first, by how the door is hung, and secondly, by how it is locked. Before attempting to force any door, check to see if the door is locked, and whether or not the hinge pins can be removed. Also, the conditions of the building should be observed, and hose lines should be made available for use. Firefighters should then feel the door for heat by using the back of the hand, which is more sensitive to heat. The temperature of the door will indicate whether a backdraft (explosion) is likely when the door is forced or opened.

NOTE: As a general rule, always try to use the fastest method to gain entry and access. When it is compatible with emergency operations, choose the method that will be the cheapest to repair or replace. (REMEMBER: Glass is cheaper and easier to replace than doors.)

Breaking Glass

In some cases, less damage may be done by breaking a small glass near the lock, through which the door can be opened from the inside. The act of breaking glass must be done in a certain manner to assure safety to the firefighter, because glass will shatter into fragments of keen cutting edges. Some of the principle safety features for breaking glass are:

Full turnouts

Eye Protection

Stand to the windward side if possible

Keep hands above the impact point

Look away

This procedure permits the broken particles of glass to fall downward away from the hands and to the side of where the firefighter stands. The glass may be broken with an axe or other tools. CAUTION: Never break glass with your hands. Full protective clothing should always be worn when breaking glass. After the glass is broken, all jagged pieces should be removed.

First, scrape the edge

closest to yourself,

then the top, the far

edge, and lastly the

bottom.

Pictures taken from IFSTA Essentials

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 3 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

CONVENTIONAL FORCIBLE ENTRY The 5 Point Size-Up

The Wall • Occupancy • Construction • Windows • Alternate entry points • The BIG picture

The Door Jamb • Direction of swing • Metal or wood • Rabbeted or nailed • Tight or loose

The Door • Metal or wood • Solid or hollow core • Glass and aluminum • Wood stile and panel

Locking Mechanisms • Latch • Dead bolt • Panic hardware • High security devices

Fire Conditions • Smoke • Signs of heat • Partial failure • TIC signature • Weather strip

Safety

Halligan

• Palm up on the adze end.

• Keep your eyes on the door.

• Direct operations and

call commands

• Do not move the bar

after calling

• “STRIKE”.

Axe • Choke down on

the handle. • Keep a hand on the

butt of the handle. • Punch with the axe. • Only strike once per

command.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 4 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Commands • STRIKE • STOP • WEDGE • FULCRUM

Parts of the Halligan • Adze • Fork • Pike • Shoulders

“Jimmy” an Outward Swinging Latch

1. Gap the Door 2. Insert the Adze

3. Spread to clear the latch from the keeper and walk/pry the door open together. * Only works on latches. Soft metal will bend and suffer damage.*

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 5 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Outward Swinging Metal Door – Adze

1. GAP the door from the jamb. Use the adze to “tunnel” past the door to jamb. Bend the metal, don’t tear it. The Halligan wants to punch into the seam of the door. Take your time and bend the door. Don’t punch into it. If you start to tear metal, start again at another location.

2 G

. SET the adze or the forks past the door. rab the door with the bar.

3. FORCE the door open.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 6 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Outward Swinging Door - Fork

1. GAP the door the door. 2. SET the forks or adze. Grab the door.

3. FORCE the door. 4. Use the adze and pike for additional spread.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 7 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Recessed Outward Swinging Door

The forks cannot force a recessed door. 1. GAP the door.

2. Set the adze behind the door. 3. Force the door out and

then pivot onto the pike.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 8 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Inward Swinging Door

CONTROL THE DOOR. This can be critical SHOCK THE DOOR

Restrict air flow to the fire Shock high

Protect the public hallway Shock each lock

Prevent hostile fire events Shock low

Protect those above you in the stairwell

1. Shocking the door

2. GAP the rabbit. 3. GAP the jamb.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 9 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

4. Set the forks and grab the wall. 5. Force the door. Add fulcrum

if needed.

6. Open the door.

Double Swinging Doors

Double swinging doors may be forced with most pry tools by prying the two doors sufficiently apart at the lock to permit the lock bolt to pass the keeper. Sometimes a wood molding is fastened to one or both wooden doors where they come together at the center. The purpose of this molding is to cover the crack between the doors when they are closed. In this event, this molding must be removed before the blade of the tool can be inserted. Swinging double doors are sometimes secured with a bar on the inside wall. If the opening between the doors is sufficient to permit the insertion of a flat tool or object, a bar can sometimes be lifted or bumped from the stirrups.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 10 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Tempered Plate Glass Doors

Recent trends in building construction and the modernizing of older structures have increased the use of tempered plate glass doors. Such installations are frequently encountered in firefighting operations. The breakage characteristics of tempered plate glass are quite different from those of ordinary plate glass. This difference is due to the heat treatment that is given to the glass during tempering. The results of heat tempering plate glass produce high tension stresses in the center of the glass and high compression stresses in the exterior surfaces. These tension and compression stresses balance each other.

The heat treatment given to tempered plate glass increases its strength and flexibility. Its resistance to shock, pressure, impacts, and temperatures is also increased. Tempered plate glass is said to be approximately four times as strong after tempering as before. It is several times more resistant to impact and will withstand, without

breaking, a temperature of 650oF (343oC) on one side while the other side is exposed to ordinary ambient temperature. When broken, the sheet of glass suddenly disintegrates in relatively small pieces. The glass should be shattered about 14 inches, or knee-high, from the bottom and then cleaned out of the frame. To break the glass, use the pick of a pick-head axe.

Although tempered plate glass doors may be locked at the center, top, or bottom of the door, its resistance to shock and its rigid characteristic make it almost impossible to spring with forcible entry tools. Tests that have been conducted warrant the basic conclusion that firefighters should use every other available means of forcible entry before deciding to gain entrance through an opening that is blocked by a tempered plate glass door. Tempered plate glass door panels are considerably more expensive than any other glass- paneled doors of similar size. Each door is, in a sense, custom-built and the cost of installation varies. The time necessary to prepare a replacement door and have it installed may be considerably longer than for other types of doors.

Plate glass doors frequently have narrower side wing panels installed in the doorway opening. These panels should be regarded with the same precaution as the door. Whenever it is necessary to break tempered plate glass door panels the pick point of a standard fire axe should be used. A firefighter must wear eye protection to protect against injury.

Fragmentation of the tempered plate glass is in small granules with relatively blunt points and dull edges, while plate glass breaks into much larger sharp and pointed pieces. Plate glass fragments have sufficient weight and force to cause serious cuts or stabbing injuries. There are fewer hazards involved in breaking a tempered plate glass door panel than there is in breaking ordinary plate glass panels of the same size.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 11 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Sliding Doors

The sliding patio door presents the greatest problem from a forcible entry point of view. These units consist of heavy duty, full panel glass that is set into a metal or wood frame. These glass panels are sometimes doubled, "thermopane," or tempered which adds to their value. Patio sliding doors usually slide past stationary glass panels instead of disappearing into a wall. Breaking these glass panels to gain entrance is not recommended. Sliding patio doors can, however, be forced open by inserting a wedge tool between the jamb and the door near the lock and prying the door away from the frame. Patio sliding doors may sometimes be barred or blocked by a metal rod or a special device. This feature can easily be seen from the outside and it practically eliminates any possibility of forcing. On older homes, the patio doors may be opened by placing a tool point or a screwdriver under the door and "jimmying" the door up. This may allow the door to bounce free of the hook.

Overhead Doors

Overhead doors may be constructed of metal, fiber glass, or wood framework with wood or glass panels. From a forcible entry point of view, the sectional door does not present a serious problem unless it is motor driven or remote controlled.

The latch is usually in the center of the door and it controls the locks which are on each side of the door. The lock and latch may also be located on only one side. Overhead doors may be forced by prying upward at the bottom of the door with a good prying tool, but less damage will be done and time will be saved if a panel is knocked out and the latch is turned from the inside. Common objects designed to keep weather out, restrict entry as well as egress are Overhead Metal Roll-Up doors.

Overhead doors are extremely common and can be found in various styles in both residential and commercial arenas. But for those that are trained, professional in their approach, and apply their systematic execution of the craft, gaining access into an overhead metal roll-up will be no monumental task.

Overhead Metal Roll-ups Categories:

Rolling Steel

Sheet Curtain

Sectional / Panelized

Size-Up & Identification:

The first two categories; Rolling Steel and Sheet Curtain are the most common type found on commercial occupancies. The cylinder drum that the door rolls up into easily identifies these types of doors. This may be on the inside or the outside of the occupancy. If the cylinder drum is to the inside, the design of the door will be the indication of the type of door you are dealing with.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 12 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

Rolling Steel doors are a series of Steel slates that are connected together by a series of bent over decorative but structural grooves that run the width of the door. Therefore, the integrity of the door is dependent on the steel slates themselves. Seams are present if it makes a “crash” sound when checked with a shoulder or hit with a halligan.

Sheet Curtain doors are fabricated as one continuous piece. This type of door is the most popular type of door in newer commercial occupancies secondary to cost and weight. No seams are present if it makes a “bang” sound when checked with a shoulder or hit with a halligan.

Sectional / Panelized doors are less common on commercial occupancies; however, you may find them out there. Sectional / Panelized doors are common on the newer or retrofit residential garages. Seams are present, & have rollers attached to the outside edges in a channel on the interior mounting brackets.

Basic Cutting Sequences for Rolling Steel Overhead Metal Roll Up:

1. Make a cut down the center of the door 2. Make a small angular cut at the bottom of the vertical center cut. 3. Cut the steel channel at the bottom of the door. 4. Remove cut slats from the door opening 5. If a slat cannot be removed, cut through several slats on each side of the

door, next to the doorframe. 6. Pulling the appropriate slats will open the entire portion of the rolling steel door.

Basic Cutting Sequence for Sheet Curtain Metal Roll Ups:

1. Make a cut down the side of the door. 2. Make a small angular cut at the bottom of the vertical side cut. 3. Cut the steel channel at the bottom of the door. 4. Make an intersecting horizontal cut at the top of the vertical side cut. 5. Optional cut at an angle down intersection horizontal and vertical side cut.

Basic Cutting Sequence for Sectional / Panelized Metal Roll Ups:

1. Make a cut down the side of the door. 2. Make a small angular cut at the bottom of the vertical side cut. 3. Cut the steel channel at the bottom of the door. 4. Make an intersecting horizontal cut at the top of the vertical side cut. 5. Optional cut at an angle down intersection horizontal and vertical side cut.

A little about the old “TEEPEE or V” Cuts

This cut is undesirable to use on the fire ground. The difficulties with this cut are the following:

It requires two very large cuts that will differ in size, dependent of the size of the firefighter making them.

ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 13 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19

It is narrow and will result in an opening that only one firefighter at a time may utilize.

When hose lines are advanced through the opening, the door is never raised and limits ventilation, lighting and most importantly EGRESS!

Personnel will continue to walk meaning TRIP over the loose metal section of the door.

Rolling steel overhead doors that are found in many commercial areas may sometimes be forced by prying upward at the bottom. However, if this is the access to be used, the door may need to be cut. The circular saw is used to cut a "door". Two or three sides need to be cut, and then pull the metal down for entry. Care must be taken around this door as the integrity of construction is defeated.

Garage doors are usually locked by a Hasp and lock. Entry is made by cutting the Hasp. This method will not work on garage doors with automatic door openers. In fire situations, involving the garage, remember to block open the door as the springs may have lost their strength in the heat.