CHAPTER 10 Forcible Entry 1

Knowledge Objectives Describe the situations and circumstances that require forcible entry into a structure. List the general safety rules to follow when utilizing forcible entry tools. List the general carrying tips when utilizing forcible entry tools. List the general maintenance tips when utilizing forcible entry tools. List the types of tools used in forcible entry. 2

Knowledge Objectives List the rotating tools used in forcible entry. Describe the tasks that rotating tools are used for in forcible entry. List the striking tools used in forcible entry. Describe the tasks that striking tools are used for in forcible entry. List the prying and spreading tools used in forcible entry. Describe the tasks that prying and spreading hand tools are used for in forcible entry. 3

Knowledge Objectives List the cutting tools used in forcible entry. Describe the tasks that cutting tools are used for in forcible entry. List the pushing and pulling tools used in forcible entry. Describe the tasks that pushing and pulling tools are used for in forcible entry. List the special-use and lock tools used in forcible entry. 4

Knowledge Objectives Describe the tasks that special-use and lock tools are used for in forcible entry. Describe the basic components of a door. Explain the differences between a solid-core and a hollow-core door. Describe the basic classifications of doors by opening type. Explain how the door classification affects forcible entry operations. 5

Knowledge Objectives Describe the basic configurations of window construction. Describe the common styles of window frames. Explain how the style of window frame affects forcible entry operations. Describe the major components of a door lock. Describe the major components of a padlock. Describe the four major types of locks. 6

Knowledge Objectives Explain how the type of lock affects forcible entry operations. Describe the tools used to force entry through locks. Describe how to force entry through doors with drop bars. Describe how to force entry through security gates and windows. 7

Knowledge Objectives Explain the differences between load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls. Describe the materials used in exterior and interior walls. Describe the materials used in floors. List the basic steps and considerations in forcible entry operations. 8

Skills Objectives Force entry into an inward-opening door. Force entry into an outward-opening door. Open an overhead garage door using the triangle method. Open an overhead garage door using the hinge method. Force entry through a wooden double-hung window. Force entry through a casement window.

Skills Objectives Force entry through a projected window. Force entry using a K tool. Force entry using an A tool. Force entry by unscrewing a lock. Breach a wall frame. Breach a masonry wall. Breach a metal wall. Breach a floor.

Introduction Forcible entry Method to gain access when normal means of entry cannot be used Requires strength, knowledge, proper techniques, and skill Fire fighters must consider different methods and select the most appropriate one. Use amount of force appropriate to situation. 11

Introduction Fire fighters must never leave the premises in a condition that would allow unauthorized entry. Consider type of construction, entry points, securing devices, and best tools and equipment for the situation. Keep up with how new styles of windows, doors, locks, and security devices operate. 12

Forcible Entry Situations Required at emergency incidents where time is a critical factor Company officer selects: Point of entry Method to be used Coordination of entry “Try before you pry!” Check for unlocked entry points. Be sure you are at the correct address. Look for alternative entry points. 13

Forcible Entry Situations If forcible entry is required, consider: Seriousness of the situation Nature of the call Type of occupancy and construction Type of door or window Type of lock 14

Forcible Entry Tools Fire fighters must know: Which tools are available Uses and limitations of each tool How to select the right tool How to operate each tool How to carry each tool How to inspect and maintain each tool 15

General Tool Safety Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Use the right tool for the job. Keep tools clean and serviced. Keep tools in proper area or container. © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman. 16

General Carrying Tips Request assistance with heavy tools. Use your legs to lift heavy tools. Keep sharp edges away from your body. Cover or shield them with a gloved hand. Carry long tools pointing down. Be aware of overhead obstructions and wires. 17

General Maintenance Tips All tools should be in a ready state. Tools must be in working order, stored, and ready for use. Tools require regular maintenance and cleaning. © Jones & Bartlett Learning 18

Types of Forcible Entry Tools Rotating tools Striking tools Prying/spreading hand tools Cutting tools Pushing/pulling tools Multiple-function tools Special-use/lock tools 19

Rotating Tools Apply a rotational force to make something turn Includes screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers Power tools include rotating power saws 20

Striking Tools Used to generate an impact force directly on an object or another tool Generally hand tools powered by humans Head usually made of hardened steel Flat-head axe has cutting blade and flat striking surface. Battering ram is used to force doors and breach walls. Sledgehammer can be used alone or with other tools. 21

Prying/Spreading Hand Tools Halligan tool Widely used Commonly used to perform forcible entry Incorporates three tools: the adze, pick, and claw © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman. 22

Prying/Spreading Hand Tools Pry bar/Hux bar/crowbar Made from hardened steel Variety of shapes and sizes Commonly used to force doors and windows, remove nails, or separate building materials Various shapes allow fire fighters to exert different amounts of leverage. 23

Prying/Spreading Hand Tools Pry axe Multipurpose tool Includes adze, pick, and claw Consists of body and handle Use extreme caution Courtesy of Paratech Inc. 24

Hydraulic Tools 25 © Jones & Bartlett Learning Courtesy of Fire Hooks Unlimited. 25

Cutting Tools Primarily used for cutting doors, roofs, walls, and floors Hand-operated and power cutting tools Power tools can be powered by batteries, electricity, gasoline, or hydraulics. 26

Cutting Tools Axe Many different types Cutting edge used to break into plaster and wood walls, roofs, and doors Types include flat- head, pick-head, and multipurpose axes © Jones & Bartlett Learning 27

Cutting Tools Bolt cutters Used to cut components, such as bolts, padlocks, chains, and chain-link fences Available in several different sizes The longer the handle, the greater the cutting force May not be able to cut into some heavy-duty padlocks made of case-hardened 28

Cutting Tools Rotary saw Powered by electric motors/gasoline engines Important to match the appropriate blade or disk to the material Reciprocating saw Powered by electric or battery motor that pulls a saw blade back and forth Most commonly used to cut metal during extrication from a motor vehicle 29

Cutting Tools Circular saw Gasoline powered Light, powerful, and easy to use Blades can be changed quickly. Carbide-tipped blades Metal-cutting blades Masonry-cutting blades Blades with missing labels should be discarded. 30

Pushing/Pulling Tools Tools extend the reach and increase the power of the fire fighter. K tool is designed to remove a lock cylinder, protecting the door. A tool is similar to the K tool, except the pry bar is built into the cutting part of the tool. J tool will fit between double doors that have push or panic bars. Shove knife is a pulling tool used to trip the latch on outward-swinging doors. 31

Pushing/Pulling Tools © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman.

Special Use/Lock Tools Used to disassemble the locking mechanism on a door Cause minimal damage to the door and the door frame Allow experienced user to gain entry, usually in less than a minute Duck-billed lock breaker Locking pliers and chain Bam-bam tool 33

Special Use/Lock Tools © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman. 34

Doors Usually the best point to attempt forcible entry Basic construction: Door Jamb Hardware Locking mechanism © Ivan Nakonechnyy/Shutterstock, Inc. 35

Wood Slab Doors Solid core Solid-wood core blocks covered by a face panel Hollow core Lightweight, honeycomb interior © Jones & Bartlett Learning 36

Wood Ledge Doors Wood doors with horizontal bracing Found on warehouses, sheds, and barns Panel Doors Solid-wood doors made from solid planks to form a rigid frame with solid-wood panels set into the frame Resist fire longer than hollow-core slab doors and are easier to breach than solid-core slab doors 37

Metal May be decorative for residential use or utilitarian for warehouses and factories More durable and fire resistant than metal Hollow-core metal doors Have a metal framework interior so they are lightweight Solid-core metal doors Have a foam or wood interior to reduce weight without affecting strength 38

Glass Generally steel frame with tempered glass or tempered glass only with no frame Easy to force Produces a large amount of broken glass 39

Types of Doors Inward Outward Sliding Revolving Overhead Hinges indicate if door is inward- or outward-opening. A: © Jones & Bartlett Learning; B: © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman. 40

Door Frames Two styles of wood-framed doors: Stopped door frames Rabbited door frames Metal-framed doors are more difficult to force open. 41

Outward-Opening Doors: Design Used in commercial occupancies and for most exits Designed for quick exit Made of wood, metal, or glass Usually have exposed hinges © thexfilephoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus. 42

Outward-Opening Doors Forcing entry First check to see whether hinges can be disassembled or hinge pins removed. If not, place adz end of prying tool into the door frame. Use striking tool to drive adze end into jamb. Leverage the tool to force the door outward away from the jamb. 43

Sliding Doors: Design Made of tempered glass in a wood or metal frame Have two sections and a double track A weak latch on the frame of the door secures the movable side. © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Glen E. Ellman. 44

Sliding Doors Forcing entry Check whether a security rod is in the track. If not present, use a pry bar to lever door away from locking mechanism. If necessary, break the glass. If a rod is present in the track, try to find another place to force entry. 45

Revolving Doors: Design Made of four glass panels with metal frames Designed to collapse outward when certain pressure is applied Usually adjacent to outward-opening doors Courtesy of Amanda Mitchell. 46

Revolving Doors Forcing entry Should be avoided whenever possible Will not produce opening that is large enough to allow many people to exit Can be done by attacking the locking mechanism directly or by breaking the glass 47

Overhead Doors: Design Can roll up or tilt Made of wood or metal May be hollow core or solid core Secured with cylinder locks, padlocks, or automatic openers A: © Dave White/iStockphoto.com; B: © Photodisc/Creatas. 48

Overhead Doors Forcing entry Break out a panel or window and manually operate lock from within. Always securely prop door open to prevent door from closing. Use emergency release cord for safety. If a security roll-up door, cut triangle-shape entry. Hinge cut makes a large opening. 49

Windows Windows are often easier to force than doors. Window frames are made of wood, metal, vinyl, or a combination of these materials. Will often match door construction Try to open the window normally before using any force. 50

Safety Ensure the area is clear of other personnel. Although breaking the glass is the easiest way to force entry, it is also dangerous. Always stand to the windward side, with your hands higher than the breaking point. Place the tip of the tool in the corner of the window. Completely clear glass from the frame. Coordinate breaking a window with fire attack. 51

Glass Construction Regular glass Double- or triple-pane glass Plate glass Laminated glass Tempered glass Plexiglass and Lexan may also be used. Window may contain one or more panes of glass. 52

Regular or Annealed Glass Commonly used because it is inexpensive Larger pieces called plate glass Easily broken with a pike pole Watch out for shards. Can penetrate helmets, boots, and other protective gear 53

Double- and Triple-Pane Glass Used in many homes because it improves home insulation Can be expensive to replace Uses two panes with an air or inert gas pocket between them Two panes need to be broken separately. Watch out for shards. 54

Plate Glass Commercial plate glass is stronger, thicker glass used in large window openings. Being replaced with tempered glass in modern construction Can easily be broken with a Halligan tool or pike pole Watch out for large shards. 55

Laminated Glass Also known as safety glass Molded sheet of plastic between two sheets of glass Commonly used in vehicle windshields 56

Tempered Glass Specially heat-treated Four times stronger than regular glass Common in side and rear vehicle windows and commercial or sliding doors Breaks into small pellets without sharp edges 57

Wired Glass Tempered glass with wire reinforcement Often used in fire-rated doors Difficult to break or force 58

Double-Hung Windows Design Two sashes move up and down One lock in middle or one on either side Forcing entry Open or break locking mechanism © Jones & Bartlett Learning 59

Single-Hung Windows Design Only lower sash moves Forcing entry Use same technique as double-hung window. © Jones & Bartlett Learning 60

Jalousie Windows Adjustable, overlapping sections of tempered glass Operated by hand crank Difficult to force Avoid if possible © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Bill Larkin. 61

Awning Windows Similar to jalousie windows, except have larger glass panels rather than many small ones Operated by hand crank Found in residential, commercial, and industrial settings Residential awning windows may be framed in wood, vinyl, or metal. Commercial and industrial windows are usually metal framed and often use a lock and notched bar instead of a crank to hold the window open. 62

Awning Windows © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Bill Larkin.

Awning Windows: Forcing Entry Break or force open the lower panel and operate the crank. Or break out all the panels May be easier to access (enter or exit) than a jalousie window, depending on the size of the panels 64

Horizontal-Sliding Windows Similar to sliding doors Force in the same manner as sliding doors (use pry bar to break latch). Attempt to locate another window if a security rod is present. © Jones & Bartlett Learning 65

Casement Windows Steel- or wood-frame windows that crank open Side hinge rather than top hinge Should be avoided To force, break glass, unlock, and open manually. © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Bill Larkin. 66

Projected Windows Can project inward or outward on upward hinge Avoid forcing entry. To force entry, break a pane, unlock, and open the window manually. © Jones & Bartlett Learning. Photographed by Bill Larkin. 67

Parts of a Door Lock Latching device Operator lever Deadbolt 68 © Maxal Tamor/Shutterstock, Inc. 68

Parts of a Padlock Shackle Unlocking mechanism Lock body 69 © Lik Studio/Shutterstock, Inc. 69

Safety Keep cutting tools sharp for best results. Be careful to avoid getting cut and pinching or crushing fingers or hands Use proper PPE, including gloves, eye, and face protection. 70

Cylindrical Locks Design Locks and handles are set into predrilled holes Forcing entry Use K tool Place a pry bar near locking mechanism and lever it. Courtesy of Amanda Mitchell. 71

Padlocks Most common locks on the market today Regular- and heavy-duty are available. Come with various unlocking devices Keyways Combination wheels Combination dials Operating the unlocking mechanism opens one side of the lock to release the shackle and allow entry. 72

Padlocks Hockey puck lock Cannot be forced through conventional means Locks must be twisted from their mounting tabs Courtesy of Master Lock Company LLC 73

Padlocks Forcing entry Cut the shackle or hasp. Breaking the shackle is the best method. If padlock is made of case-hardened steel, many conventional methods will be ineffective. Common tools used to force entry include bolt cutters, duck-billed lock breakers, the bam-bam tool, and locking pliers and chain. 74

Mortise Locks Commonly found in hotel rooms Latch will lock door. Bolt can be used for added security. Difficult to force; known for strength Use through-the-lock technique. Courtesy of Amanda Mitchell. 75

Rim Locks and Deadbolts Used as secondary locks Have a bolt that extends at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the door frame Difficult to force Use through-the-lock method. © seele/iStock/Getty Images Plus. 76

Electromagnetic Locks Powerful electromagnets and an armature plate energized by electricity Fail-safe versus fail- secure Can force open with prying tools Courtesy of Amanda Mitchell. 77

Keyless Door Locks Operated with a numerical code, key card, fingerprint, eye scan Can be accessed directly or remotely Battery- or electric- operated Managers or personnel may be able to release the lock Courtesy of Amanda Mitchell. 78

Forcing Entry Through Doors with Drop Bars Many commercial buildings have rear single or double doors that are usually constructed of metal and may have no window or a very small one. A dropdown bar is placed in the brackets and extends beyond the sides of the door frame. Gaining entry through these doors requires you to disable these devices. One of the simplest techniques is to cut the heads off the carriage bolts and drive these bolts back through the door. 79

Forcing Entry Through Security Gates and Windows Usually equipped with a lock or a locking mechanism Designed to keep criminals out but can make it difficult for fire fighters to gain access Check for a lock box. Know how to rapidly force entry. Some gateways may be siren-activated. Remove the lock or cut the gate and bars. Plan your cuts to minimize them. 80

Forcing Entry Through Security Gates and Windows Breaching security bars on a window Remove the lock cylinder if present. If not, cut through the bars using a circular saw or hydraulic cutter. You may be able to pry them from the window with a hydraulic spreader. Look for the types of security gates and bars present in your community. Talk with the installers of these products. 81

Breaching Walls and Floors Breach only as a last resort. First consider whether wall is load-bearing. Could cause collapse if breached Nonbearing walls can be removed safely. 82

Exterior Walls Can be constructed of one or more materials Often load-bearing Breaking through can be very difficult. Best tools are battering ram, sledgehammer, rotary saw Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit - Ed Hancock 83

Interior Walls Usually constructed of wood or metal studs covered by plaster, gypsum, or sheetrock Newer residential construction may contain laminate sheetrock, which is extremely difficult to penetrate. Commercial buildings may have concrete block interior walls. 84

Interior Walls Breaching an interior wall can be dangerous. Many walls contain electrical wiring, plumbing, cable wires, and telephone wires. May also be load-bearing; extreme caution should be taken if any studs are removed. After determining type of wall, locate a stud away from any electrical outlets or switches. Tap on wall; the area between studs will sound hollow. 85

Interior Walls Make a small hole to check for obstructions. If area is clear, expand to reveal studs. Breach as close as possible to the studs because this makes a large opening and cutting is easier. Enlarge the opening by removing at least one stud to enable escape if possible. 86

Floors Most floors are wood or poured concrete. Both can be difficult to breach. Important information can observed from below. This is truly a last resort. Use a rotary saw with appropriate blade. Chainsaw might be a better choice for a wood floor. 87

Systematic Forcible Entry Before taking action Double-check address. Look for a lockbox. Evaluate the threat level. Minimize damage. Coordinate with team members. Courtesy of Wayland, Massachusetts. 88

Summary Forcible entry is required at emergency incidents where time is a critical factor. Company officers usually select both the point of entry and the method to be used. Before beginning forcible entry operations, remember to “try before you pry.” It is important to wear the appropriate PPE when conducting forcible entry. 89

Summary Tools should be kept clean, properly serviced according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, and ready for use at all times. Most tools fit into these functional categories: Rotating tools Striking tools Prying/spreading tools Cutting tools Pushing/pulling tools Lock tools and specialty tools 90

Summary Every door contains four major components: Door—the entryway itself Jamb—the upright or vertical sides of a window or door frame onto which a door is secured Hardware—the handles, hinges, and other components Locking mechanism Doors are generally constructed of wood, metal, or glass. 91

Summary Doors are classified by how they open: Inward Outward Sliding Revolving Overhead Window construction includes glazed glass, regular or annealed glass, double- or triple-pane glass, plate glass, laminated glass, and tempered glass. 92

Summary Window frame designs include the following types: Double-hung windows Single-hung windows Jalousie windows Awning windows Horizontal-sliding windows Casement windows Projected windows 93

Summary Locks range in sophistication from simple push- button locks to complex computer-operated locks. There are three major parts of a door lock: latching device, operator lever, and deadbolt. Most padlocks, like most door locks, have similar parts: shackle, unlocking mechanism, and lock body. 94

Summary Locks can be classified into four major categories: Cylindrical locks Padlocks Mortise locks Rim locks Electromagnetic and keyless door locks operate without a traditional metal key.

Summary On occasion, breaching a wall or floor may be necessary. Before breaching a wall, first consider whether the wall is load-bearing. Removing or damaging this type of wall could cause the building or wall to collapse. The steps in systematic forcible entry are as follows: think, look for a lockbox, evaluate the situation, and make entry with the least amount of damage possible.