403.00 Revised 12-4-19
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ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING MANUAL TRUCK MODULE FORCIBLE ENTRY 10-24-17 PAGE 1 OF 13 Forcing Doors 403.00 Revised 12-4-19 There are three basic types of forcible entry FORCING DOORS 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 The Door Jamb • Occupancy • Direction of swing • Construction • Metal or wood • Windows • Rabbeted or nailed • Alternate entry points • Tight or loose • The BIG picture The Door Locking Mechanisms • Metal or wood • Latch • Solid or hollow core • Dead bolt • Glass and aluminum • Panic hardware • Wood stile and panel • High security devices Fire Conditions • Smoke • Signs of heat • Partial failure • TIC signature • Weather strip Safety Halligan Axe • Palm up on the • Choke down on adze end. the handle. • Keep your eyes on • Keep a hand on the the door. butt of the handle. • Direct operations and • Punch with the axe. call commands • Only strike once per • Do not move the bar command. after calling • “STRIKE”. 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 Parts of the Halligan • STRIKE • Adze • STOP • Fork • WEDGE • Pike • FULCRUM • 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 . SET the adze or the forks past the 3. FORCE the door open. Gdoor. rab the door with the bar. 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.