Mastering Forcible Entry Techniques: Tools, Safety, and Methods for Doors, Windows, and Walls

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this lesson you will be able to:

• Define forcible entry and its need.
• Describe the forcible entry tools and their general safety while handling.
• Describe the types of doors and their forcible entry methods.
• Describe the types of windows and their forcible entry methods.
• Describe the safely breaching of walls and floors.

1. Forcible Entry:

• Method to gain access when normal means of entry cannot be used.
• Requires strength, knowledge, proper techniques, and skill.
• Use amount of force appropriate to situation.
• Arrange to secure the opening before leaving the scene.

1.1 Forcible Entry Situation:

• Required at emergency incidents where time is a critical factor:
  • Affect a rescue.
  • Control a fire before it extends.
• Incident commander selects:
  • Point of entry
  • Method to be used
• “Try before you pry!”

2. Forcible Entry Tools:

Firefighters must know:

• What 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?

2.1 General Tool Safety:

• Incorrect use or improper maintenance can be dangerous.
• Always wear proper PPE.
• Use the right tool for the job.
• Keep tools clean and serviced.
• Take broken tools out of service for repair.
• Keep tools in proper area or container.

2.1.1 General Carrying Tips:

• Request assistance for heavy tools.
• Use your legs to lift heavy tools.
• Keep sharp edges and points away from your body.
  • Cover them with a gloved hand.
• Carry long tools pointing down.
  • Be aware of overhead wires.

2.1.2 General Maintenance Tips:

• All tools should be in a ready state.
  • Tools must be in working order, in their storage place, and ready for use.
• Tools require regular maintenance and cleaning to ensure readiness.
  • Perform required checks regularly.
  • Follow manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions.
  • Keep proper records of maintenance, repairs, and warranty work performed.

2.2 Types Of Forcible Entry Tools:

• Striking Tools.
• Prying/Spreading Tools.
• Cutting Tools.
• Lock/Specialty Tools.

2.2.1 Striking Tools:

• Used to generate an impact force directly on an object or another tool.
• Head usually made of hardened steel, such as: Sledge hammer

2.2.2 SledgeHammer:

• Sometimes called mauls.
• Come in various weights and sizes.
• Head of hammer can weigh from 2 to 20 pounds.
• Handle may be short like a carpenter’s hammer or long like an axe handle.
• Can be used alone to break down a door or with other striking tools.

2.2.3 Prying Tools:

Such as:

• Pry bar/Hux bar/Crow bar.
• Fireman hook.

2.2.3.1 Pry Bar:

• Made from hardened steel in a 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 in diverse situations.

2.2.4 Fireman Hook:

• Made from hardened steel in a variety of shapes and sizes.
• Commonly used to force doors and windows, remove nails, or separate building materials.
• Mostly used for Starvation.
• Its handle made of wood.

2.2.5 Cutting Tools:

• Primarily used for cutting doors, roofs, walls, and floors.
• Hand operated.
  • Such as: Fireman Axe, Bolt cutters.

2.2.5.1 Fireman Axe:

• Many types of axes.
• Cutting edge of axe used to break into plaster and wood walls, roofs, and doors.
  • Flat-head.
  • Pick-head.
  • Pry axe.
  • Multipurpose axes.

2.2.5.2 Bolt Cutter:

• Used to cut metal components such as bolts, padlocks, chains, and chain-link fences.
• Available in several different sizes.
• The longer the handle, the greater the cutting forces.
• May not be able to cut into some heavy-duty padlocks made of case-hardened metal.

3 Doors:

• Basic Door Construction:
  • Door.
  • Jamb.
  • Hardware.
  • Locking device.
• Construction Material:
  • Wood, Metal, Glass.

3.1 Types Of Doors:

• Inward-opening.
• Outward-opening.
• Sliding doors.
• Revolving doors.
• Overhead doors.

Hinges indicate if door has inward or outward opening.

• Outward:
  • Hinges are visible.
• Inward:
  • Hinges are not visible.

3.1.1 Inward Opening Doors:

Design:

• Made of wood, steel, or glass.
• Have an exterior frame with a stop or rabbet.
• Locking mechanisms range from standard doorknob locks to deadbolt locks or sliding latches.

Forcing Entry:

• Determine what type of frame the door has.
• Use a prying tool near the locking mechanism.
• Use a striking tool to force the prying tool further into the door frame.

3.1.2 Outward Opening Doors:

Design:

• Used in commercial occupancies and for most exits.
• Designed for a quick exit.
• Made of wood, metal, or glass.
• Usually have exposed hinges.

Forcing entry:

• Check to see if hinges can be disassembled or hinge pins removed.
• Place the end of prying tool into the door frame.
• Use striking tool.
• Leverage the tool to force the door outward.

3.1.3 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.

Forcing Entry:

• Check whether a security rod is in the door track.
• If present, try another door.
• If not present, use a pry bar to lever the door away from the locking mechanism.
• If necessary, break the glass.

3.1.4 Revolving Doors:

Design:

• Made of four glass panels with metal frames.
• Designed to collapse outward when pushed backward.
• Usually surrounded by outward-swinging doors.

Forcing Entry:

• Should be avoided whenever possible.
• Opening will not be large enough to allow many people to exit.
• Can be done by attacking the locking mechanism directly or by breaking the glass.

3.1.5 Overhead Doors:

Design:

• Can roll up or tilt.
• Made of wood or metal.
• May be hollow-core or solid-core.

Forcing Entry:

• Break out the panel or window and manually operate lock from within.
• Security roll-up door.
• Cut triangle-shape entry.

4 Windows:

• Usually easier to force than doors.
• Frames made of wood, metal, vinyl.
• Glass is the easiest way to force a window, but also the most dangerous.

Safety:

• Wear PPE with face and eye protection.
• Clear area for personnel.
• Coordinate with fire attack to prevent flare-ups and back drafts.

4.1 Frame Design:

• Double-Hung Window.
• Single-Hung Window.
• Jalousie Window.
• Awning Window.
• Horizontal-Sliding Window.
• Casement Window.
• Projected Window.

4.1.1 Double-Hung Window:

Design:

• Two sashes move up and down and are commonly used in residences.
• One center lock or one on either side.

Forcing Entry:

• Break locking mechanism to enter forcibly.
• Place a prying tool under the lower sash and force it up.
• May be cheaper and easier to break glass.

4.1.2 Single Hung Window:

Design:

• Upper sash is fixed—only lower sash moves.
• Locking mechanism is the same.
• May be difficult to distinguish between single-hung and double-hung from the exterior.

Forcing Entry:

• Use the same technique as forced entry through a double-hung window.
• Breaking glass and opening the window is generally easier.

4.1.3 Jalousie Window:

• Adjustable, overlapping sections of tempered glass.
• Operated by hand crank and difficult to force.
• Avoid if possible Cracked windows.

4.1.4 Awning Window:

• Like jalousie, but only one or two panels.
• Break the lower panel and operate the crank.
• Break out panels.
• May be easier to force than jalousie due to larger panel size.

4.1.5 Horizontal Sliding Window:

• Similar to sliding doors.
• Rods and poles are placed to prevent break-ins.
• Force in the same manner as sliding doors.
• Attempt to locate another window if a security rod is present.

4.1.6 Casement Window:

• Steel or wood-frame windows.
• Similar to jalousie or awning windows.
• Should be avoided because they are difficult to open.
• To force, break glass, unlock, and open manually.

4.1.7 Projected Window:

• Also called factory windows.
• Avoid forcing entry.
• To force entry, break a pane, unlock, and open the window manually.
• If the opening is not large enough, break out the entire assembly.

5 Breaching Walls and Floors:

• Breach only as a last resort.
• First consider if the wall is load-bearing:
  • Could cause collapse if breached.
  • Non-bearing walls can be removed safely.

5.1 Exterior Walls:

• Can be constructed of one or more materials (e.g., wood, brick, aluminum siding, masonry block, concrete, or metal).
• Attempting to breach is a difficult decision; masonry, metal, and brick are hard materials.
• Breaking through can be very difficult.
• Best tools to use are:
  • Sledgehammer.
  • Rotary saw with a concrete blade.

5.1.1 Interior Walls:

• Constructed of wood or metal studs covered by plaster, gypsum, or sheetrock in residences.
• Commercial buildings may have concrete block interior walls.
• Breaching an interior wall can be dangerous.
• Locate a stud away from electrical outlets and switches.
• Make a small hole to check for obstructions.
• If the area is clear, expand to reveal studs.

5.2 Floors:

• Most floors are wood or poured concrete.
• Both can be difficult to breach.
• This is truly a last resort.
• Use a rotary saw with an appropriate blade.

5.3 Forcible Entry and Salvage:

• Try to keep damage to a minimum.
• Secure structure before leaving.
• Replace locks or board up entry point.
• Ensure guard is on-site or request additional police patrols.

Summary:

• “Try before you pry.”
• Use the minimum amount of force necessary to gain access.
• Knowledge of building construction is essential for successful forcible entry.
• Use proper PPE.
• Use and carry tools safely.