Chapter 10: Forcible Entry Flashcards
There are 7 types of forcible entry tools. What are they?
- Rotating tools
- Striking tools
- Prying/Spreading tools
- Cutting tools
- Pushing/Pulling tools
- Multiple-functioning tools
- Special-use tools/lock tools
Example of Rotating tools
- Screw drivers
- Wrenches
- Pliers
Example of Striking tools
- Flat head axes
- Hammers
- Sledgehammers
- Battering rams
Example of Prying/Spreading tools
Pry bar
- Pry bars
- Crow bars
- Halligan
- Hux bar
- Hydraulic-powered rabbit tool
Pry Axe
A multipurpose tool that can be used both to cut and to force open doors and windows (Fig 10.4). It includes an Adze end, a pick, and a fork or claw.
Example of Hydraulic-powered tools
What are the two types of hydraulic tools that is designed to force open doors that open inward?
This tool requires hydraulic pressure, which can be provided by a high-pressure, motor-operated pump or a hand pump.
- Spreaders
- Cutters
- Hydra-Rams
- Rabbit Tool
The two types of hydraulic tools designed to force open doors that open inward is
- The Rabbit Tool
- Hydra Ram
Example of Cutting tools
- Axe
- Bolt Cutters
- Rotary Saw
- Reciprocating Saw
- Circular Saw: Has 3 different blades:
• Carbide-tipped blade: Designed to cut through hard surfaces or wood
• Metal-cutting blade: Designed to cut metal doors, locks, or gates.
• Mansonry-cutting blade: Made out of steel and can cut concrete, masonry, and similar materials.
What are the four tips for carrying tools?
Example of Pushing/Pulling Tools
- K Tool: Designed to remove a lock cylinder
- A Tool: Similiar to a K tool, except that the prybar is built into the cutting of the tool. You put the cutting head over the lock cylinder, and use a striking tool to force it down into the cylinder until the lock cylinder can be forced out the door. Once it’s removed, you use another tool to open the locking mechanism.
- J Tool: Will fit between double doors that have push bars or panic bars. Slide the J tool between the doors, and pull to engage the panic bars.
Duck-Billed Lock Breakers
The narrow end of the wedge is driving through the center of the shackle (which is the U part of the padlock) using a striking tool.
Locking Pliers and Chain
Used to clamp a padlock securely in place so that the shackles can be cut safely with a circular saw or cutting torch. One FF clamps the pliers to the lock body while a second FF maintains a steady tension on the chain as the lock is being cut.
All Forcible Entry Tools
All Forcible Entry tools Cont
What are the four basic door parts of a door?
- Door (The entry itself)
- Door Jab (The upright or vertical parts of a door frame into which a door is secured.
- Hardware (The handles, hinges)
- Locking Mechanism
What 3 construction materials are doors usually constructed of?
- Wood
- Metal
- Glass
What are the 3 type of wood swinging doors?
- Slab: slab door is just a basic, rectangular, flat, slab of wood, steel or fiberglass that’s sold without any hardware, hinges or frame. Slab doors may or may not have pre-drilled holes for door knobs
- Ledge: Recommended for internal use only, a ledged and braced door is made up of at least three horizontal rails (ledges) and a diagonal brace on the rear of the door and vertical boards that make the front face of the door. May be found in warehouses, sheds and barns.
- Panel: A door constructed with stiles, panels and rails on a wood surface. Combining several smaller components (stiles, rails, loose-fitting panels) into one door allows panel doors to maintain their shape while expanding and contracting with weather and temperature changes.
Slab doors come in two core designs. What are they?
- Solid-core doors: Constructed of solid wood core blocks covered by a face panel. Typically used for entrance doors. They are heavy and may be difficult to force, but their construction enables them to contain fire better than hollow-core doors do.
- Hollow-core doors: Have a lightweight, honeycomb interior, which is covered by a face panel. Often used for interior doors, such as for bedrooms. Holle-core doors are easy to force. More quickly to burn vs. solid core doors.
Metal doors may be either decorative (for residential use) or utilitarian (for warehouses and factories). Like wood doors, they may have a hollow core or solid core construction.
Hollow-core metal doors have a metal framework interior so they are as lightweight as possible.
By contrast, solid-core metal doors have a foam or wood interior that is intended to reduce the doors weight without affecting its strength. Residential metal doors may appear to be panel doors and are often used as entry doors.
Glass
Glass doors generally have a steel frame with tempered glass; alternatively, they may be simply tempered glass and not required a frame but have metal supports to attach hardware. They are easy to force but can be dangerous owing to the larger number of small broken pieces that are produced when glass is broken.
What are the 5 ways that doors open?
Inward and outward doors can be differentiated based on whether the hinges are visible (fig.10-15). If you can see the hardware, the door will swing inward or outward?
If the hinges are not visible, the door will swing inward or outward?
- Inward
- Outward
- Sliding
- Revolving
- Overhead
If you can see the hardware, the door will swing toward you (outward).
If the hinges are not visible, the door will swing away from you (inward).
Wood-framed doors come in two styles…what are they?
- Stopped Door Frame: Door stops are multiple thin strips of wood placed along the length of the door jambs and the head. They stop the door from being ripped off its hinges
- Rabbet Door Frame: a rabbet is the area between the stop and the face of the frame that holds the door, panel, or glazing.
Forcing entry to an inward opening door
Inward opening doors
They have an exterior frame with a stop or rabbet that keeps the door from opening past the latch.
Name three type of locking mechanism?
- Door knob locks
- Deadbolt locks
- Sliding latches
See deadbolt picture below
Outward Opening doors
Used in commercial occupancies and for most exits (Fig 10-16). They are designed so that people can leave a building quickly during an emergency. May be constructed of wood, metal or glass. Usually have exposed hinges, which may present an entry opportunity. More frequently, however, these hinges will be sealed so that the pins cannot be removed.
How to force entry?
Before forcing entry to an outward opening door, check the hinges to see if they can be assembled or the pins removed. If that would take too long or cannot be done. Place the adz end of a Halligan, into the space between the door and the door jamb near the locking mechanism. Typically 6 inches above or under.
Forcing Entry into an outward opening door Skill Drill 10-2
Sliding Doors are mostly constructed of what kind of glass and what type of frame?
Tempered Glass and in a wooden or metal frame.
Revolving Doors:
Most commonly found in commercial or residential buildings. Usually made of four glass panels with metal frames. These panels are designed to collapse outward with a certain amount of pressure to allow for rapid escape during an emergency. Usually secured by a standard cylinder lock or slide latch lock.
Because of Life Safety Code, fire, and building code requirements, standard outward opening doors are often found adjacent to the revolving doors. It may be best to force entry through the outward opening doors due to finances for the building owner
How to force entry?
H
Forcible entry through revolving doors should be avoided whenever possible. Even if it’s easy to force entry, the opening will not be large enough to allow many people to exit quickly and easily. However, forcing entry can be achieved by attacking the locking mechanism directly or by breaking the glass.
Overhead Doors:
Come in many different designs from standard residential garage doors to high security commercial roll up doors (fig. 10-19).
Residential overhead garage doors mostly have 3 or 4 panels and may or may not include windows. Some come in single sections and tilt rather than roll up. May be made of wood or metal, usually hollow core, filled with insulation and foam.
By contrast, commercial security overhead doors are made of metal paneling or garden steel rods. Can be secured with cylinder-style locks, padlocks, or automatic garage door openers.
How to force entry?
What are the names of the two cuts?
Before forcing entry, do a careful sizeup of the door. Most residential garage doors are not sturdy. Breaking a window or panel and manually operating the door lock or pulling the emergency release in the automatic opener from the inside may be all that is needed.
If it is fire behind the door, the fire may have weakened the door springs, making it impossible the raise the door. In such case, it must be cut or another means of entry may be found.
Remember to secure any raised door with a pile pole or other support to ensure that it does not close on either FF or their attack lines.
The name of the two cuts is:
1. Triangle cut
2. Hinge cut
Triangle cut method for overhead doors
Hinge Cut Method for overhead doors
Glass Construction:
Glazing
Is the transparent part of the window and is most commonly made of glass.
Window glass comes in 5 different configurations. What are they?
- Regular glass
- Double/Triple pane glass
- Plate glass (for large windows)
- Laminated glass
- Tempered glass
Double-Hung Windows
Contain of two moveable panels, or sashes, usually made of wood or vinyl, that slide up and down (Fig. 10-20). Frequently found in residences and have wood, plastic, or metal tracks. Newer double hung window sashes may be removed or swung in for cleaning. They may have either one locking mechanism that is found in the center of the window or two locks on each side of the lower sash that prevent the sashes from moving up or down.
Forcing Entry:
Forcing Entry involved opening or breaking the locking mechanism. Place a porting tool between the windowsill and the lower sash, and force it up to break the lock or remove it from the track. (Skill Drill 10-5)
Skill Drill Pt 2 is on the next card.
Single-Hung Windows:
Similiar to double hung window, except that the upper sash is fixed and only the lower sash moves. (Fig. 10-21).
Forcing Entry: Same technique as a double-hung window. Place a prying tool between the windowsill and the lower sash, and force it up. This will usually break the lock or remove the sash from the track.
Jalousie Windows:
Made of adjustable sections of tempered glass, encased in a metal frame that overlap each other when closed. (Fig 10-22). Typically found in mobile homes and is operated by a small hand will or crank located in the corner of the window.
Forcing Entry:
The best strategy is to avoid these windows. Breaking a lower panel to stick your hand in to operate the crank is possible, but doesn’t leave a big enough does d for a person to enter the building. Breaking and removing all the panels is time consuming. Your best bet is to avoid them.
Awning Windows:
Similar in operation to Jalousie windows, except that they usually have one large or multiple medium-sized glass panels that do not overlap when they are closed (Fog. 10-23). The hinge is on the top, and they open outward. Awning windows are operated by a hand crank located in the corner or in the center of the window. (Fig 10-24). Commercial and industrial awning windows often use a lock and a notched bar to hold the window open rather than a crank.
Forcing Entry:
Same technique as the Jalousie window. Breaking the lowest panel to operate the crank or break all panels.
Horizontal Sliding Windows:
Similar to sliding doors (Fig. 10-25). In older windows, the locking mechanism attached to the window frame. Newer sliding windows have latches between the windows, similar to those on double-hung windows.
Forcing Entry:
Just like forcing entry through a sliding door. Place a pry bar near the latch to break the latch or the plate. If a rod or pole has been inserted into the track, look for another entry point, or break the glass, although the latter step should be the last resort.
Casement Windows:
Have a steel or wood frame and open away from the building with a crank mechanism (Fog. 10-26). Although similar to awning windows that have large glass panels, they have a side hinge, rather than a top hinge. Several types of locking mechanism can be used with these windows. Like Jalousie windows, they should be avoided when forcible entry is necessary, because they are difficult to force open.
Forcing Entry:
The best way is to break out the glass from one or more of the panes, locate the locking mechanism, and crank them manually. (Skill Drill 10-6). Break all the glass, reach in and unlock the locking mechanism.
Projected Windows:
(Also called factory windows), usually found in older warehouses or commercial buildings (Fig 10-27). They are awning type windows that can project inward or outward in a top or bottom hinge. Screens are rarely used with these windows, but forcing entry may not be easy, depending on the integrity of the frame, the type of locking mechanism used, and the windows distance off the ground. These windows may have fixed, metal-framed wire glass panes above them.
Forcing Entry:
Avoid forcing entry through a projected window when possible. They are difficult to force entry and for a person to enter. However, to force entry, break out the glass from one pane, unlock the mechanism, and open the window by hand. If the opening created is not large enough, break out the entire window assembly. (Skill Drill 10-7)
Subtitle: Locks
There are three parts of a lock. What are they?
- Latching Device: Part of the lock that catches and holds the door frame.
- Operator Lever: The handle, doorknob, or keyway that turns the latch to lock or unlock it.
- Deadbolt: A second, separate latch that locks and reinforces the regular latch.
Parts of a Padlock:
Padlocks are portable or detachable locks. Most padlocks, like most door locks, have similar components (Fig 10-29)
There are three parts of a padlock. What are they?
- Shackle: The U shaped top of the padlock, that slides through a hasp and locks in the padlock itself.
- Unlocking Mechanisms: The key way, combination wheel, or combination dial used to open the padlock.
- Lock Body: The main part of the padlock that houses the locking mechanism and the retention part of the lock.
Mortise Lock:
Are designed to fit in predrilled openings on the side of a door. They are commonly found in hotel rooms. (Fig. 10-32). Most mortise locks have both a locking lock r no -locking mechanism, each of which operates independently of the other. While the latch may lock the door, the deadbolt can be deployed for added security. Mortise locks are known for their strength.
Forcing Entry:
May be forced with conventional means, such as those described but will probably require the use of a through the lock technique.
Cylindrical Locks:
The most common fixed lock in use today. (Fig. 10-30).
Forcing Entry:
There are several ways to force entry. One method is to use a type of lock puller such as a K tool. An alternative method is to place a bar near the locking mechanism and lever it to force the lock.
Padlocks:
Most common locks on the market and come in many designs and strengths. Regular duty and heavy duty. The design of some padlocks hides the shackle, making forced entry difficult. One of these locks are referred to as the hockey puck lock
Forcing Entry:
Several techniques can be used to force entry through padlocks without causing extensive property damage. Before breaking the padlock, consider cutting the hardware (hasp and shackle that the padlock is attached to) first. This approach saved the padlock and makes securing the building easier. If the padlock is case hardened steel, conventional methods will not work.
The most common used to force entry through a padlock are bolt cutters, duckbilled lock breakers. A bam bam tool, locking pliers and chain and a rotary saw or a torch.
Rim Locks and Deadbolts:
Rim Locks and Deadbolts are locks that can be surface mounted on the interior of the door frame (Fig 10-33).
Rim Locks and Deadbolts are both challenging locks to break. They can be difficult to force with conventional methods, such that through the lock methods may be the only option. An additional option is to use a power circular saw with a metal cutting blade to cut through the portion of the lock between the door and the door frame. This is sometimes called the throw of the lock.
Electromagnetic locks:
Electromagnetic locks use powerful electromagnets and an armature plate that is energized by electricity (Fig 10-34). These devices can either be fail-safe or fail-secure. Fail Safe locking devices are unlocked when deenergized. A fail-secure locking device remains locked when power is lost.
They may be forced opened by inserting prying tools between the two sides of the electromagnetic plate. Some may require hydraulic tools. Once these locks are open, tape a small object, such as a nail, on the electrolyte to prevent the door from locking again.
Keyless Door Locks:
Keyless Door Locks also called electronic locking systems, keyless door locks operate without a traditional metal key. Widely used in hotels, offices, public buildings, secure installations, gated communities and parking garages. They can operate by entering a numeric code, inserting or swiping a key card, or by using a fingerprint or eyes can (Fig. 10-35)
Obtain a master key from the facility manager, security personnel or alarm company personnel. They may even be able to release the locks remotely.
Through-The-Lock Techniques
You can use the through the lcl method using:
1. K tool
2. A tool
3. Unscrewing the lock
Skill Drill: A tool and unscrewing the lock
Forcing Entry Through Door with Drop Bars:
Many commercial buildings have rear single or double doors that are used for receiving deliveries and removing refuse. These doors are usually constructed with metal and may have no windows or a very small window. To prevent unauthorized entry, occupants often equip the doors either removable drop down bars that fit into holders or brackets, mounted on the inside of the door. You may recognize the presence of these bars from the outside by looking for the heads of carriage bolts that are holding the brackets on the inside of the door.
Gaining entry through these doors requires you to disable these devices. One simple way is the cut the heads off the carriage bolts and drive these bolts through the door.
Breaching Walls or Floors:
On occasions, forcing entry through doors, locks or windows may take too long and your not option is to breach a wall or floor. This is also an option to remove injured people or for emergency escapes. Before breaching a wall consider whether the interior or exterior wall is load bearing or no bearing. Many non bearing walls are interior walls or partitions.
Exterior Walls: Forms the perimeter of the building and can be constricted one or more materials. Often load bearing. Many residence have both wood and brick, vinyl or aluminum siding, or mansonry block construction.
Interior Walls: in residences are usually constructed of wood or metal studs covered by plaster, gyms or Sheetrock. Some newer residential constructions contains laminate Sheetrock, which is extremely difficult to penetrate. Breaching an interior wall can be dangerous to FF for several reasons. For example: many interior walls contain electrical wiring, plumbing, cable wires, and phone wires, all of which present hazard to FF. Try not to remove any studs if you breach an interior load bearing wall. After determining is the wall is load bearing, sound the wall to locate a stud away from any electrical outlets or switches. Tap on the walls in between the stud that makes a hollow sound, compared to the solid sound directly over the stud. After locations the appropriate site, make a small hole to check for any obstructions. If clear, expand the opening to reveal the studs. Skill Drill 10-11
To breach a masonry wall: Create an upside down V or a filled triangle in the wall. Skill Drill 10-12
To breach a metal wall: Skills Drill 10-13
Floors:
The two most popular floor materials found in residences and commercial buildings are wood and poured concrete. It is impossible to tell how a floor is constructed by looking at it from above. It can only be observed from below, it if is even visible. Breaching the floor should be the last resort. Using a rotary saw with an appropriate blade is the best tool to use. A chainsaw may be a better choice when used on a wood floor.
To Breach a Floor:
Lock box contains keys needed to open the structure door.
EOFD needs to put a lockbox program in place. Have all lox box master keys inside the fire apparatus u less released by a Captain, which dispatch will keep a record the time and place the key was used and identifies the officer, every-time the key has been released.
Systematic Forcible Entry:
- Think/Evaluate
- Look for the presence of a lockbox.
- Evaluate the threat level of the incident. If there is flames and smoke, FE. But in a closed business with no people, that’s not so bad.
- Consider how to make entry with the least amount of damage.
After-Action Review:
