Continuing Education

for the Fire Fighter

Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
 Forcible Entry
Module 2

Chapter 11

Copyright: IFSTA, Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations, 6th Edition
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Explain the
ways to force Describe Describe
entry through forcible entry forcible entry
various types of methods used methods for
doors. for windows. breaching walls.

Identify Explain Explain forcible

considerations considerations entry methods
that need to be firefighters for breaching
taken when must take when floors.
forcing entry forcing entry
through locks, through
padlocks, miscellaneous
overhead doors, types of
and fire doors. windows and
covers.

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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Force entry through

an inward-swinging
Indicate methods for door – Cutting the
forcing fences and lock out of the door
gates. method.

Force entry through

an inward-swinging
door – Two-firefighter
method.

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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Force entry
through an
outward- Force entry using
swinging door – Force entry using the through-the-
Removing hinge- the through-the- lock method
pins method. lock method. using the A-tool.

Force entry Force entry using

though an the through-the-
outward- lock method
swinging door – using the K-tool.
Wedge-end
method.

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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Force entry
through a
wood-framed
Force entry wall (Type V
Force entry Cut a padlock through a construction)
through with a rotary double-hung with hand
padlocks. saw. window. tools.

Use a bam- Force entry Force a Lexan®

bam tool. through a window using
window (glass a rotary saw.
pane).

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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Force entry
through a
wood wall
(Type V Force entry
construction) through a
with a rotary masonry wall Breach a
saw or chain with hand hardwood
saw. tools. floor.

Breach a wall Force entry Bridge a fence

using a through a with a ladder.
battering ram. metal wall
with power
tools.

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 BEGIN FORCED ENTRY THROUGH A DOOR ONLY
AFTER SIZE UP AND WITH MINIMUM DAMAGE.

2. If door must
3. Damage is
be forced, 4. Rapid-entry
1. Try opening justified by
determine lockbox may
door first severity of
quickest be available
emergency
method

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BREAKING DOOR GLASS IS OFTEN THE BEST
OPTION WHEN FORCING ENTRY.

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 LOOK FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE HINGES
WHEN FORCING SWING DOORS.
Inward-swinging Outward-swinging

Hinge on outside

Direction
of Entry

Hinge on inside

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DOUBLE-SWINGING DOORS AND DOORS WITH DROP
BARS PRESENT UNIQUE CHALLENGES DURING
FORCIBLE ENTRY.

Doors with drop

Double-swinging
bars

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FORCING ENTRY THROUGH A TEMPERED PLATE GLASS
DOOR HAS MANY DRAWBACKS, BUT MAY BE USED AS
A LAST RESORT.

Glass should
be shielded
when broken

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 DETERMINE THE METHOD FOR FORCING SLIDING
DOORS OR SECURITY DOORS/GATES BY IDENTIFYING
THE TYPE.
Security
Sliding
door/gate

Glass paneled Rollup doors

Interior Open steel

pocket door bars

Multiple slats
that form
solid panel

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THROUGH-THE-LOCK ENTRY REQUIRES GOOD SIZE-UP
OF THE DOOR AND LOCK, AND CAN BE
ACCOMPLISHED WITH SEVERAL TOOLS.

K-tool A-tool J-tool Shove knife

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FORCING PADLOCKS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED
USING SEVERAL METHODS AND TOOLS.

Duck-billed lock Rotary saw or torch

Bam-bam tool
breaker • Can be very dangerous

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USE A ROTARY SAW TO FORCE ENTRY ON AN
OVERHEAD DOOR.

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 WARNING

All overhead doors

should be blocked
in the up or open
position to prevent
injury to firefighters
if the built-in
control device fails.

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 FIRE DOORS ARE USUALLY FOUND INSIDE THE
STRUCTURE AND SHOULD BE BLOCKED OPEN AFTER
FORCIBLE ENTRY AS A PRECAUTION.

Closed doors
can cut off
hoselines

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FORCIBLE ENTRY THROUGH WINDOWS CAN BE
EASY, BUT MAY CREATE FURTHER HAZARDS.

Opening the
wrong window
could…
Draw fire to Intensify
uninvolved fire growth
sections

Disrupt
ventilation

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 BREAKING WINDOW GLASS IS A COMMON
ENTRY METHOD, BUT SEVERAL FACTORS
MUST BE CONSIDERED.

Several
layers of
Wire glass is glass are
difficult to expensive
Glass shards break
are
dangerous

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FORCING ENTRY BY BREAKING FIXED WINDOWS
SHOULD BE DONE ONLY AS A LAST RESORT.

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DOUBLE-HUNG WINDOWS HAVE TWO SASHES
AND A LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE INSIDE.

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 FORCING ENTRY ON OTHER TYPES OF
WINDOWS DEPENDS ON THEIR DESIGN.

Single-
Casement
hung

Horizontal
Awning
Sliding

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 FORCING ENTRY ON OTHER TYPES OF
WINDOWS DEPENDS ON THEIR DESIGN.

Jalousie Projecting

Pivoting

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 FORCING ENTRY ON OTHER TYPES OF
WINDOWS DEPENDS ON THEIR DESIGN.
Hurricane High-security/Lexan®
Courtesy of Florida State Fire College

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 FORCING ENTRY ON OTHER TYPES OF
WINDOWS DEPENDS ON THEIR DESIGN.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Windows

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 FORCING ENTRY ON OTHER TYPES OF
WINDOWS DEPENDS ON THEIR DESIGN.

Vacant Barred or
protection screened
systems windows
(VPS) and
openings

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BREACHING WALLS REQUIRES MEETING
CERTAIN CRITERIA BEFORE ATTEMPTING.

Requires…

Determination if
Knowledge wall is safe and
of building accomplishes
construction purpose
Accurate
size-up of
situation

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BREACHING EXTERIOR WALLS POSES HAZARDS SUCH
AS STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE AND CONCEALED
UTILITIES.

Types of exterior wall

Brick or
Wood
concrete Concrete Metal
frame
block

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INTERIOR WALLS ALSO CONCEAL UTILITIES AND CAN
BE EITHER LOAD-BEARING OR NON-LOAD-BEARING.

Unique types of
interior wall

Plaster or
gypsum partition

Reinforced
gypsum

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 BREACHING FLOORS MAY BE DONE FOR SEVERAL
REASONS AND METHODS VARY BY HOW A FLOOR IS
CONSTRUCTED.

Purpose Subfloor material

Ventilation Wood

Apply
Concrete
water

Rescue Variety of
occupants coverings

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A VARIETY OF CUTTING TOOLS ARE USED
TO BREACH WOODEN FLOORS.

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BREACHING CONCRETE FLOORS PRESENTS MORE
DIFFICULTIES AND REQUIRES DIFFERENT CUTTING
TOOLS.

Using jackhammers or
“stitch drilling” can
open floors rapidly

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 A WIDE VARIETY OF FENCING MATERIALS CAN
POSE A NUMBER OF HAZARDS WHEN FORCING.

Barbed Contain
wire or animals,
razor including
ribbon guard dogs

Rural
Stretched
fences
material
may be
may recoil
electrified

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WIRE AND OTHER TYPES OF FENCES CAN BE
FORCED WITH CUTTING TOOLS.

Bolt cutters Rotary saw

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 CAUTION

Cutting electrified
fences before
deenergizing the
fence may result in
electric shock.

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 CAUTION

Wire will recoil

in the direction
of the next post
on the fence
when it is cut.

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GOING OVER SOME TYPES OF FENCES MAY BE
EASIER THAN GOING THROUGH THEM.

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SECURITY GATES MAY HAVE LOCK BOXES, ELECTRONIC
LOCKS, PADLOCKS, OR THEY MAY BE MONITORED BY
STAFF.

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 SUMMARY

When normal means of entry is locked or blocked, forcible entry techniques

are used to gain access into a structure or area.

Forcible entry efforts can do minimal damage to a structure or structural

components and provide quick access.

Tools and techniques are used to breach walls and floors to advance
hoselines, apply extinguishing agents, access trapped victims, or ventilate
an area.

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