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Attack the Door
Not all doors are created equal. Take a look at this door and decide how you would attack it’s integrity to force it open. There is a lot that the characteristics of a door can tell you about how it is hung and secured.
Although this seems like a very simple skill and knowledge that everyone should know, I am continually surprised by how many don’t really understand how to use forcible entry tools. I’m sure you have seen the guy just beating a door to death but not getting anywhere because he is attacking the door the wrong way.
Share your thoughts, experiences and techniques with all of us on how you would attack this door. If you have photos, post them or send them and we will post them for you.
Stay safe and train hard.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Jason, Ide just come back between the hours of 7:30 am and 3:00 pm as the sign says. Knock on the door and they will open it up. Sorry couldnt resist.
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter Walther on
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being only a Fire Cadet, and knowing some about forcible entry, i have a couple of suggestions. one, is possible take out the hinges, if possible, next possiblity is taking a K-12 with a metal cutting blade, and try cutting nearest to the lock, but without seeing whats on the other side, its hard to make a call. but thats just a cadets ideas, id like to learn what you guys would do tho.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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K-12 with diamond blade, cut the dead bolt, and open the side that's not latched to the door frame at the top and bottom.
Another option would be to drive the hingle pins out on one side of the door, then open both doors together as if it was a single door. You can drive the pins out with a halligan pick and a flathead axe, then using a short piece of steel round stock to replace the halligan pick once the hinge pin protrudes a little.
A third option is to cut the hinges with a K-12 and a diamond blade, but that is three times as time-intensive and labor-intensive as just cutting the dead bolt with the same tools.
Oxyacetylene torches, Petrogen torches, and exothermic/plasma cutters would all work on either the dead bolt attack or the hinge pin attack, too.
A really sneaky attack would be to use a bent slim jim, slide it through the crack between the two doors under the dead bolt, engage the panic bar inside the door, and just pull the door open.
It is very unusual to see outward-opening doors built this sturdily except at movie theaters or other places of public assembly. Those places - almost universally - have outward-opening doors and panic hardware.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Hoevelmann on
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Nice, I like it.
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Good stuff and great options for all to think about.
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Permalink Reply by Just Plain Craig Moyer on
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Now we know why you're Chief.....
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Permalink Reply by Ernie Scheinert on
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Only a probie here with no forcible entry experience, but I do have a few thoughts with the given situation. From the looks of these doors, it looks like the only securement might be a 2x4 or something similiar running across them in brackets. One, if the opening between the doors goes all the way through, see if there is enough room to run the blade of a K-12 in between and then pry either door open, or, second, shear/cut the four bolts on either door to drop the brackets on the inside and pry the doors open. Just a few thoughts, not sure though!!!
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Permalink Reply by M.J. 6821 on
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Looking at that door Im guessing that there are cradles that hold a bar that swings in from the side. So I would first take a TIC and see and if there is a bar there you can take a K12 and cut open a triangle and use a haligan to push it up to open it up.
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It might be easier - and faster - to simply slide a bent slim jim - or even a bent coat hanger - through the slot between the doors and hook the panic bars, then simply pull the door open without damaging the door or taking the time and effort to cut a triangle.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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Size up should be accounted for, meaning, check around the building, there may be a better means of access elsewhere, so why just concentrate on this one door?
Now there can be reasons to get this door open, but chances are this is not the only means inside. If there was a fire this wouldn't be a first coice for access. Also given the building, being commercial appearing, my guess is there have been preplans or inspections done, so one would know this would not be a first choice option.
If this door absolutely had to be forced, I agree with Ben with the using of a K-12, popping the hinges, etc.
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John,
If you are with the truck or rescue assigned to Division C on a commercial occupancy fire, another door might not be a viable option, particularly if the fire is near the rear and has occupants trapped between the fire and this door.
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