WELLINGTON COUNTY FIRE TRAINING
OFM curriculum – Forc. Entry
Component – 1
Section - 15
2011-15 LESSON PLAN
Lesson Plan – Forcible Entry- doors and windows
Prepared by- T.O Karn
Preparation date – July 2012
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
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Full PPe including bunker gear, helmet, gloves and boots
Eye protection must be worn during practical evolutions
Learner may choose to wear ear protection during practical evolutions
Ensure a safety officer is appointed
LEARNING OUTCOME(S): The learner will be able to:
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Describe the tools available for basic forcible entry operations
Demonstrate the use forcible entry hand tools
Demonstrate the use of forcible entry power tools
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of good forcible entry techniques
Follow safety procedures when using tools and equipment
INTRODUCTION:
ESTIMATED TIME:
This section defines forcible entry, covers the reasons for forcible entry, tools and techniques required, and
discusses the various points of entry to buildings The firefighter must be able to enter structures quickly and
safely for the purposes of firefighting or rescue activities. It is important to use forcible entry tools in a manner
that affords the quickest and safest entry; with the least amount of damage. This section will focus on the types,
uses, operation, storage, inspection and maintenance of forcible entry tools.
APPLICABLE SECTION 21 GUIDANCE NOTES & SAFETY NOTE
Remember as the T/F you are a supervisor for this work period and will observe and enforce
all appropriate health and safety measures for you lesson participants.
GN #2-4 incident safety officer
NFPA 1001 Firefighter professional qualifications
Be sure to add in any of your dept. SOG’s that apply
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WELLINGTON COUNTY FIRE TRAINING
2011-15 LESSON PLAN
PRESENTATION
ESTIMATED TIME:
LESSON OUTLINE
TEACHING AIDS
Forcible entry or forced entry is the entry into a locked building without
the aid of keys. This includes:
 Forcing windows and doors
 Breaking locks
 Breaking glass
 Opening floors and roofs
 Breaching walls
 Removing window bars
The responsibility for careful forcible entry falls directly on the
firefighter. FF’s can be a “property destroyers” or become an expert at
forcible entry. Trained ff’s may find it necessary to do some structural
damage but every attempt is made to keep the damage to a minimum.
Reasons for forcible entry:
1. To reach trapped persons
2. To reach the seat of a fire
3. To ventilate
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
FF’s must know the characteristics, capabilities and limitations of the tools
available to perform the task. Forcible entry tools can be divided into 4
basic categories: cutting tools, prying tools, pushing / pulling tools,
striking tools.
Cutting Tools
There are many types of cutting tools. Some are manually operated, others
are powered. Ensure that the cutting tool you are using is designed to cut
that type of material. Smaller axes are available however they are
inefficient in forc. entry situations
 Axes: 2 common types of axes. Flat head and pick head axe. A pick
head axe comes with a 6lb or 8lb head, can be used for cutting, prying
or digging. The pick end of the axe can be used to penetrate materials
not easy cut by the blade end. A flat head axe can be used for many of
the same jobs however it can also be used to strike another tool in forc.
entry situations. A flat head axe is commonly carried with a haligan
bar.
 Hand saws: common handsaws would include hacksaws, drywall
saws, keyhole saw. Handsaws are are slow however practicing and
developing good technique will make a ff proficient with handsaws.
 Power saws: several types of power saws are used in the fire service.
Common power saws include reciprocating saws, chain saws, rotary
(quick-cut) saws, ventilation saws. Saws may require electrical power
or may be gas powered.
Note: never use a power saw in a flammable atmosphere. When using a
rotary saw to cut metal always have a charged hoseline or extinguisher
available. Never cut shell of a tank that may contain flammable vapours.
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Review copies of manufacturer
instructions for power saw use.
Include safety, maintenance,
operational procedures.
Demo. using each tool for forc.
entry.
Discuss safety considerations for
each tool.
Ensure face shields / eye
protection are always used
when operating forc. entry
tools.
WELLINGTON COUNTY FIRE TRAINING
2011-15 LESSON PLAN
 Bolt cutters: commonly used to cut bolts, iron bars, shackles, cables,
chains, and padlocks. Bolt cutters should not be used to cut case
hardened materials. Advancements in security protection are limiting
the use of bolt cutters.
Prying tools
Useful for opening doors, windows, locks and moving heavy objects.
Prying tools are manually operated. Prying tools may include; crowbars,
halligan bar, pry bar, claw tool, Kelly tool, pry axe, flat bar, rambar.
Prying tools may also include manual and powered hydraulic tools.
Pushing/pulling tools
This category of tool has a limited use in forcible entry however in certain
instances such as breaking glass or opening walls and ceilings they are the
tools of choice.
 Poles and hooks: common names would include; pike pole, plaster
hook, drywall hooks, rubbish hooks.
Poles and hooks give the ff extra reach when performing certain tasks.
Avoid using poles and hooks as prying tools as most times the handles
andshafts are made of wood or fiberglass and will break if used for prying
Striking tools
These are basic hand tools which include; sledgehammers, mauls,
mallets, flat head axe, and hammers
Striking tools may be used on their own or in conjunction with another
tool for forcible entry. The most common combination is the flat head axe
used with the halligan bar.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OBSTACLES
DOORS
The primary obstacle for ff’s is a locked or blocked door. Recognizing
how the door functions, its construction, and how its locked is critical in
determining how to forc. it. Doors function in one of the following ways;
 Swinging (inward and outward)
 Sliding
 Revolving
 Overhead
Swinging doors: swinging doors may be constructed of wood and
commonly include panel doors, slab doors, ledge doors. Swinging doors
may also be made of metal commonly found in commercial and industrial
applications.
Note: front doors in a residence generally open inward. In public and
commercial bldg’s doors generally swing outward for emergency exit.
Sliding doors: most commonly found in residential applications as patio
doors. These door assemblies often have tempered glass to increase
strength and flexibility which makes them very strong and heavy.
Ordinarily the lock is fairly lightweight however many sliding doors are
barred or blocked by a metal or wood rod making it almost impossible to
force.
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Refer to videos posted on training
site in “youtube’ section.
Brotherhood instructors forcible
entry demonstrations
WELLINGTON COUNTY FIRE TRAINING
2011-15 LESSON PLAN
Overhead doors: may be found as a folding, rolling or slab doors in
residential or commercial applications. Overhead doors may be forced by
prying upward from the bottom of the door, however less damage will be
done and time wil be saved if a panel is knocked out of either side of the
door and the latch turned from the inside.
Note: historically the most common method of cutting through an
overhead, or roll-up door was to make a large triangular cut. The purpose
was to make the cut for ff entry in order to open the door completely from
the inside, not to stretch lines through the hole. The triangular cut has
fallen out of favour due to the fact that the triangular cut often damaged or
bent the door slats which led to the door becoming jammed and unable to
open the door completely. When overhead doors need to be cut use a
rotary saw to create a square or rectangular opening about 6ft high and
nearly the full width of the door.FF’s can then use the lift mechanism to
fully open the door.
Revolving doors: usually made of glass panels that revolve around a centre
shaft. The number of panels vary depending on manufacturer. Revolving
doors are very difficult to force. Generally swinging doors are found on
either side of the revolving door which can be forced. Revolving doors can
be found as 3 basic types which include; panic-proof, drop-arm, and metal
braced.
WINDOWS
It may be easier and faster to force a window than forcing a door. Entrance
through a window may allow for a door to be opened from the inside.
Windows are classified as;
 Checkrail windows (double hung) – found in numerous homes of
all ages.
 Casement windows (hinged)
 Projected windows (factory)
 Awning or louvered windows (jalousie)
 Barred (security feature over windows0 may be found
commercially or in residential applications
Breaking the glass in a locked door may be the least costly method of
forcible entry. However avoid unnecessary glass breaking. Ordinary glass
is relatively inexpensive, but tempered, thermal and plate glass windows
are very costly and should only be broken as a final resort.
Observe the following when breaking glass;
1. Wear full ppe
2. Try before you pry
3. Approach window from windward side
4. Keep hands above position of impact
5. Strike glass at the top of the pane and remove glass as you work
your way downward
6. Remove all the glass from a single opening so pieces of sharp
glass won’t interfere with victim or ff removal
7. Break only the amount of glass necessary
8. Watch for signs of backdraft or flashover
9. Have hoselines ready
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WELLINGTON COUNTY FIRE TRAINING
2011-15 LESSON PLAN
Number 1 rule: TRY BEFORE YOU PRY
SUMMARY:
TEACHING AIDS
Forcible entry is a technique used by ff’s to gain entry into a
structure who’s normal means of access is locked or blocked. When
properly applied forcible entry efforts do minimal damage to the
structure and its components. A thorough knowledge of tools and
techniques increase a ff’s effectiveness and may save their own life
or that of a fire victim.
APPLICATION & TEST:
ESTIMATED TIME:
Follow and complete “performance objective” sign-off’s as per OFM
curriculum comp. 1 sect 15
ASSIGNMENT:
Firefighters will demonstrate forcible entry techniques utilizing various props which include;
1. Forcible entry door – inward and outward swinging positions
2. Window bar prop
3. Dead bolt door prop
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WELLINGTON COUNTY FIRE TRAINING
REFERENCE MATERIALS:
IFSTA 5th Ed. Ch. 9
OFM FF curriculum TF Guide comp 1 sect 15
Website “Brotherhood Instructors” forc. entry videos
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2011-15 LESSON PLAN
TRAINING AIDS REQUIRED:
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Various forc tools ( haligan, axe, pry bar)
Power saws
Forc entry props
PPE