Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 1 - Principles of Forcible Entry
"By the Numbers"

At least 1 alternate entry point should be indicated on pre-fire survey drawings.
ONLY ONE NUMBER OF RELEVANCE
IN THIS CHAPTER
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 2 - Forcible Entry Tools
"By the Numbers"

The primary advantage of power tools is that they can generate over 20,000 psi of force.

The taper on a blade should be a 6:1 ratio. The length of the head is 6 times the maximum thickness to
provide optimum mechanical advantage.

If a fulcrum is placed 2/3 of the length of a tool from the end at which force is applied, the mechanical
advantage is 2:1.

A force of 100 lbs. applied at one end of a pry bar can generate more than 1 1/2 tons (3,100 lbs.) of force at the
opposite end if the fulcrum is placed 1/32 of the length of the bar from the objective.

Air bag pressure do not exceed 2,000 psi.

High-Capacity Air Bags have up to 146,800 lbs. of lifting or spreading capacity and spread/lift up to 20 inches.
The do require a 1 inch space to insert the bag.

Avoid exposing air bags to materials with temperatures over 220oF.

Never stack more than 2 air bags (smaller on top & inflate bottom bag 1st).

Claw tools and other pry bars are available in lengths up to 5 feet.

Kelly Tools have 2 adz surfaces. One side is aligned with the handle (180 degrees) and the other at a right
angle (90 degrees) to the handle.

Power Spreaders can generate up to 20,000 psi at the tips, which can spread up to 30 inches.

A 30-minute air cylinder should continuously operate an air chisel for 6 minutes.

An air chisel applies thousands of short-distance impacts per minute.

Axe Dimensions:
Acetylene Cylinder Facts:
Reserve Volume @ 70oF
10-12%
Acetylene Gas
36%
Acetone
42%









Pourous Filler
8-10%
Flammability Range
2.5% to 81%
Cylinder Storage Temp.
Under 130oF
For preheating metal with a cutting torch, the flame temperature in air is approximately 4,200oF; the
temperature rises to 5,700oF when pure oxygen is added.
Acetylene cylinder valves should not be opened more than 3/4 turn.
Do no use acetylene at pressures greater than 15 psig.
Acetylene withdrawal rate should not exceed 1/7th of the cylinder capacity per hour.
Hydraulic Shears can generate forces up to 15,000 psi.
Carbide-tipped chains for chainsaws cost 4 times as much but last 12 times longer than standard chains.
If swung at the same velocity, a 12 lb. sledge delivers twice the force of a 6 lb. sledge.
Short-handled forcible entry hammers should weigh no less than 6 lbs.
Long-handled sledges come in sizes up to 20 lbs.
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 3 - Doors & Door Assemblies
"By the Numbers"


Metal doors types and coverings:
Door Type
Covering
Hollow Metal
20-gauge (0.036 inch) or heavier steel
Sheet Metal
22-gauge (0.030 inch) or heavier steel
Metal-Slab
24-guage (0.024 inch) or lighter steel
Tin-Clad
30-gauge (0.012 inch) galvanized steel
Glass doors often have concealed hinges and locks with a latch throw of over 1 inch, making them difficult to
force.

A revolving door has 3 or 4 sections that rotate in a semi-cylindrical housing on a central pivot point.

It takes 50 to 150 pounds of force to collapse the wings of a revolving door.

Sliding fire doors usually have a 4 inch vent hole in the center of the door.
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 4 - Forcing Doors
"By the Numbers"

Swinging doors with latches up to 3/4 inch can be pried with moderate success if door and frame is flexible
enough.
THIS IS MORE OF A TECHNICAL CHAPTER
AND ONLY CONTAINS THE ABOVE NUMBER
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 5 - Locking Assemblies
"By the Numbers"

Key-in-Knob locks usually have a spring-loaded latch bolt not longer than 3/4 inch.

Deadbolts are 1 to 2 inches long.

The basic design of a mortise lock is over 150 years old.

Old "warded locks" which use skeleton keys have spring-loaded latches of no more than 1/2 inch.

New mortise locks have a latch and a deadbolt of up to 1 inch long.

Rim locks have either a 1/2 inch spring-loaded beveled latch or a 1/2 to 1 inch deadbolt.

Electric locks are operated by a 10 or 12 volt solenoid.

If the locking mechanism on a padlock disables both legs, 2 cuts (1 on each leg) must be made to break it free.
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 6 - Forcing Locks
"By the Numbers"

Key-in-Knob locks have a beveled spring latch that extends 1/2 to 3/4 inch into the strike.

Auxiliary deadbolts contain a deadbolt of up to 1 inch in length.

Auxiliary deadbolt have high tensile strength 1/4 inch screws that hold lock components together.

Vise-grip pliers (9 inch with curved jaws) may be used to remove cylinders of mortise locks.

The diameter of a standard tumbler pin is 0.115 inches.

High tensile strength padlock shackles of 1/4 inch or more will often dent bolt cutter jaws.

Some padlock cylinders can be pulled with a dent puller (aka-"bam-bam" or "slap hammer") by drilling a 3/4
inch hardened sheet metal screw into the cylinder and pulling out.

Hidden shackle padlocks can be breached by using a circular saw to cut perpendicular to the keyway 2/3 of the
distance between the keyway and opposite side.

Multi-bolt locks use a standard rim lock cylinder with a 3/32 inch square tailpiece.
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 7 - Windows & Window Assemblies
"By the Numbers"

Clear window glass is available in about 3/32 inch (single-strength) and about 1/8 inch (double-strength).

Plate glass and float glass thickness varies from 1/8 inch to 7/8 inch.

Tempered glass requirements are covered by 16 CFR 1201 II.

Bullet-resistant glass is made by bonding layers of glass under heat and pressure into 3/4 inch to 3 inch
laminated sheets.

Makers of Lexan claim it to be 250 times stronger than glass with 1/2 the weight, and 30 times stronger than
plexiglass.

Thermoplastic sheets are made in thicknesses up to 4 inches (1/8 inch to 1/2 inch-MOST COMMON).

Visigard 1938 is a type of bullet-resistant glass.
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 8 - Forcing Windows
"By the Numbers"

Breaking thermoplastic glazing should not be attempted unless the glazing is 1/8 inch or less.

Thermoplastic glazings in schools are best breached by striking with a sledge weighing no less than 12
pounds.
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 9 - Through the Wall Entry
"By the Numbers"

Older masonry buildings may have structural supporting walls of up to 70 feet high.

A multi-story masonry building may have walls that are 20 inches thick at the base and only 6 inches thick at
the top.

Precast conrete exterior walls are made of slabs 5 to 10 inches thick.

"Sandwich" precast concrete panels are made with a 1 or 2 inch layer of polystyrene placed between the inside
and outside layers of concrete.

A single concrete "tilt-up" panel can weigh 20 tons.

75 % of a concrete block is solid material.

Brick veneer must be tied to a wood frame wall at intervals of 16 inches.

Wood frame walls are made of 2x4 or 2x6 inch vertical studs placed 16 to 24 inches on center.

In platform-frame construction, a double layer or 2x4 or 2x6 inch members, called plates, are laid horizontally
on top of the vertical studs to form the base for the 2nd story.

Since the early 1970's, energy conservation has prompted walls to be insulated.

Applying 5/8 inch fire-rated gypsum wallboard to both sides of either 2 1/2 inch steel or 2x4 inch wood studs
will result in a fire wall with a 1 hour fire resistance.

Building codes typically require fire resistance for walls as follows: Corridors (1 hour), Elevator and Stairway
Shaft (2 hours), Occupancy Separations (1 to 4 hours).

If 2 layers of 5/8 inch gypsum wallboard is applied to both sides of a wall, the fire resistance increases to 2
hours.

A fire wall usually has a fire resistance of 4 hours.

A typical building code restricts 2-story mercantile buildings of wood-joist construction to 8,000 square feet
in size unless equipped with sprinklers. Installation of fire walls to separate the occupancy will permit the
occupancy to exceed the 8,000 square feet requirement.

Fire walls are constructed of 8 inch thick brick, 8 inch thick solid concrete block, 10 inch hollow tile, or a
combination of these materials.

A building code may require parapet walls 18 to 36 inches in height.
Forcible Entry (7th Edition)
Chapter 10 - Special Situations
"By the Numbers"

Most A-Frame ladders can bridge fences up to 6 feet in height.

Spot ladders to the best climbing angle (65 to 75 degrees).