Forcing Padlocks—An Innovation
Tom Cashin’s Training Notebook
A multiple-alarm fire involving a three-story structure. The first floor houses a clothing store; the second and third floors are occupied apartments. Position ladder trucks close to the building for the use of aerials and related search/rescue equipment. Vertically vent the structure to relieve heat and smoke. Get lines into position.
Basic strategy and tactics.
The one crucial procedure missing in this operation is forcible entry. Unless you can gain access to the fire itself, the most you can hope for is to protect the exposures and keep the blaze from spreading beyond the initial fire building.
Although excellent articles have been written on both conventional as well as through-the-lock forcible entry methods (see FIRE ENGINEERING, May 1984, March 1985, and January 1986), new and better solutions to common and recurring problems are constantly being found—but, unfortunately, too seldom shared.
One innovative forcible entry technique that we’d like to pass on to other firefighters involves the American 2000 Series padlocks. These heavyduty, case-hardened steel padlocks are commonly found on metal roll-down doors, scissor gates, sidewalk cellar doors, etc. Round, chrome colored, with a hidden (not visible) shackle, the lock body fits over the staple, keeping it hidden from attack. These padlocks lock by a moveable steel pin attached to the key plug.
Ordinarily, if the lock’s key plug is not protected, we can use a dent puller (bam-bam tool) to pull the cylinder. Once the plug is separated from the locking shackle, a screwdriver or key tool turns the shackle 1/4 turn to release the locking pin. The shackle must now fall out of the lock body by gravity.
If this doesn’t happen, an oxy-acetylene torch or a circular saw with an aluminum oxide blade must be used, cutting across the face of the lock 2/3 the distance from and perpendicular to the key plug. This method ensures cutting through the locking pin, but it also takes time and can present a safety hazard to the saw operator.
A third option for forcing these locks that doesn’t rely on gravity or on cutting techniques was developed by Bob Davis of New York City Fire Department’s Ladder Company 5. He and other firefighters closely examined the American Series 2000 padlock after being confronted with a number of them on a security gate protecting a fire-involved store. Realizing that the lock’s cylinder must be retracted in order for the lock to open, Davis decided to approach the problem using the through-the-lock method.
Photo by Paul McFadden
The bam-bam tool was fine for pulling the cylinder, but they needed something to reach into the keyway and get a hold of and turn the locking pin, and withdraw it. This would allow the lock to be opened regardless of the position of the key way.
Davis designed such a tool from a ⅜-inch bolt, slightly tapering it at one end and put four to five fine saw cuts perpendicular to and through the last threads. This would cause the tool to fit firmly in the socket at the base of the lock pin. Then, just as if the cylinder was in place, the “key bolt” is turned 1/4 turn in either direction. This lines up the locking pin with the rods so that the pin can be retracted from the eye bolts and freed. (The locking pin is held in place by two rods that lay in its round shaft.)
Davis also designed a key bolt to open the American Series 600 and 747 padlocks. Once the cylinder is pulled, this bolt (which has been filed down on one end) is inserted, turned, and the lock is opened.
As long as you can get at the cylinder, you can open this lock much easier and safer than with the power saw. Another advantage is that after firefighting operations have been completed, the pin and cylinder can be replaced in the lock body to secure the premises. However, there may be times where the lock is too close to a wall or has a protected keyway. If so, you will be unable to screw in the bambam tool and will have to use the power saw.
TRAINING NOTEBOOK
Both of these key bolts have been used as forcible entry tools in actual incidents with great success. In fact, they have been attached to the fire company’s bam-bam tool with a small piece of wire (fashioned like a key ring) to have them readily available for operation.
For years, the fire service has received its best ideas and innovations directly from firefighters in the field. And since they are the ones who must confront and overcome any and every problem connected with the profession, this is not surprising. What is surprising is that solutions to problems common to so many are known by only a few. Why is this? Primarily because there are too few vehicles for feedback and information exchange in the fire service.
Within the rank and file alone, the fire service has a vast untapped resource. In order to benefit from this wellspring of ideas and knowledge:
- Training must remain a two-way street, offering standardized programs that encourage participation and discussion.
- Officers should be open and willing to accept new ideas from their firefighters, as well as generate some of their own.
- Training sessions should not only concentrate on major standard operating procedures, but should also highlight operational problems to generate the type of thought and input from which we can learn so much.
- There should be an accepted belief that ideas, innovations, and progress will come from within.
