BY NICHOLAS A. MARTIN
The improvement and increased availability of hydraulic forcible entry tools have greatly benefited the fire service. These tools can be used to exert a great amount of force and are quick and easy to operate. However, reliance on their capabilities has allowed proficiency in traditional forcible entry skills and techniques to deteriorate. Firefighters now tend to rely on these tools instead of conventional forcible entry methods that might be faster or more appropriate to the situation.
Below is some guidance for determining the most appropriate forcible entry tools and techniques to use for various situations. Also discussed are the essential features of the halligan bar and the “irons,” along with some simple modifications that can improve these essential tools’ functionality.
HYDRAULIC TOOLS
Hydraulic forcible entry tools have become increasingly popular in the fire service. The original hydraulic forcible entry tools (or rabbet tools) were a two-piece design and necessitated that one firefighter operate the pump and the other position the jaws (photo 1, right; photo 2). In the 1980s, William Mould of the District of Columbia Fire Department, in association with other firefighters from the metropolitan Washington area, redesigned the tool into a one-piece unit that took only one firefighter to operate (photo 1, left).
 1. Photos 1 and 2 by Michael N. Ciampo; all other photos by Justin E. Davidson. |
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These hydraulic forcible entry tools weigh approximately 20 pounds, spread a distance of four to six inches (depending on the model), and exert 10,000 pounds of force on a spreading surface of approximately one-half inch. Over the years, these tools have become popular and many firefighters have come to rely heavily on them, even in situations where their use may not be the most appropriate.
Hydraulic forcible entry tools were designed for inward-opening doors, primarily metal doors in metal frames (common in apartment houses), which often are secured with multiple locks. Using a hydraulic tool, a single firefighter usually can force multiple doors with minimal fatigue.
When used under inappropriate circumstances, hydraulic tools will be minimally, if not entirely, ineffective. When sizing up doors that need forcible entry, you must make two critical observations: Is the door inward or outward swinging? What is the construction of the door and the doorframe? If the door is not inward opening or the frame is not of metal construction, a hydraulic entry tool most likely is not appropriate.
Outward opening doors are flush to the frame from the locked side. To force these doors open, you must pry the door outward. A hydraulic tool is designed to push, not pull. The teeth could be placed between the door and the frame, but the door or frame would have to compress at least the length of the lock’s throw. This might work on a simple knob lock with a maximum throw of one-half inch, but the throw of a typical deadbolt is 1 1/2 inches. Compressing any door of sturdy construction to this degree would be difficult at best. In addition, if the door is secured with a rim lock or any high-security device, the results may be unpredictable.
Hydraulic tools are not appropriate for doors or frames of wood construction. On inward-opening doors, the teeth of a hydraulic tool brace against the rabbeted doorjamb. Each pump then causes the piston to extend, pressing against the door itself. These tools exert up to 10,000 pounds of force, and the teeth contacting the jamb are just one-half inch wide; exerting this much force over such a small surface area is almost always enough to rip the jamb off a wooden door frame (photo 3). If this occurs, the tool will have no surface to push against and will not function properly.
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Hydraulic forcible entry tools have some additional uses that may prove beneficial. The speed and spreading force of these tools, for example, can prove useful for forcing the hinge side of a door, which can be difficult, particularly on a sturdy door. The teeth are placed at the location of the hinges (typically the top hinge is forced first) and driven between the frame and the door (photo 4). In this situation, a hydraulic tool could be used on a wood or metal door, provided the door itself is of sturdy construction, because here the teeth are spreading against the body of the frame and the body of the door, which are much sturdier than the rabbeted jamb previously discussed.
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Also, hydraulic entry tools can be helpful in certain emergency extrications involving elevators with sliding doors. Insert the jaws of the tool at the top of the door and between the doors. Then slowly pump the tool to push the doors open.
Another application involves security gates mounted onto the outside of a building. In photo 5, a gate was placed over a window and bolted to the exterior wall. The hydraulic entry tool can be placed between the exterior wall and the security gate (as close to the bolt as possible) and then spread. Often, firefighters need force only to the left or right side or the top or bottom of the gate. The gate can then be used as leverage against itself and peeled off the opposite side (photo 6).
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THE IRONS
When used in appropriate situations, a hydraulic forcible entry tool may be faster than traditional forcible entry; however, in the situations discussed above, “the irons” will almost always be faster and more effective. Using the irons is a skill that must be acquired and maintained. To be proficient, the user must practice and understand forcible entry techniques. That is the reason many departments assign the forcible entry position to the most senior firefighter.
Halligan bar. The halligan bar was developed by Hugh Halligan of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) in the 1940s. Its design is deliberate, the result of combining features of several other tools that were popular in the early 20th century. Although several manufacturers make their own version of halligan bar, several original design characteristics are essential to its function.
The four parts of the halligan bar are the adz, the pick, the shaft, and the fork. Halligan bars should be of one-piece construction, typically of forged steel for strength. When the head of the halligan (consisting of the adz and pick) and the fork (mounted at the opposite end of the shaft) are separate pieces attached to the shaft, the tool can be weakened over time, possibly breaking into pieces at a moment when it is needed.
The adz should be flat, wide, thin, and angled slightly toward the fork end. This bend is critical for providing added leverage when forcing doors (photo 7). The end of the adz is tapered and should be kept slightly sharp. The adz can be widened by welding an additional strip of steel to the side. This modification was developed by Sam Melisi of FDNY’s Rescue 2 and provides additional leverage during certain techniques.
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The halligan’s pick is often overlooked, but it can prove very useful. The pick (shaped like a pointed tooth) begins at the head of the halligan and tapers to a point at its tip; like the adz, it is angled slightly down toward the fork for added leverage. The pick can be used to gain a purchase point in tight spots. It can also be driven into the frame of the door to allow the adz to be used as a lever. Further, it can be driven behind the body of a tubular dead bolt or knob lock to expose the lock mechanism for manipulation. When a rim lock is encountered, the adz can be used to drive the rim lock off the back of the door.
A good halligan’s shaft should be octagonal, not round, to provide a sturdy gripping surface for the user. For an even better grip, lace the shaft with plastic clothesline and then cover with grip or hockey tape.
The halligan’s fork is thick as it emerges from the shaft and tapers to a point at its tip. It should be curved slightly at an angle toward the adz. This curve, also called the bevel, is important: When the bevel side (the outside of the fork) is placed against the door, it provides significantly more leverage than when the bevel is placed against the frame.
Firefighters can make a few simple modifications in-house to increase the halligan fork’s functionality and usability. When forcing inward-opening doors, it is critical to set the fork deep enough between the frame and the door. If the fork is set too shallow, it will provide insufficient leverage or pop out when force is applied. Leverage is also lost when the fork is driven too deep. As a result, some companies have used a grinder to create a depth marker line all around the fork (photo 8), about one inch below the fork’s split, to indicate ideal fork depth. Although the particular situation in which the fork is used will still dictate exact placement, this mark serves as a functional reference under most conditions.
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Another simple modification increases the irons’ functionality when operating alone. Although firefighters should always strive to operate in teams of at least two, there are situations in which a firefighter may be alone and need to force a door. Typically, two firefighters are required to use the irons: one to work the halligan and another to strike it. This modification will allow a single firefighter to hold the fork of the halligan against the door with one hand while using the other hand to slide the ax along the top of the shaft, striking the shaft end of the fork.
Usually, the shaft end of the fork has a rounded edge. When attempting this one-person operation on a stock halligan with a rounded edge, the striking tool tends to glance off the fork’s shaft end, minimizing its impact. However, this part of the fork can be flattened by grinding to provide a more effective striking surface (photo 9). Although this technique is not as powerful as traditional methods, it may prove useful when a second firefighter is not available. This technique could also be used in small hallways or tight spaces where there is not room to strike the head of the halligan.
Flathead ax. The nickname “irons” refers to the weight and early construction of this classic forcible entry combination. The functionality of the halligan bar is limited without an accompanying striking tool. Traditionally, the halligan bar is “married” with a flathead ax; the blade of the ax is placed between the split of the halligan’s fork, with the ax handle resting in the corner of the adz and the pick, allowing the two tools to be carried together easily.
Sledgehammer. In some departments, a maul or sledgehammer has gained popularity over the flathead ax. The advantage of the sledgehammer is that it provides greater force for driving the halligan into position. A sledgehammer can be modified to marry nicely with a halligan bar as well. A small piece of metal into which the halligan adz can be slipped can be welded to the head of the sledgehammer (photo 10).
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The sledgehammer is an acceptable alternative, but it has some disadvantages. Whereas a flathead ax possesses striking and cutting capabilities, a sledge can be used only for striking. Also, the flathead ax blade can prove very useful as a wedge for holding the gap in a door if the halligan bar must be flipped or repositioned (photo 11). The sledgehammer cannot function this way. In addition, although sledgehammers are available with greater head weights than most axes, basic physics tells us the force delivered by an eight-pound sledge will be no greater than that of an eight-pound ax.
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Advances in firefighting technology, such as hydraulic forcible entry tools, are beneficial and should not be overlooked. However, we must use these tools to supplement our capabilities, not replace them. Although hydraulic tools may be extremely effective under the appropriate circumstances, you should know when their use is inappropriate. In addition, you must maintain proficiency in traditional forcible entry techniques for situations when hydraulic tools are unavailable, malfunctioning, or not appropriate for the situation.
Forcible entry is definitely an example of the old adage “The devil is in the details.” If you are unaware of the design details of your tools, you cannot take full advantage of their capabilities. Be aware of the design features and capabilities of all forcible entry tools, and think about new undiscovered uses for tools. This may be the key to skills and techniques that will make or break your next forcible entry operation.
NICHOLAS A. MARTIN is a 13-year veteran of the fire service and a firefighter with the District of Columbia Fire Department, assigned to Tower Ladder 3, and a volunteer firefighter with the Kentland (MD) Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from the University of Maryland and is pursuing a master’s degree in public safety leadership at Johns Hopkins University. He frequently instructs on fire service operations around the country.
