By John W. Mittendorf
The last edition of this series covered access/egress considerations, and began to address security bars. This week, we’ll continue with security bar considerations.
Security Bars
Security bars present unique hazards to firefighters:
- They look imposing from the exterior of a building.
- From the inside of a structure with minimal visibility(i.e., heavy smoke), light can be seen (by interior personnel) from the area that is protected by a security bar, indicating a potential exit.
Security bars are attached to two types of structures: masonry and nonmasonry. Security bars attached to masonry buildings are relatively easy to remove as the lag bolts are held in the masonry wall by “lead anchors” which provide a compression form of attachment. Although a rotary saw can be used to cut the horizontal bars near the lag bolts, an easier method is to strike the same area with the blade end of an axe(flat or pick head) which will pull the lag bolt out of the masonry wall. Security bars attached to non masonry buildings use lag bolts (at the end of the horizontal members) to screw into studs within the wall. Obviously, this method is more substantial. However, the aforementioned process still applies. One last comment about security bars – if you are going to remove them, take the time to remove them – never cut the bottom horizontal bar only and bend the bars upward, as the bars can fall downward over the window (and will probably do so after you leave).
Stairs
Although stairs are relatively simplistic, they are a “flag” that they have been placed there for a reason. That reason is an applicable building code requirement which usually applies to people above “grade level” having more than one exit route from an above ground location. Although this is not a new revelation, it should perk your interest when a “single family residential structure” has a stairway on the exterior from the second floor as this is a prime indicator that the single-family dwelling has been converted to a commercial residential occupancy. Additionally, if multiple exits apply to commercial multi-story buildings, you should raise at the minimum two ladders for above fireground operations.
Fire Escapes
Fire escapes are similar to stairs for providing multiple exit points to occupants and fireground personnel. For access/egress via fire escapes, consider the following:
- The age of the fire escape can be an indicator that should be applied to its probable condition (strength).
- If the building is a residential occupancy, fire escapes are an indicator of a probable center hallway building.
- As soon as possible, drop the vertical ladder (that is part of the fire escape) to the ground. This will enhance the ability of occupants or firefighters to safely use the fire escape, and may prevent the ladder from inadvertently dropping during an incident.
John W. Mittendorf joined the Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department (LAFD) in 1963, rising to the rank of captain II, task force commander. In 1981, he was promoted to battalion chief and in the year following became the commander of the In-Service Training Section. In 1993, he retired from LAFD after 30 years of service. Mittendorf has been a member of the National Fire Protection Research Foundation on Engineered Lightweight Construction Technical Advisory Committee. He has provided training programs for the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland; the University of California at Los Angeles; and the British Fire Academy at Morton-in-Marsh, England. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Fire Engineering and author of the books Truck Company Operations (Fire Engineering, 1998) and Facing the Promotional Interview (Fire Engineering, 2003).
