Back To Basics: Effective Forcible Entry

       a. Could be either solid wood or wood laminate

       b. Solid wood is laid over wood underlayment

       c. Solid wood floor is fastened 90 degrees of the floor joists

       d. Floor joists are 16 or 24 inches on center

       e. Floor underlayment can be boards placed 45 degrees of the floor joists or particle board

       f. Laminate wood floors will have some type of underlayment, probably particle board

       g. Floors should be cut at 60 degrees of the floor joists using an axe or along the floor joists using

           power saws

  2. Masonry

      a. Masonry floors are either pre-cast or poured concrete

      b. If masonry floors are encountered, reassess the need for entry because of the time required

      c. There should be little or no need to force entry through a masonry floor

  3. Vinyl tile

      a. Vinyl tile is laid over some type of underlayment such as particle board

      b. It may be appropriate to remove the tile to determine the type and layout of the underlayment

      c. Floors should be cut at 60 degrees of the floor joists using an axe or along the floor joists using

          power saws

IV. ENTRY THROUGH DOORS AND WINDOWS (PRACTICAL) (1-4)

A. Introduction to Basic Tools

  1. Pike Pole, Clemens Hook, et al

      a. Used for pulling ceilings, opening walls, or separating debris

      b. Carried with point forward and pointed downward

      c. Used by pointing hook away, poking the hook into the wall or ceiling, and pulling downward

          away from body with one hand on the upper part of the handle pushing downward and the other

          hand on the handle pulling downward

  2. Pickhead Axe

      a. Used for cutting or pulling material apart

      b. Carried with blade under the arm and hand over pick

      c. Used by striking object with blade; more effective cutting at slight angle rather than straight

  3. Flathead Axe

      a. Used for cutting, forcing, or striking other tools

      b. Carried with blade under the arm

      c. Used by striking object with blade or other object with flat portion of head

  4. Haligan Bar

      a. Used for prying or forcing

      b. Carried with pointed end forward and slightly downward

      c. Forked end and adz end used for prying or forcing; pointed end used for punching holes to start

         cuts; forked end can be forced with use of flathead axe

  5. K-Tool

      a. Used in conjunction with flathead axe and haligan bar to pull lock cylinders

      b. Carried in the pouch with key tools

      c. Blades placed snugly downward against lock cylinder, adz end of haligan bar placed in slot of

          K-tool and tapped snugly with flat end of flathead axe, haligan bar pushed downward to remove

          lock cylinder; once lock cylinder removed, appropriate key tool inserted into locked and turned

          from 5 to 7 o'clock position or vice versa to unlock

  6. Rabbit Tool or Ram Tool

      a. Used to force door locks inward opening doors

      b. Carried in carrying bag with accessories including a hammer

      c. Blade placed between door and jamb near lock and tapped in place with hammer, hydraulic

          pump operated until door opens

  7. Short Hook (short pike pole or Clemens Hook with D-handle)

      a. Used for pulling ceilings, opening walls, or separating debris

      b. Carried with point forward and pointed downward

      c. Used by pointing hook away, poking the hook into the wall or ceiling, and pulling downward

          away from body

  8. Disk Saws

      a. Used for making openings in walls, floors, and roofs

      b. Has different blades for cutting into wood or soft metals, masonry, or harder metals

      c. Carried by carrying handle with saw shut off and blade not turning

      d. Turn saw on and open choke, place foot in handle, and pull starting cord upward in a forceful