Review all things forcible entry with these articles from our FireRescue Magazine and FirefighterNation contributors. Today we look at roll-down security gates with Paul DeBartolomeo.
Day 1: Halligan Modifications
Day 2: Halligan Squaring
Day 3: Door Materials
Day 4: Adz Modification
Day 5: The Force Ax
Day 6: Uncommon Board-Up Features
Day 7: Roll-Down Security Gates, Part I
“Roll-down gates are a common security feature on commercial establishments that have been challenging firefighters for decades. Regardless of whether your response area is considered urban, suburban, or rural, the likelihood is that you have gates somewhere in your district. Having a good working knowledge on the different styles of gates, the different types of gates, and the various locking mechanisms will allow you to defeat this security system and gain entry in a timely manner.
In part one of this three-part series, I am going to explain the different style of gates (solid, open, perforated) as well as the different types of gates (manual, mechanical, electric) typically encountered in the field today. Understanding the different styles and types of gate you encounter is going to assist you in determining the tactics used to perform forcible entry. Knowing how each gate operates, how they are secured, and how they are best defeated are critical size-up points that firefighters need to possess to gain entry in an efficient and effective manner.
Gate Styles
Typically firefighters will encounter one of the three most common gates commercially available. A solid gate consists of interlocked pieces of solid corrugated steel known as slats (photos 1 and 2). Solid gates are the original style of roll-down security devices dating back to the 1930s. The original devices were known as security grilles or mall grills, and their popularity increased through the years as urban blight overtook many communities.”
