Engineer Steven Negedly from Orlando (FL) Engine 9 sent in this photo of an interesting find the crew discovered during an automatic alarm. The owner of this commercial occupancy found a creative way to secure the rear door. Apparently this supplemental lock is in response to some recent break-ins. As you can see, the supplemental lock is simply a heavy ratchet strap from the panic hardware to a nearby railing. The interesting this about this set-up is that there is absolutely no indication on the outside of the door. It just another one of those things you wouldn’t expect.
28 thoughts on “Ratchet Strap”
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That’s just creative! It sucks for whom ever has to force that door, but you have got to give the property owner credit for thinking this one up.
I wonder what the chances would be if while forcing this door conventionally that the belt slipping out of place would be and not being an issue at all. Also, if there was a high heat condition and / or fire being in that part of the building compromising the strength of the belt. Either way more fun while trying to open up.
If you do not see carriage bolts on the outside then you are golden! That just means you have BS sheet metal screws holding it together.
Jon,
You think forcing this would be easy? I don’t think that would be the case.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Jon’s point was that if the panic hardware was secured using carriage bolts it would be nearly impossible to force. If you just had sheet metal screws it may be easier. Not sure if the panic hardware would actually come off with the ratchet strap but having it secured with carriage bolts would make this very difficult.
I think that this door would be fairly easy. If you look at the set up here the ratchet strap is attached to the push bar on the panic hardware, this bar is made of aluminum and is attached (usually) with a small set screw.
After you GAP and SET the door on the lock side and drive the adz around the door on to the backside you and your partner can work the halligan back and forth causing the bar to bend and it will pop out of the bracket.
It is not as hard as it looks.
Just my opinion.
Stay Safe Brothers,
Andrew
No outward opening door is easy. But, not seeing carriage bolts means you will have to force the locking mechanism off and not the lock itself. Does that make sense?
It might make it tougher to force,I think the nylon strap would have the spring effect. Best case scenario is that as you force the door it slides to the end of the panic bar giving you room to open the door to access the strap. Typically panic hardware doesn’t bend it will pull loose or shear before the bar with bend.
I don’t think this one would be much of a problem when using conventional forcible entry. The scenario that Andrew presents will probably be the result. Jon also makes a point that the screws affixing the panic assembly to the door are probably not that formidable. The entire assembly may pull off of the door when outward force is applied.
Only one side of the panic hardware will need to fail to defeat this homemade device. It looks formidable and probably is to a run-of-the-mill burglar, but a trained firefighter will probably have no trouble.
Nate DeMarse
Yes Jon, that does make sense. That is what I thought you meant but it is hard to tell through typed text. Nate, I am also agreeable with your points. This should not be that difficult for a well trained firefighter to overcome.
Nate and Drew,
see if Jeff or Jimm will throw Brotherhood instructors up in the links section! Another great site.
Metal door…….Metal saw.
I agree with most. I don’t think this will cause too much of a problem. I think that when the outward force is applied the bar will either bend or break clean off the door.
Ken Barron
I think the strap is ‘viagara’ for the crash bar.
Without it the bar probably just falls limply into the open position. Increase in break-ins? I dunno, I think the owner just doesn’t want to buy a new crash bar mech.
It may be worth a check to see if he stopped that pipe from dripping by turning off the OS&Y. 😉
In ref. to “Metal Door, Metal Saw” I was just wondering if its a pretty standard practice accross the board that when presented with these type doors (metal door in metal frame set in block)the saw comes off the rig along with all your regular tools. I guess I just started a survey! Let me know.
Squadguy
If you can’t find another means of entry then grab the saw it’s not there to look pretty
The door shouldn’t even be a problem if the owner has had problems with people breaking in. The door is most likely already compromised. Getting the adz in there and prying it open will most like cause the strap to rip the panic hardware right off. Just gotta look out for the door flying wide open.
Squad Guy –
My answer to your question is “It Depends.”
If there’s just couple or less metal doors, then I would force them by conventional means. (or at least try to)
If there’s several metal doors and a metal window bars or screens or any combination of both then I would suggest someone running around with the metal saw cutting everything free while a second person can work behind with irons finishing off the work.
Just my suggestion
Squadguy,
In response to your survey:
No, that is not a standard where I work or where I’ve ever worked.
Members use conventional forcible entry to defeat steel doors/steel frames set in concrete or block almost always. I’ve never heard someone say, “Uh oh, that’s a steel door, go get the saw!”
Nate
I would imagine that the strap would either slide to the knob side of the door or that the panic bar would bend and allow sufficient play so that the door could be forced and the strap cut. (Or the screws holding the hardware onto the door would give way.) As for the saw, I don’t think it’s needed here…but it’s probably a good practice to take it to the rear of “taxpayers” initially. There are often roll down gates,drop bars and burglar bars on rear windows that may require the saw. This assumes that the saw is not needed at the front of the building.
Hey Brothers, how about making a doggy door out of it.
BE SAFE!
Gary
I think truck drivers sometimes use ratchet straps to prevent themselves (their trucks ;)) from inbreaks while having a sleep on a parking lot. So I think the shop owner actually can’t claim all the credits for himself ;).
Great find Negedly of OFD!! Very unexpected!
My “Metal door…..Metal saw” comment was meant to prompt the realization that you can’t see that strap or that panic bar…..or the welds, or the bricks, or whatever might be on the other side of said door…..While you’re standing OUTSIDE. The assumption that your super duper “irons” skills will force every door every time in an expedient manner, is foolish (forgive me if that ruffles your feathers). We know for a fact that, that door is metal, I know for a fact that we have a saw that cuts metal quite effectively. What I don’t know is what exactly is holding that door shut. The end result is a faster entry and a big hole in the side of that building that’s not flopping all over the place. Do you want to get in there and get it, or do you want to practice your “irons” skills while it burns. Please don’t take this as an affront to conventional forcible entry methods because our “irons” will be quietly standing by should there be a need to go to “Plan B”.
the door needs to be assessed, from the outside obviously. but sometimes from an alternate view which may be gained from the inside via a doggy door or maybe just a small cut to stick your arm inside and “feel” around.
Thanks for the responses guys…What I was getting at was along the lines of Dave’s school of thought. I’m sure plenty of these metal doors in metal frames have been forced by conventional means. I just hate seeing guys bust their balls only to have to “run” back to the rig to get other tools. Stay safe everyone!
If you have an extra saw having it set up with a metal blade might be used by the OVM, or whoever is getting the rear, at commercial occupancies. Many rear doors at commercial occupancies that I’ve run into, either on runs or building inspection, many times have a roll down gate inside the rear door. If it wasn’t locked by building owners great, but after working to get a door only to find a locked roll down door awaiting you is a real kick in the-well you know. Having an extra saw is of course a luxury, but if there is a spare in a chiefs office or anywhere else-having it on the rig would be a much better spot for it.
All in all-Great Stuff. Keep looking in your areas. As this site and others prove, over and over again, is how important it is to get out in the neighborhoods to see what you’ll be up against.
Stay safe all.
Thinking outside the box here, but possibly using the rabbet tool or hyrda-ram on this outward swinging door could prove useful. Even though its intent was for an inward swinging door I can see some possible effectiveness should an arriving company not have power saws. Maybe try to spread the hinges away from the jam along witht the help from the irons.