Window Bars

 

Jerry Smith from Baltimore City (MD) Truck 15 sent in these photos of some easily to defeat window bars. Jerry and the crew of Truck 15 A-Shift were out performing some building inspections and found these bars on a local apartment building. Taking the time to learn about this style of window bars ahead of time can save a significant amount of time on the fireground.

On closer inspection, you can see that the bars are designed to swing open.

This style of window bars is designed to allow the occupant to release the locking mechanism and open the bars from the inside of the structure. The photo below shows the occupant release mechanism. As you can see from the photo, there is a protective sleeve around the mechanism to make it more difficult to “reach in” from the outside and release the bars. (As a side note, the protective sleeve appears to be improperly installed, it might make more sense to have the opening on the side away from the window?)

The photos below show the location of the relase mechanism in relation to the window, and the release mechanism with the protective sleeve removed.

As you can see from the close-up of the locking assembly below, it can easily be defeated with the irons from the outside. Placement of the halligan's adz in-between the actual bar assembly and the locking mechanism is easily accomplished. Once the adz is in position, an upward or downward prying motion will separate the bars from the lock, allowing the bars to be swung out of the way. Another option besides the halligan, is the hydra-ram. Placing the jaws of the hydra-ram in-between the lock and bars, will also make quick work of it. It is important to point out that there is only one lock for each window, making it a one step operation for each window.

This style of window bars will most commonly be found on residential structures (single or multi-family.)Taking the time to Identify and Visualize how the bars are assembled and installed is essential to our success on the fireground. There is no reason to take out the rotary saw on this one… A simple (well placed) prying motion with the halligan will totally defeat the assembly in one step.