Jason Hardin from Charlotte (NC) Ladder 26 send in these photos of a door he found while at a local hunting store. From the outside the door is made to look like an ordinary residential door. Once opened, it becomes quite apparent that this is not a normal door, its a safe door! The door is called a Pro Steel Ultra Security Door, and is made by the same company that makes Browning gun safes.
From the outside the only obvious indication of this being a non traditional door is the absence of hinges. Once opened you can see that this door is designed not to be forced open. The door is opened by an electric keypad that can be mounted up to 7 feet away.
Trying to defeat this door would more than likely prove to be waste of time on the fireground. Finding another less protected opening may be the best option. Another door, a window, or maybe even a wall breach may be less time consuming depending on the building construction. One of the most important things to keep in mind when faced with this door would be identifying it early, before precious time is wasted trying to defeat it.
Of course the best option would be to identify it early. You mention doing so by noticing the lack of hinges, however, this is not a tell-all sign that this door is so difficult. My question to the commentors is this: in all practicality how do we know this door is going to kick our butt? We know the mentality of firemen, that once we start it becomes a challenge we do not like to back down from…
The other question I have is where would we see this door? Its a safe right? So we need to be keenly aware of building construction and the placement of this safe in respect to the rest of the buildings make up.
Also, without having personally seen this type of door, I would imagine that though it looks like a regular door, it has be more securely built in order to house such serious locking mechanisms, and perhaps that would be more evident with a quick puncture attempt using an axe?
Thoughts guys?
In respect to the placement of the door as phyrman21 stated. I think it would most likely be placed on a small room or an office that is used as a “safe room”. Maybe someone has a large art or gun collection. If so, it would fit right in the expected building layout and floor plan.
We gonna need a bigger donkey.
They don’t seem to come with a matching steel box….err vault.
So it’s just a great door surrounded by umm….wood and drywall.
Zzzzzz.
Holy Underwear Batman! Did you try knocking first? My mom says manners take you anywhere.
I have to laugh because as said before the door is impossible to defeat but it looks like plywood around it. If i’m not mistaken i do beleive that on this site there was an article on these doors in a residential use. It goes to show that make things criminal proof and they will make a better criminal.
I believe the point of the post is that you may find this door on something else. i.e. Block building, steel building, etc. etc. Looking at this, obviously it’s not going to be hard to defeat THIS set up. Anyone who’s been in the fire service for more than 11 minutes knows you’re going to attack the weakest part. The moral of the story is, you may run in to this in a more secure set up, then what? MAN!!! When does MLB start up?
Ummmmm…this apperas to be a display model at a “local hunting store”. Even our friendly neighborhood leo could defeat this…well….never mind!
I don’t get it.
JET AXE!
14 rabbit tools
It would look like a closet door in most settings. You would probably pick up on it if you shocked the door in some way or on the first pry out.
We deal with buisness that have “security rooms”. Discussion with owners that if they create bank vault-like structures, we may not attempt to defeat them in a fire. Takes too much time, too much manpower. They have been designed to prevent unauthorized people (like us) from gaining access.
Come on guys use your brains here. If you came across this and it was locked you can be pretty sure no one was in there. It’s a safe duh. Move on.
If you felt the door was securing a room that potentially held a living thing find another way in.
What’s the purpose of the search? To save viable lives right? Not guns or valuables.
Jeez, sometimes we make this job harder than it really is.
I’m guessing hitting that door with the butt of ones halligan once would be enough to figure out it’s made of very thick steel with maybe a wood or thin steel veneer over it for “looks”.
Move on to the next door!
FEMA even encourages building of residential “safe rooms.” I have built them. 6″ of reinforced concrete all all sides, including top and bottom. You will not go around easy. If used for that purpose (safe room)then there should not be much of a need to force entry. But in a fire would a person take refuge in such a room?
First off lets look at the application of this door. If you are in a residential setting then it may be a safe room that, if built to specs of FEMA, is supposed to sustain fire damage too. So if they are in there they might hear you and open the door for you. Ok so if it is in a commercial setting then we are probably looking a a safe or vault application for this door. Like previoy stated, there is little to no need for us to go in there. BUT I can see someone buy one of these for their main entry way into their home. So we can do one of a few things. One more than likely the frame or wall around this door isn’t built as tough. Secondly, check for other doors and windows that are easier. If you have anything to add email me at bradsfireman@gmail.com
WE need to start carrying C4
What about if there is fire/smoke coming from this room?What about during the overhaul stage? Simple residential construction would be no problem, but in a reinforced commercial setting, it may take some time to access.
THIS IS MEANT FOR THE PERSON THAT HAS A COLLECTION OF FIREARMS BIGGER THEN 2 SAFES WORTH OR A SECURE/SAFE ROOM WITHING THEIR HOME OR BASEMENT BUILT TO FEMA SPECS. IT IS CHEAPER THEN 2 TOP OF THE LINE SAFES ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A BLOCK ROOM LINED WITH REBAR AND CEMENT. YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THE SIZE YOU NEED IT.