Training Tip: Hinge Reinforcement

By Roger Steger Jr. and Sam Hittle

Although door props have some benefit, they have become detrimental in training firefighters how real doors behave. Conversely, when acquired structures are procured many of the interior doors lack sufficient security to prepare firefighters for resistance often met on exterior doors encountered. To combat this, we find it necessary to augment the locks. This is typically done with some type of steel plating or steel channel. While beneficial, this reinforcement is rigid, having a tendency to give both suddenly and quickly.

An alternative is to use hinges that are readily available in the acquired structure. Hinges are pliant and easily secure to both the door and door frame with a fastener of choice. This reduces the capacity for beating the door with an impulse force. The flexible yet unyielding augmented resistance is more representative of that experienced with real locks. Ultimately, it will allow firefighters the ability to move through the multiple steps required for tougher doors.

ROGER STEGER Jr. is a firefighter at Engine Company No. 8 in the City of Baltimore, Maryland. He started in the fire service in 1996 as a volunteer, later getting hired as a career firefighter. He has been a career and volunteer member of several jurisdictions throughout Maryland, holding various ranks between the departments. In addition to these positions he is an instructor with Traditions Training, an adjunct instructor for hands-on training at Fire Engineering‘s FDIC International, and the Baltimore City Fire Academy.

SAMUEL HITTLE is a captain with the Wichita (KS) Fire Department. He has an associate degree in fire science. He has been an instructor for FDIC International and Traditions Training. He is a contributing author to Fire Engineering, Urban Firefighter, and FireRescue. He is a Google Hangout panel member, an Interior Attack technical panel member for Underwriters Laboratories, and a member of the FDIC International Educational Advisory Board.

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