Forcible Entry: Defeating a Swing Arm Security Latch

By JIM ALLEN

Fire departments across the country often face swing arm security latches on doors. This type of latch is very easy to overcome in a fire situation; it can be blown off the door by using conventional forcible entry techniques or with a hydraulic forcible entry tool. Normally, when using these techniques, the screws holding the latch into the door frame are pulled out, which damages the frame, or the latch snaps into pieces and is no longer usable. Many times, we are called on to assist at public service calls such as a lockout, a lock-in, lift assists, medical calls, and fire alarm activations with no visible sign of fire where there is no need to damage the door.

On occasion, when someone calls the fire department, he may also report the location of a spare key or—depending on the door—we can use a shove knife to open the door. Some people leave their door locked with the security latch and use the garage entrance door as their main entrance. Therefore, it is possible to go to a call with no one home and the latch engaged. Also, many hotels have these types of latches as secondary locks on their doors, so we will have to release them after the electronic lock has been unlatched or deactivated. So, let's look at a quick tactic to release a swing arm security latch without destroying it.