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Door Breaching

A process used by burglars, thiefs, military, police, or emergency services to force open a closed and/or locked door. A wide range of methods are available, one or more of which may be used in any given situation. These methods may be divided up into mechanical breaching, ballistic breaching, and explosive breaching.

A rifle launched entry munition (RLEM) used for standoff explosive breaching of doors	Hydraulic cutting spreader tool.

A Halligan tool and an axe, both common tools used by firefighters to breach doors to fight a fire

Typical target locations for breaching a door at the latch (left) and the hinges (right).

The adze and pick end of a typical Halligan bar.

Mechanical Breaching

Mechanical breaching can be minimally destructive, through the use of lock picks. This method is relatively slow and requires a trained operator, but does not damage the lock or door. More dynamic methods use force to break the lock or door. The common methods are to use a lever, such as a Halligan bar or crowbar, or to use a tool to concentrate a large amount of force on the door, such as a sledgehammer, hydraulic jack, or battering ram.

 

Explosive Breaching

Explosive breaching can be the fastest method, though it is also the most dangerous, to both the breachers and the room occupants. Depending on the situation, explosive breaching is potentially slower than a ballistic breach due to the large standoff required when using explosives, if there is no cover available. Breaching can be performed with a specially formed breaching charge placed in contact with the door, or with various standoff breaching devices, such as specialized rifle grenades like the SIMON breach grenade. Breaching using explosives is primarily an operation performed by highly trained explosives experts, such as combat engineers. Explosive breaching charges can range from highly focused methods, such as detcord, plastic explosives, or strip shaped charges that explosively cut through doors or latches, to large satchel charges, containing 20 pounds (9 kg) of C-4, that can breach even reinforced concrete bunkers.

Shotgun Breaching

A breaching round is a shotgun shell specially made for the purposes of door breaching. It is typically fired at a range of 6 inches (15 cm) or less, aimed at the hinges or the area between the doorknob and lock and door jamb, and is designed to destroy the object it hits and then disperse into a relatively harmless powder.[1] [edit] Design and construction Breaching rounds are designed to destroy the locking mechanisms of doors without the risk of ricochet. These rounds are typically 12 gauge, frangible shotgun slugs made of compressed or sintered metal powder in a binder. Example of breaching rounds are: The US Military M1030 breaching round, a 12 gauge 2 3/4 inch (70 mm) shell which uses a 1.4 ounce (40 g) projectile made of powdered steel, bound with wax[2][3] The Clucas MoE Hatton Round, a 12 gauge 3 inch (76mm) magnum shell which uses a 50 gram (1.8 ounce) frangible projectile, consisting of a high density material in a plastic binder[4] When fired, the full force of the round is delivered to the target, minimizing the risk of injury to persons behind the door being opened. If fired directly at a human target, they can cause lethal injury.