Today’s security-conscious citizens have propelled the simple slide-bolt or barrel-bolt locking mechanism to one of the most common secondary locking devices found on the fireground. They are most commonly found on residential doors, commercial buildings, and strip malls, roof bulkheads and scuttle hatches. Slide-bolts can be found securing either inward or outward opening doors and may be mounted on either side of those doors.

Firefighters arriving to any door should note the presence of slide-bolts immediately by noticing the carriage bolt heads on the face of the door.

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