True, maybe faster, but there are considerations other than speed at play. Responders have to make decisions quickly about the best way to gain entry depending on the situation. Paraphrasing from the NYC Fire Department forcible entry guide, discussed here[0] earlier this week:
- Broken glass creates an additional safety hazard for rescue workers, people being rescued, and people cleaning up afterward.
- Breaking the glass would greatly increase cost of repairs for the building owner/insurance (professionalism)
- A door without the glass is harder to secure afterward ("Who will provide security for the occupancy after you leave?")
Also a volunteer firefighter here, if possible (and especially if not during an active structure fire) we try to keep property damage to a minimum. So it maybe that we could cause less damage to the door than breaking the window which is not always a guarantee. But always try (opening) before you pry (it open).
- Broken glass creates an additional safety hazard for rescue workers, people being rescued, and people cleaning up afterward.
- Breaking the glass would greatly increase cost of repairs for the building owner/insurance (professionalism)
- A door without the glass is harder to secure afterward ("Who will provide security for the occupancy after you leave?")
0: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32546810