The purpose of this article is to provide a
means of emergency access to buildings, fire suppression equipment,
fire alarm equipment, building systems and information specified by
the Fire Marshal, for use by the fire department at the time of an
emergency or a reported emergency on the subject premises.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
INFORMATION STORAGE CABINET
A cabinet-style vault approved by the Fire Marshal, installed
in an accessible location for the purpose of safe-keeping information
and documents related to premises, as may be required by the Fire
Marshal, including such items as information on hazardous materials
stored on premises, site plans, building plans, emergency notification
information or any other information the Fire Marshal may deem to
be pertinent to the operations of the responding Fire Department.
KEY LOCK BOX
A UL-listed box or container of a type approved by the fire
department having jurisdiction, installed in a conspicuous and accessible
location on the premises approved by the fire department, for the
purpose of containing keys, combinations and/or codes necessary to
gain access to the premises.
PREMISES
The site upon which a building, structure, or groups of buildings
and/or structures are located, together with such buildings and/or
structures. Premises may exclude such structures, buildings, or parts
thereof as the Fire Marshal may determine are not necessary to access
in the event of an emergency, including, but not limited to, fireproof
safes, storage vaults, etc.
A letter of approval shall be obtained from
the fire department having jurisdiction prior to the installation
or alteration of any key lock box. A letter of approval from the Town
Fire Marshal shall be obtained prior to the installation of an information
storage cabinet.
No equipment installed pursuant to §
79-230 shall be deemed acceptable or approved until an inspection of the same has been conducted by the Fire Marshal's office and/or fire department having jurisdiction, and an appropriate certificate of compliance has been issued.
Key lock boxes, information storage cabinets
or combinations thereof which have been installed in compliance with
any permit or order pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained in
operative condition at all times. It shall be unlawful for any owner
or occupant to reduce the effectiveness of any such emergency access
system, but this limitation shall not prohibit the owner or occupant
from making necessary repairs which temporarily reduce the usefulness
of the system, provided such repairs are completed within 10 business
days. The fire department having jurisdiction shall be notified before
any alterations or repairs are made.
All key lock boxes and information storage cabinets
shall be equipped with single lock cylinder and shall be opened only
with the master key held by the fire department having jurisdiction
for protecting the subject premises. Each fire department key shall
be unique in its ability to open only key lock boxes within the department's
own jurisdiction. In no case shall any person or entity, other than
a member of the fire department having jurisdiction for protecting
the subject premises, be issued, possess or use any key intended to
operate the fire department lock cylinder on any key lock box or information
storage cabinet.