[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Adams as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-8-1993 by Ord. No. 61]
The following definitions shall apply in the
interpretation and enforcement of this article:
Any signal activated by an automatic protection device, any
audible alarm or any other kind of direct or indirect signal given
to which Police, Fire Department or emergency response agencies respond
which is not the result of an attempted illegal entry, burglary, intrusion,
fire, medical or other similar emergency, excluding weather extremes
and utility interruptions, which activates a protection device.
Adams Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.
It shall be unlawful for the property owner,
lessee or any person occupying or otherwise on any premises within
the municipality to make or cause to be made a false fire or security
alarm, directly or indirectly, to any Fire Department or emergency
response agency responding to alarms within the municipality when
the false alarm is caused by faulty detection or alarm equipment or
by the negligence of said property owner, lessee or person.
A.Â
The status of an alarm is to be determined by the
Police Department, fire company or other affected emergency response
agency and the decision shall be final.
B.Â
Upon notification of a false alarm, a written report
shall be made within 14 days by the owner or lessee to the municipality
and affected emergency response agency and shall contain what steps
have been taken to eliminate future false alarms.
C.Â
Service fees for false alarms shall be set from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
[Amended 6-9-2008 by Ord. No. 122]
In the event a violation of this article occurs, in addition
to such other remedies as may be available under existing law, the
municipality may institute an action in equity to prevent, restrain,
correct, abate or enjoin such violation.
[Adopted 6-9-2008 by Ord. No. 122]
The following newly constructed structures, which otherwise
contain a central-station-supervised alarm system, shall have and
maintain, and it shall be a condition precedent to the issuance by
the Township of Adams of an occupancy permit therefor, an approved
key lock box rapid entry system which meets the specifications contained
in this article: commercial structures and all multifamily residential
structures in which there is access to individual dwelling units from
a common internal or external corridor or other enclosed space. The
approval of the installation of such key lock box rapid entry system
shall be made by the Township of Adams or its authorized designee,
which may include an authorized representative of the Adams Area Fire
Department or successor thereto.
The key lock box rapid entry system required by this article
shall be located on the exterior of the structure for which it is
utilized, at a location at or near the structure's main entrance.
The required key lock box rapid entry system shall be placed at a
height of approximately six feet above ground level and shall not
be covered or have its visibility obscured by any items, including,
but not limited to, displays, signs or landscaping. The exact location
of the required key lock box rapid entry system upon each structure
shall be subject to the approval of the Township of Adams or its designee
prior to its installation.
The box for the required key lock box rapid entry system shall
contain labeled keys for all locked areas of the structure for which
it is utilized, including, but not limited to, all locked points of
ingress and egress to/from the structure, all locked mechanical rooms,
all locked elevator rooms, all locked elevator controls, all locked
fenced or otherwise secured areas and all locked individual tenant
spaces. In the event that the number of locked individual tenant spaces
is so large so as to preclude placement of all keys for same within
the key lock box rapid entry system box, a separate key vault for
same may be located elsewhere within the structure; however, its location
and access thereto must be provided within the key lock box rapid
entry system box.
The size of the required key lock box rapid entry system shall
be in conformity with the manufacturer's recommendations for
same and be subject to the approval of the Township of Adams or its
designee prior to its installation.
The required key lock box rapid entry system shall be installed
in accordance with its manufacturer's instructions by an approved
contractor, such as a fire alarm installer. Such installation shall
be completed and shall be required to meet the approval of the Township
of Adams or its designee prior to issuance by the Township of Adams
of an occupancy permit for the structure.
The required key lock box rapid entry system shall be interconnected
to the structure's fire alarm control panel, and there shall
be produced both a tamper alarm to the central station of the alarm
monitoring entity and a local, audible alarm sound which shall be
audible at the location of the key lock box which activate upon the
opening of the key lock box. In addition, a visible clear/white flashing
strobe light shall also be installed at the same location as the required
key lock box rapid entry system, which strobe light shall activate
upon the annunciation of a fire alarm for the structure.
Certain structures shall not be required to have a key lock
box rapid entry system upon certification by the Township of Adams
or its designee that the structure is open to the public at all times
on a twenty-four-hours-per-day, seven-days-per-week basis; is occupied
by staff personnel on a twenty-four-hours-per-day, seven-days-per-week
basis; or entrance into the structure, unless evidence of fire is
visible from the exterior (when forcible entry by emergency personnel
shall be utilized), is precluded by valid, special security concerns.
In the event that a structure previously certified for exemption pursuant
to this section has its use altered so as to no longer qualify for
the exemption specified herein, such structure shall have a key lock
box rapid entry system installed therefor within 60 days of such alteration
of use. Failure to then install the required key lock box rapid entry
system in such event shall result in the revocation of the occupancy
permit for the structure by the Township of Adams and the imposition
of the penalties hereafter provided in this article.
All qualifying structures in existence which contain a central-station-supervised
alarm system and for which occupancy permits have been previously
issued by the Township of Adams prior to enactment of the requirements
for key lock box rapid entry systems shall be required to install
and maintain same in conformity with the provisions of this article
within one year of the Township's enactment of the aforementioned
requirements. Failure to then install and maintain the required key
lock box rapid entry system in such event shall result in the revocation
of the occupancy permit for the structure by the Township of Adams
and the imposition of the penalties hereafter provided in this article.
The location of the key lock box rapid entry system required under
this section shall be subject to the approval of the Township of Adams
or its authorized designee, which may include an authorized representative
of the Adams Area Fire Department or a successor thereto.
For each and every violation of the provisions of this article,
any person or persons, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity
violating any of the provisions of this article shall constitute a
summary offense and, upon conviction within the magisterial district
which includes the Township of Adams, be sentenced to pay a fine of
not more than $500, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of
payment thereof, may be committed to the Butler County Jail in conformity
with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure for a period not
to exceed 10 days. Each and every day that a violation of the provisions
of this article exists shall constitute a separate and distinct offense
under this article and shall be subject to separate and distinct penalties
hereunder. The penalties provided herein shall not be the exclusive
method of enforcing compliance with the provisions of this article
but shall be in addition to all other legal and equitable remedies
available to the Township of Adams.
