[Adopted 3-20-2002 by Ord. No. 02-010 (Ch. 54, Art. I, § 54-8,
of the 1994 Code of Ordinances)]
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
In all buildings regardless of use or occupancy, which are protected
by an automatic alarm system and/or a fire sprinkler system, the owners
and/or management agents shall install a key box, of a type and in
a location approved by the proper official of the Division of Fire.
The following are exempt from this requirement:
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
For all buildings where installation is not required under the provisions of § 228-13, such installation shall be permissible but not required. If the owner or management agent of a property which is not required to install a key box elects to do so, said owner or management agent shall be obligated to meet all criteria specified for buildings where key box installation is required.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
Upon examination of the physical condition and characteristics
of any property subject to this article, and upon written notice to
the owner and/or principal occupant thereof, the proper official of
the Division of Fire may require a key box to be installed in a specific
location whenever access to or within a structure or an area is unduly
difficult because of secured openings or where immediate access is
necessary for lifesaving or firefighting purposes.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
Cabinet-style vaults shall be required when deemed necessary
by the proper official of the Division of Fire at premises containing
hazardous materials and MSDS data sheets, site plans and floor plans.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
Owners and operators of controlled vehicle parking areas which
use mechanical parking gates to control motor vehicle ingress and
egress shall install and maintain an emergency override control on
each gate. Said emergency override control devices shall contain a
master key-operated type switch approved by the proper official of
the Division of Fire.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
Key boxes shall include two separate sets of keys. Each set
shall contain the following individually labeled keys:
A.
Keys to the locked point of egress whether on the interior or exterior
of such buildings;
B.
Keys to locked mechanical rooms;
C.
Keys to locked electrical rooms;
D.
Keys to fire alarm panels;
E.
Keys to elevator controls, if elevators are present and equipped
with a fire department bypass switch;
F.
Keys to other areas in the building as directed by the proper official
of the Division of Fire.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
In addition, the key box shall contain the following:
A.
A current list of personnel and telephone numbers for call back purposes
in the event of an emergency;
B.
All right to know records and MSDS pertinent to the subject premises;
C.
In the alternative, a written direction card shall be located in
the key box, indicating the location of those records for facilities
having more MSDS sheets than the key box is capable of holding.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
The lock or key box to be installed in the structure shall meet
the following specifications:
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
The Division of Fire shall adopt procedures for protecting the
integrity and security of the master keys system which allow access
to key boxes within the Township. Procedures shall include, but not
be limited to, a definition of authorized uses and users of the system;
specific means of access to the system; protection against unauthorized
or uncontrolled use of master keys or master key systems; secure storage
systems for master keys; a system for release and control of master
keys from a central dispatch location; the recording of individuals
having access to the master key, including date, time and location
of access; and protections and safeguards against unauthorized duplication
of master keys or access systems.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
In the event that locks on the subject building are changed
after the installation of the key box, the proper official of the
Division of Fire shall be notified of such change in writing, and
a key(s) to the new lock(s) shall be provided immediately. Failure
to provide this written notification and new key(s) may result in
the imposition of a fine of not less than $250.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
The requirements of this article shall apply to all new construction
in the Township and all buildings undergoing renovations in the Township,
where the total cost of the renovations exceeds $10,000.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
All existing buildings as described in § 228-13 shall be required to comply with the installation of the key box system within two years of the effective date of this article.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
Any building owner who knowingly and intentionally violates
this article, after receiving written notice from the proper official
of the Division of Fire, may be subject to a fine of not less than
$250 per violation.
[Amended 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-059]
Enforcement of this article shall be performed by the Fire Marshal
or Fire Chief pursuant to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 5:70-1.2 et seq.
