Township of Whitehall, PA Part 2 Key Lock Boxes

[Adopted 10-9-2017 by Ord. No. 3097]

Article III Lock Box Requirements

§ 7-19 Applicability; timeframe for compliance; type to be used.

A. The following structures shall be equipped with a key lock box (Knox box) at or within six feet of the main entrance at a height between four feet and five feet from the walking surface:

(1) Commercial or industrial structures protected by an automatic alarm system or automatic suppression systems, or such structures that are secured in a manner that restricts access during an emergency;

(2) Multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through locked doors and have a common corridor for access to the living units;

(3) Governmental structures, schools, and nursing care facilities.

B. All newly constructed structures subject to this section shall have a key lock box (Knox box) installed and operational prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit. All structures in existence on the effective date of this article and subject to this section shall have one year from the effective date of this article to have a key lock box (Knox box) installed and operational.

C. The Fire Chief shall designate the type of key lock box system (Knox box) to be implemented within the Township and shall have the authority to require all structures to use the designated system. Owners and operators of structures subject to this section shall obtain an authorization order form from the Township for the key lock box system (Knox box), which must be completed to ensure compatibility of the key lock box system (Knox box) with the Township's system.

§ 7-20 Contents; second box.

A. The owner or operator of the structure required to have a key lock box (Knox box) shall, at all times, maintain the following items within the key lock box (Knox box):

(1) Keys, separately tagged and indexed to a floor plan to clearly and quickly identify what doors or locks they operate to:

(a) All locked points of access to the structure;

(b) All locked points of access to common hallways or utility rooms contained within such structure;

(c) All locked mechanical rooms;

(d) All locked electrical rooms;

(e) All locked sprinkler control rooms;

(f) All areas of the structure where fire alarm panels and fire protection systems are located;

(g) All locked elevator rooms and controls;

(h) Any fenced or secured areas;

(i) All other locked areas, other than individual apartments or rented rooms; and

(2) Name(s) and phone number(s) of individual(s) with access to the structure(s) after hours (plant manager, owner, etc.).

B. The labeling/tagging of keys and contact information contained within the key lock box (Knox box) must be kept current.

C. In lieu of having the interior keys in the exterior key lock box (Knox box), a second key lock box (Knox box) may be located within the main lobby of the building to hold these keys. If a second key lock box (Knox box) is installed within the main lobby, it must be located at or within six feet of the main entrance at a height between four feet and five feet from the walking surface.

§ 7-21 Information to be provided to Fire Chief; updating required.

A. The owner or operator of the structure required to have a key lock box (Knox box) shall provide the following items to the Fire Chief electronically by sending them to [e-mail]:

(1) Floor plans which include utility locations (gas, electric, etc.); and

(2) Copies of the material safety data sheets that are required to be on file, as well as a floor plan or written description that indicates the location(s) of the general areas of these materials within the structure, if the structure contains a business that is required to maintain material safety data sheets.

B. The plans and the material safety data sheets provided to the Fire Chief must be kept current.

§ 7-22 Rules and regulations for use.

The Fire Chief shall be authorized to implement rules and regulations for the use of the key lock box system (Knox box).

§ 7-23 Violations and penalties.

Any person violating the provisions of this article, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $1,000 for each offense and the cost of prosecution and, in the event of default of payment of each fine and cost, shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than 90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense. Any person found guilty of violating this article shall be assessed court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Township in the enforcement proceedings.