[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Altamont as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-21-2020 by L.L. No. 2-2020]
A.
The Village of Altamont Board of Trustees ("Village Board") hereby
finds that a local law is needed to require key lock boxes for all
commercial buildings located in the Village, commonly known as the
"Knox-Box®" system, as the Village
Board has determined lock boxes are advantageous in circumstances
in which a nonforced entry to the premises would be desirable to react
to an emergency.
B.
It is the Village's intent to enact a Knox-Box® local law to provide for the placement in secured, locked containers
of keys to important areas within a structure and information that
may be vital and necessary to the health, safety and welfare of the
occupants and the emergency first responders. Access to those key
areas and advance knowledge of their location and the location of
hazardous or potentially hazardous materials enhances responders'
abilities to preserve and protect lives and property.
C.
The purpose of this article is to expedite the access to buildings
for emergency first responders and limit the amount of potential physical
damage to structures brought about by the need to access a commercial
building or structure promptly to save lives, prevent injuries and
protect property.
A rapid-access system that allows first responders to quickly
enter a building in the event of an emergency. Knox-Boxes® are secure key safes that can only be accessed
by first responders. The term "Knox-Box®" shall mean a device as prescribed by the Village of Altamont in
coordination with the Altamont Fire Department and/or Building and
Zoning Officer in which shall be placed a master key to the premises,
access to which box shall be limited and regulated so that a minimum
number of persons shall have access to the key that will open said
lock box and a record is maintained at all times as to the person
or persons who may obtain access to the box. The lock box shall also
contain an updated emergency notification list of at least two individuals
with telephone numbers and addresses. This list will be kept updated
by said owner of the commercial property.
Any system by which notification of a possible emergency
is made, directly or indirectly, to the Guilderland Communications
Center or other emergency response entity or emergency communications
center or which activates an audible signal that can be heard off
of the property on which the alarm system is located or a visual signal
which can be seen off of the property on which the alarm system is
located.
An integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed
in accordance with fire protection engineering standards. The system
includes a suitable water supply. The portion of the system above
the ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed
piping installed in a structure or are generally overhead, and to
which automatic sprinklers are connected in a systematic pattern.
The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and discharges
water over the fire area.
All commercial buildings located within the Village of Altamont
having an alarm system or an automatic sprinkler system shall be equipped
with a Knox-Box®. A business that operates
24 hours per day, seven days per week and has a representative or
employee on-site at all times may seek an exemption from this requirement
which shall be granted at the discretion of the Building and Zoning
Officer.
The Knox-Box® shall be located
in a location approved by the Building and Zoning Officer, within
unobstructed view of the main entry and shall be mounted six feet
above grade.
The Knox-Box® shall contain the
following:
A.
Sufficient keys must be provided to allow access to all areas of
the building necessary to mitigate any foreseen emergency condition
emergency services may be called upon to protect. This includes, but
is not limited to, keys to unlock all fire systems control devices;
locked mechanical and sprinkler riser rooms; elevator controls and
fire alarm control panels; electrical rooms; storage rooms; locked
points of egress, interior and exterior; and other areas as specified
and required by the Fire Department. All keys must be labeled properly
to ensure the quickest entry. It is the responsibility of the property
owner to notify the Building and Zoning Officer if there are any changes
that would require the contents of the Knox-Box® to be updated.
A.
All existing buildings covered by this article shall comply within
18 months of the effective date of this article.
B.
All new construction covered by this article, including buildings
currently under construction as of the effective date, for which no
certificate of occupancy has been issued, shall comply immediately.
Failure to comply with any portion of this article shall be
deemed a misdemeanor, and the violator shall be liable for a fine
of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000, and each day such violation
continues shall constitute a separate offense.
It shall be the duty of the Altamont Building and Zoning Officer
to administer, supervise and maintain the Village-wide Knox-Box® system. These responsibilities shall include
maintaining all of the required and associated paperwork, working
with the Fire Department and property owner to determine the appropriate
location of the box system, and all other aspects of this program.
The invalidity of any word, section, clause, paragraph, sentence,
part, or provision of this article shall not affect the validity of
any other part of this article which can be given effect without such
invalid part or parts.
This article shall take effect upon filing with the Secretary
of State.
