The Board of Supervisors of Unity Township hereby finds that
the lack of a high speed, common key secured entry system in those
structures herein defined (i) impedes access by firefighters and other
emergency service personnel, (ii) unreasonably extends response times,
(iii) results in the increased risk of damage to property and harm
to the residents of the Township, and (iv) poses a threat to the public
health, safety and welfare. The Board of Supervisors also find that
actions which narrow, impede, block, delay or otherwise impair access
to emergency exits within places of assembly, or which preclude the
safe and rapid entry by firefighters or other emergency personnel
endangers and threatens the public health, safety and welfare. The
purpose of this section is to require owners of commercial properties,
churches and multifamily dwellings to provide rapid entry key box
systems to enable firemen and other emergency personnel to have immediate
access to commercial properties, churches and/or residential dwellings
which do not have immediate access from an outside entry, and to ensure
that emergency entrances and exits, and other areas required for emergency
ingress and egress, are identified and maintained consistent with
the provisions of this section.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A fireproof and secure box or other structure affixed to
the outside of a required structure, approved for use by the Board
of Supervisors, containing keys for the entry of all units within
the required structure and having a single-entry key in common with
all other entry boxes in the Township of Unity.
Any structure required to have a common key rapid entry key
box pursuant to the terms of this section. A "required structure"
for purposes of this section shall be deemed to include, but not be
limited to, all commercial buildings housing a commercial enterprise
within the Township, regardless of the zoning classification in which
it is located, all churches, a residential dwelling unit which does
not have an independent exterior entry through a ground level door
and any multifamily dwelling having a unit or units accessed through
a common hallway or entryway. Nothing in this section shall be deemed
or construed to prohibit the owners of other property within the Township
to voluntarily install a common key rapid entry key box pursuant to
the terms of this chapter. The Township may approve an exception from
the requirements of this section upon a showing of compelling circumstances.
The owner of any required structure shall install and maintain
a common key rapid entry key box on the exterior of the structure
at or near a common entry door, in a location approved by the Township,
to provide access to interior units by the Volunteer Fire Departments
of Unity Township and/or other emergency service personnel. Such key
box shall be installed on the required structure upon any change in
occupants of any commercial structure or the change in occupants of
any dwelling unit within a required residential structure. An approved
lock shall be installed on gates or similar barriers when required
by the fire code official. The foregoing notwithstanding, all required
structures shall cause such key boxes to be installed no later than
one year from the date of this section's enactment.
The type of common key rapid entry key box installed shall be
approved by the Township and have a common entry key in common with
all other common key rapid entry key boxes within the Township. The
cost of acquisition and installation of the common key rapid entry
key box shall be paid by the owner of the required property.
The owner of any required structure shall provide, place and
keep copies of keys to the required structure and all units within
the required structure in the common key rapid entry key box and shall
clearly label each key with the door and number of each unit such
key opens and/or serves. The Township shall obtain the common key
for the box from the manufacturer of same and same shall be provided
to the Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department having primary jurisdiction
over the location in which the box is located. It is the continuing
responsibility of the owner of the required structure to ensure that
an up-to-date key is enclosed in the Knox-Box®.
The owner of any required structure shall provide the name,
address, phone number and any other emergency contact information
of a person in charge of the required structure to the Township at
the time the rapid entry key box is installed. The owner shall also
report any change in the person in charge, change in the contact information
of the person in charge, or any change in the locks for the required
structure within 10 days of same.
In the event any required structure has an existing fire suppression
system and/or fire notification system, and experiences a change in
ownership or occupancy, the existing fire suppression system and/or
fire notification system shall not be removed, but shall remain and
be maintained in good working order. The owner of any required structure
shall provide evidence that the fire suppression system and/or fire
notification system is functioning properly every five years from
the date of this section's adoption. The Township may also require
additional testing or proof that the system is functioning properly
in the event a failure or malfunction of same is reported or observed.
In the event repairs are necessary, same shall be performed within
a time period established by the Township.
All emergency lighting and/or exit lighting in required structures
shall be maintained in good working order, and in locations proscribed
by the Uniform Construction Code, at all times. All emergency exit
signage in required structures shall also be maintained in areas proscribed
by the Uniform Construction Code at all times.
All egress widths required by the Uniform Construction Code
shall be maintained at all times. The owner, occupant or other person
responsible for the operation, maintenance or control of any required
structure shall keep all entryways, ingress or egress routes, open
and free from merchandise, furniture, debris or other materials that
would reduce the required egress widths. No locking devices prohibited
by the Uniform Construction Code (as amended) shall be installed on
any entryway or exit to prohibit, limit or interfere with ingress
or egress.
