This chapter shall be known as the "Emergency
Access Systems Local Law of the Town of Colonie."
The Town of Colonie has recognized the importance
of providing the Town's emergency services rapid entry into locked
buildings. An emergency access systems local law provides 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 responding
emergency crews. The delay in gaining entry can result in substantial
property damage, delays in providing lifesaving or other medical procedures,
and increased danger for emergency services personnel and the building
occupants. To assist the emergency service providers in gaining rapid
entry, the Town of Colonie adopts an emergency access systems local
law.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOMATIC FIRE-SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
A system or assembly of piping, valves, controls and sprinklers
which are designed and installed to comply with the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) standards, which utilize water, foam,
carbon dioxide or other gas to automatically react to and suppress
fire.
EMERGENCY ALARM
Any device designed to alert police, fire or emergency medical
personnel to an emergency condition requiring attention and to which
police, fire or emergency medical service units are expected to respond.
This definition shall include alarms that terminate at an answering
service, as well as those that emit an audible or visible signal.
FALSE ALARM
An alarm signal from an emergency alarm or notification by
an emergency alarm answering service which calls for an emergency
response from the Town of Colonie Police Department, fire services
or emergency medical services where an emergency situation does not
in fact exist. The term "false alarm" shall not include an alarm signal
caused by testing or repairing of telephone or electrical lines or
equipment outside of the premises, an attempted illegal entry of which
there is visible evidence, violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary
circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user
or alarm supplier.
KEY BOX
A high-security key vault of UL type approved by the Town
of Colonie Office of Fire Prevention and Investigation, master keyed
with a Medco Biaxial Level 7 or equivalent lock. Locks shall be keyed
to the key configuration provided by the Town of Colonie. Such vaults
shall have weatherproof gaskets, shall have a covered lock opening
and shall be highly resistant to drilling or vandalism.
KEY BOX DOCUMENT VAULT
A high-security steel plate vault, a minimum of 14 inches
high by 12 inches wide by two inches deep, constructed to the same
standards as the lock box, for the storage of documents.
This chapter shall be applicable to:
A. All buildings located within the Town of Colonie having
an automatic fire alarm system or a fire sprinkler system shall be
equipped with a key box or key box document vault.
B. Any building having three or more false alarms within
a six-month period.
One- and two-family dwellings and buildings
having a twenty-four-hour, seven-day-per-week guard system shall be
specifically exempted from the requirements for a key box.
The Office of Fire Prevention and Investigation and the Town of Colonie Building Department shall administer
the provisions of this chapter. The Office of Fire Prevention and
Investigation and the Town of Colonie Police Department shall enforce
the provisions.