[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
West Hanover 6-2-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Key Lock Box Ordinance."
In order to assist in providing effective response to emergency occurrences
in the Township and for the protection of public and private property, the
West Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Company must gain access to a structure
in order to inspect emergency situations and assess the need for further action
related to the emergency. In certain instances, when responding to emergency
calls initiated by a remote dialing automatic detection or suppression system,
entrance may be gained without forceful entry in to the structure. To improve
emergency response time and minimize the need for forcible entry of a structure,
the purpose of this chapter is to require certain nonresidential structures
to have secured key lock box systems installed at the entrance of the structure
to enable members of the West Hanover Volunteer Fire Company to securely enter
the structure during an emergency occurrence detected by a remote response
dial-up automatic fire detection or suppression system and/or a 911 call.
As used in this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases shall
have the meanings herein ascribed thereto unless the context clearly indicates
a different meaning:
Any centrally monitored system, device, equipment, mechanical, electrical
or battery-operated arrangement to activate a remote telephone calling response,
alarm or signal of the occurrence of a police, fire, hazard or medical emergency
requiring urgent attention and to which police, fire or EMS personnel are
expected to respond.
Any system that automatically detects a fire, activates an alarm
and suppresses a fire by the application of an extinguishing agent through
fixed piping and nozzles.
The individual appointed by the Board of Supervisors, serving the
Township as per the requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction
Code, and also responsible for the enforcement of the Township's nuisance,
property maintenance and other regulations identified in the Township Code.
[Added 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
All members and equipment of the West Hanover Township Volunteer
Fire Company.
A fire.
The individual appointed by the Board of Supervisors serving the Township as per the requirements of Chapter 22 of the Township Code.
[Added 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
An emergency involving the health of a person.
Any individual, group, firm, partnership, association, company, corporation
or organization of any kind.
All members of the Pennsylvania State Police Department.
Any incident requiring prompt response by the Pennsylvania State
Police.
An automatic detection system that, upon detection of smoke or fire
conditions in a structure, activates an alarm and/or provides dial-up telephone
contact services to local emergency response agencies to which police, fire
or EMS personnel are engaged to respond.
An automatic suppression system that, upon detection of smoke or
fire conditions in a structure, activates a suppression system and/or provides
dial-up telephone contact services to local emergency response agencies to
which police, fire or EMS personnel are engaged to respond.
That which is built or constructed or a portion thereof.
The Township of West Hanover, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
[1][1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of “Township Manager,”
which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 11-7-2005 by Ord.
No. 2005-9.
[Amended 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
All structures within the Township having a remote response dial-up
automatic detection system and/or a remote response dial-up automatic suppression
system that are secured in a manner that restricts access during an emergency,
including, but not limited to commercial and industrial structures, multifamily
residential structures that have restricted access through a locked door or
have a common corridor for access to the living units, government structures,
health-care facilities and schools and churches, shall be equipped with a
key lock box at or near the main entrance or in such other location approved
by the Code Official or Fire Marshal.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
A.
Any nonresidential structure not serviced by a remote
response dial-up automatic detection system and/or a remote response dial-up
automatic suppression system;
B.
Any nonresidential structure that has a remote response
dial-up automatic detection system and/or a remote response dial-up automatic
suppression system, but is open 24 hours a day with the owner and responsible
management in attendance at all times;
C.
Single-family residential dwellings; and
D.
PA State Police facilities.
[Amended 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
In unique circumstances only, nonexempt private nonresidential structures
with a remote response dial-up automatic detection system and/or a remote
response dial-up automatic suppression system may be exempt from this ordinance
upon approval of an emergency access contingency plan. The property/business
owner shall submit the plan in writing. The Code Official, Fire Marshal and
designated representatives of the West Hanover Township Fire Company shall
review and have final approval of the emergency access contingency plans,
which shall exempt the property/business owner from these requirements in
full or in part. Content of the emergency access contingency plan shall be
as follows:
A.
Name of business.
B.
Address of business.
C.
Nature of business.
D.
Justification for exemption.
E.
Description of entrance process in event of emergency.
F.
Listing of all permanent contact information.
G.
Letter indemnifying WHTFC for damages caused in an emergency
response from a remote dialing alarm system.
The owner of each structure constructed after the effective date of
this chapter and subject to this chapter shall have a key lock box installed
and operational prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit. The owner of
each existing structure subject to the requirements of this chapter shall
have one year from the effective date of this ordinance to have a key lock
box installed and operational.
[Amended 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
The key lock box shall be an Underwriter's Laboratory approved model
as approved by the Fire Marshal. The key lock box shall be equipped with a
lock which can be opened only with a key that is issued to the Fire Marshal.
Emergency vehicles shall each be equipped with one key that is held in a special
security device. The owner of the structure is prohibited from obtaining or
otherwise possessing a key to open the lock box.
[Amended 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
The key lock box shall be mounted on the structure entrance at a height
of four feet and within three feet thereof or such other location approved
by the Township Code Official or Fire Marshal. Flush-mounted or recessed key
lock box installations shall be permitted, provided that the key lock box
is clearly marked.
[Amended 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
Once the key lock box is installed, the owner of the structure shall
contact the Township Code Official or Fire Marshal during regular office hours
to arrange for the owner of the structure to be visited by the Fire Companies
to inspect the key lock box and install the access keys and any other items
required by this chapter.
The key lock box shall contain keys to all locked entrances whether
on the interior or exterior of the structure, keys to locked mechanical or
electrical equipment rooms, keys to elevator rooms and controls, keys to any
fenced or secured area, directions to the fire alarm panels or controls and
any hazardous materials stored in the structure. If any of the contents of
the key lock box must be removed or anything is to be added thereto, arrangements
shall be made with the Township to open the key lock box, inspect the items
to be added to or removed from the box, and then lock the box.
[Amended 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9]
The owner of each structure required to have a key lock box shall provide
a list of contact persons, indicating the name, home address and home telephone
number to the Township Code Official or Fire Marshal. The owner of each structure
shall immediately upon any change with respect to the list of contact persons
provide the Township Code Official or Fire Marshal with such information.
The Board of Supervisors, and its agents, officials and representatives
shall not under any circumstances be liable or responsible for damages caused
to any person or property by reason of the provisions of this chapter, or
by reason of the conduct of any activity in compliance or noncompliance with
the terms and provisions hereof. The person, persons, company or companies
responsible for any lock box shall bear sole liability for any damages caused
as a result thereof.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, upon summary
conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000,
plus costs of prosecution and in default of payment thereof, be imprisoned
in the Dauphin County Prison for a period of not more than 30 days. Each day
of violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate
offense.
Nothing in this chapter hereby adopted shall be construed to affect
any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or
liability incurred, or any cause of action acquired or existing, nor shall
any just or legal right or remedy or any character be lost, impaired or affected
by this chapter.
