[Adopted 10-16-2000 by Ord. No. 92; amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The purpose of this article is to promote the public health, safety and welfare for the residents of the Charter Township of Blackman by expediting entry of fire and rescue personnel to locked premises. It is the intent of this article to permit rapid entry to structures in order to save lives and property. This article provides for the use of Knox Security/Rapid Access Products because the products are specifically designed for the goals of this article.
This article shall be known as the "Knox Box Ordinance."
A. 
All newly constructed commercial and industrial buildings, regardless of use or occupancy, shall have installed a Knox Box system.
B. 
This article shall not apply to residential structures.
C. 
Each existing structure that is constructed to provide medical or health care to its residents or patients, lodging to the public, or commercial housing of residents shall have installed a Knox key box. Included in this § 43-23C shall be motels, hotels, inns, hospitals, care facilities, retirement centers and apartment complexes.
D. 
Industrial and commercial structures with sprinkler systems and/or alarm systems whether monitored or not shall also install a Knox key box.
A. 
A Knox Box is a secure box containing access key(s) to the premises where the box is located. It shall be sufficiently large enough to hold the keys and/or information required by this article.
B. 
At the time of the Knox Box installation, the building owner shall arrange for the Charter Township of Blackman Public Safety Department to check that the access keys have been placed in the box and to provide the access key for the box to the Public Safety Department.
C. 
The box shall be installed in a location within 10 feet of the main entrance of the structure, no higher than six feet and no lower than four feet off the ground, and clearly visible. The box shall contain:
(1) 
Keys to locked points of external ingress to common areas of the building.
(2) 
Keys to locked mechanical, electrical, or equipment rooms.
(3) 
Keys to elevator controls.
D. 
The number of master keys needed shall be at the discretion of the public safety official, depending on the occupancy and the life safety needs.
Any facility, firm, or corporation that handles, uses, or stores hazardous material in the (3) or (4) range of the NFPA 704M symbol and total aggregate is more than 55 gallons, 500 pounds, or 200 cubic feet shall have a Knox Box for hazardous material information for the Department of Public Safety use. A weatherproof box or cabinet shall be installed when appropriate. Exception: Not required for underground fuel storage.
A. 
The box shall contain the following:
(1) 
Binder of information with:
(a) 
A list of responsible persons and phone numbers (i.e., plant manager, owner, all principal employees, management types, and major chemical manufacturers);
(b) 
A blueprint of the facility, to include room numbering, extinguishing systems (OSY, PI valves, fire department connections), drains, secondary containment, ventilation systems, hydrant locations and electrical schematics.
B. 
Location. The Hazardous Material Knox Box shall be located on the premises to the front of the building on a metal post or appropriate structure erected to house the Knox Box, located at the furthest point away from the building that is accessible to the Fire Department.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this article shall be deemed a misdemeanor and subject the violator to a fine not to exceed $500 and/or up to 90 days in jail.
A violation of this article shall be deemed to create a nuisance, and the Township may at its option seek injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.