[Added 5-18-2006 by Ord. No. 297]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The person appointed by the Township of Forks to serve as
Fire Chief of the Forks Township Fire Department.
The person appointed by the Township of Forks to serve as
the Fire Code Official for Forks Township.
A box designed to contain building entry keys and keys to
other areas of the building, for emergency access by the Forks Township
Fire Department and the Forks Township Police Department.
A special type of key lock box which provides on-site storage
of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and floor plans indicating the
location of all MSDS materials.
The Chief of Police of the Forks Township Police Department.
A.
The following structures shall be equipped with a key lock box at
or near the main entrance or such other location specified by the
Fire Code Official:
(1)
Any commercial or industrial structure in excess of 5,000 square
feet.
(2)
Any building within the Township that has an automatic alarm and/or
sprinkler system.
(3)
Any building equipped with an elevator.
(4)
Any preexisting commercial or industrial building or structure which
has been approved for the construction of additions such that the
resulting building or structure will exceed 5,000 square feet.
(5)
Upon examination of the physical condition and characteristics of
any other property and upon notice in writing to the assessed owner
and principal occupant, the Fire Code Official may further require
a key lock box system in a specific location whenever access to or
within a structure is unduly difficult because of secured openings
or where immediate access is necessary for lifesaving or firefighter
purposes.
B.
All newly constructed structures or additions to this section shall
have the key lock box system installed and operational before issuance
of a certificate of occupancy.
C.
The owner or operator of the structure required to have a key lock
box system shall at all times keep a key or set of keys in the lock
box that will allow emergency access to the structure.
D.
The Fire Code Official shall designate the type of key lock box to
be implemented within the Township and shall have the authority to
require all structures to use the designated system. A uniform system
is necessary in order to maintain system security and to provide for
quick access in emergency situations.
E.
Owners or operators of controlled vehicle parking areas which use
mechanical parking gates to control motor vehicles' ingress and
egress shall install and maintain emergency override control devices
on each gate. Said device shall be a master-key-operated-type switch
approved by the Fire Code Official.
F.
All costs associated with the purchase and installation and maintenance
of the key lock box system shall be the responsibility of the owner
of the premises.
G.
For any building equipped with an elevator, the building owner/manager
shall provide two sets of keys for entry to the building and all portions
of the premises and two sets of elevator control keys if elevators
are equipped with bypass switches.
Any property protected by an on-site twenty-four-hour seven-day-a-week
security guard or maintenance persons shall not be required to install
a key box lock system, provided that the security guard or maintenance
person must be able to provide immediate access to all areas of all
buildings in an emergency.
A.
Each key lock box shall contain:
(1)
Keys to locked points of egress, whether on interior or exterior
of such buildings.
(2)
Keys to the locked mechanical rooms.
(3)
Keys to the locked elevator rooms.
(4)
Keys to the elevator controls.
(5)
Keys to any fence or secured areas.
(6)
Keys to any other areas as directed by the Fire Code Official.
(7)
A floor plan of the rooms within the building.
B.
When a building contains a business that is required by state or
federal law to maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), a lock
box document vault shall be installed. The vault shall be located
on the front of the building near main entry door or directly inside
the main entry door. The vault shall contain copies of MSDS that are
required to be on file as well as a detailed floor plan that indicates
the location of these materials.
C.
Every key lock box system, every lock box document vault system,
and every installation location must first be approved by the Fire
Chief.
A.
The Fire Chief and the Police Chief shall record pertinent data regarding
each property protected by a key lock box system or a lock box document
vault.
B.
The Fire Code Official shall have the overall responsibility for
the administration and operation of the key lock box system. This
shall include the implementation of systems designed to:
C.
The owner and operator of any structure required by this article
to be equipped with a key lock box shall immediately notify the Fire
Code Official if any key for any key lock box system is changed.
D.
This article may be enforced by Forks Township Fire Code Official.
Any person who violates or permits violation of this article,
upon being found liable in a proceeding for its enforcement brought
before a District Justice in the same manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall pay a criminal fine of not less than $400 nor more than $1,000
per violation. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate
offense. All such fines shall be paid to the Township Treasurer. Further,
the Township is also authorized to enforce compliance herewith through
an action in equity brought in the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton
County.
