Borough of Quakertown, PA KNOX BOXES

[Ord. 1154, 12/3/2008]

The purpose of this Part is to protect and promote health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Borough and particularly commercial businesses.

An ordinance is necessary to require certain commercial and residential buildings to install Knox Boxes.

The benefits of installing Knox Boxes include providing immediate emergency access to firefighters leading to increasing Fire Department efficiency; preventing costly forced entry damage and allowing undamaged doors to be resecured after the emergency; and protecting property, inventory, equipment and supplies as well as firefighters against possible injury.

[Ord. 1154, 12/3/2008]

Knox Box Required for New Commercial Buildings. All new commercial buildings shall have installed a Knox Box, of an Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office, prior to the issuance of the permit to occupy.

Knox Box Required for Existing Commercial Buildings with Improvements. All existing commercial buildings constructing improvements that require Planning Board approval shall have installed a Knox Box, of an Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office, prior to the issuance of the construction permit.

Knox Box Required for Existing Commercial Buildings. All existing commercial buildings equipped with automatic fire-detection and/or -suppression systems shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office, within six months of the effective date of this Part.

Knox Box Required for Multifamily Residential Structures. All multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through locked doors and have a common corridor for access to the living units shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office, within six months of the effective date of this Part.

Knox Box Contents. All Knox Boxes shall contain labeled keys, easily identified in the field, to provide access into the property and/or building and to any locked areas within the said building as the Borough Fire Marshal may direct.

Locked Gates or Driveways. Any locked gates or driveways which allow access to a commercial business are required to place a Fire Department access lock on the said access point to allow immediate emergency access to the commercial property. All locks are to be approved by the Borough Fire Marshal.