[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Colchester 6-29-2011. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to C.G.S. § 7-148(c)(4)(B), the Town adopts
the following rapid access systems ordinance.
The purpose of this chapter is to enable fire and emergency
personnel to promptly enter commercial and industrial structures within
the Town of Colchester by requiring the installation of a rapid access
system in new or renovated commercial and industrial structures.
As used in this chapter, the following words or phrases shall
have the meanings indicated:
Any device or equipment which is capable of automatically
calling and relaying recorded emergency messages or other forms of
emergency signals to an intermediate third party which shall thereafter
call and relay such emergency messages to a Public Safety Answering
Point (PSAP).
[Added 7-13-2023]
The Town of Colchester Fire Department.
A rapid access system consisting of a heavy-duty key vault
or other storage device that holds a key for providing emergency personnel
with access to a commercial or industrial structure.
Any existing commercial or industrial building that has been
updated or repaired, or any structure that has been converted to a
commercial or industrial use, which required the issuance of a building
permit from the Town of Colchester and for which the cost of work
associated with the building or structure exceeded $10,000.
A.Â
No certificate or occupancy shall henceforth be issued for any new or renovated industrial structure or commercial occupancy with an alarm system meeting Chapter 6, Alarm Systems, unless there shall be installed thereon a rapid access system approved by the Fire Department. Keys to such rapid access system shall be maintained exclusively by the Fire Department.
[Amended 7-13-2023]
B.Â
Upon installation of such rapid access system, the building owner
shall, at such owner's expense, maintain all components thereof. If
the Fire Department determines that a rapid access system must be
repaired or replaced, it shall provide written notice to the building
owner, and the building owner shall repair or replace said rapid access
system within seven days of receipt of written notice from the Fire
Department.
Any building owner who violates the provisions of this chapter
shall be fined $25 for each violation per day so long as the violation
continues.