Borough of Milford, NJ Article III Rapid Entry Systems

§ 14-19 Title.

This article may be cited as the "Milford Borough Rapid Entry System Ordinance."

§ 14-20 Findings.

The governing body of the Borough of Milford finds that, in order to better protect the property and welfare of certain businesses, business patrons and fire company members, a Knox-Box® entry system for rapid entry into certain buildings and onto certain properties in the event of a report of a fire emergency is required.

§ 14-21 Definitions.

The following words, as used in this article, shall have the meanings set forth below, unless the context in which it is used clearly requires a different meaning:

AFFECTED STRUCTURE or AFFECTED BUILDING

Any of the structures or buildings described in § 14-22 below.

MASTER KEY

The instrument used to gain access to the various rapid entry system boxes to be utilized as a result of the provisions of this article. The Fire Department shall establish a system of security and procedure to limit access to any master key(s) to authorized personnel in times of emergency. The Fire Department shall, to the extent feasible and practical, use the latest technological advances available to preserve and enhance the security of the master key(s).[1]

MULTIPLE DWELLING

A residential building containing three or more dwelling units.

RAPID ENTRY BOX SYSTEM

A locking vault-like container permanently mounted into the affected structure or building and accessible from outside of such structure or building and being capable of being opened by master key.[2]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).

[2] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).

§ 14-22 Rapid entry box system required; additional requirements.

A. The following structures or buildings shall be required to have installed a rapid entry box system:

(1) All buildings having an automatic fire-detection or -suppression system.

(2) Any industrial or warehouse building or structure.

(3) Hotels, motels or multiple dwellings which have locked main entrances at any time during the day or night or which have locked boiler rooms, electrical rooms, basements, sprinkler control rooms or elevator control rooms.

(4) All educational and day-care buildings or structures.

(5) All mercantile buildings and structures, including shopping centers.

(6) All office buildings and structures.

(7) All buildings and structures of public assembly, including churches, restaurants and movie theaters.

B. In addition to the above, the following properties are required to be equipped with a high-security padlock or a high-security key switch:

(1) All commercial and industrial properties protected by fences, gates and related barriers which, at the time of adoption of this article, are secured by using a padlock or electronically operated or automatic gates or other control circuits.

(2) All commercial and industrial properties which, after the effective date of this article, plan to utilize fences, gates and related barriers to be secured by padlock or electronically operated or automatic gates or other control circuits.

§ 14-23 Exemptions.

The following buildings or structures shall be exempt:

A. Owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings identified by the Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23 et seq.) as R-3 and R-4.

B. Any building or structure staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

C. Any building or structure already constructed or for which a building permit has been issued as of the effective date of this article and which is less than 5,000 square feet in area, except for educational and day-care buildings or structures, those buildings and structures which fall into the applicability classification of Subsection A(1) or (2) of § 14-22 of this article, and any houses of worship in the Borough.

§ 14-24 Location and installation requirements.

A. Each affected building or structure shall cause an appropriate rapid entry box to be permanently mounted at the main entrance to the building or property or other location as may be deemed appropriate by the Milford Borough Fire Official in consultation with the Milford Fire Department's Fire Chief and the Construction Code Official for the Borough of Milford. The rapid entry box shall be accessible from outside the structure or building and shall be placed at a minimum height of five feet and a maximum of six feet above final grade or as otherwise approved by the Milford Borough Fire Official. The location on the outside of the building or structure shall be, as nearly as possible, uniform among similar types of structures in order to promote quick accessibility upon arrival of fire personnel at the scene of an emergency. Each rapid entry box shall be of sufficient size and configuration to allow the required contents as set forth in § 14-25 below to be conveniently stored therein. In order to assure acceptability of the rapid entry box chosen, each owner, tenant or other responsible party of each affected structure or building shall receive approval from the Milford Borough Fire Official as to the size and configuration of the proposed rapid entry box prior to installation. The actual type of system to be utilized, its location, and its function shall be decided by the Milford Borough Fire Official following consultation with the Milford Fire Department's Fire Chief and the Construction Code Official for the Borough of Milford.

B. All rapid entry boxes, high-security padlocks or key switches installed pursuant to this article must be Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (UL), certified and approved by the Milford Borough Fire Official.

C. High-security padlocks or key switches shall be installed in a location to be approved by the Milford Borough Fire Official.

§ 14-25 Required contents of rapid entry box.

A. The rapid entry box for each building or structure shall contain a separately and clearly labeled key for each locked area within the building or structure (e.g., boiler rooms, electrical rooms, sprinkler control rooms, elevator control rooms, etc.), the building plan of any structure or building in excess of 30,000 square feet, sprinkler keys, elevator keys and information concerning any hazardous materials contained within the building or structure and a clear indication as to the part of the building or structure within which such hazardous materials are contained or any other information as directed by the Milford Borough Fire Official.

B. At the discretion of the Fire Official, after consultation with the Milford Borough Fire Chief, any supporting documentation may be placed in an alternate, safe location which is quickly and easily accessible by any first responders after having gained entry to the building or structure by utilizing the keys contained in the rapid entry box.

§ 14-26 Compliance deadline.

All existing buildings other than those exempted in § 14-23 shall comply with the provisions of this article within 12 months of the date it becomes effective. All newly constructed buildings or properties installing fencing or other barrier-type structures, not yet occupied, or buildings which are under construction at the time this article becomes effective shall comply with these provisions prior to the fire-detection or -suppression system being accepted and approved for services or prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, as the case may be.

§ 14-27 Violations and penalties.

Any property owner or building owner who fails to comply with or who is in violation of the terms of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or by imprisonment up to 90 days and/or by a period of community service not to exceed 90 days, at the discretion of the court. Each and every day that a violation of this article exists shall constitute a separate offense.