[Ord. No. 12-2008, Preamble]
The City of Absecon has determined that the health, safety,
and welfare of the citizens of the City of Absecon are promoted by
requiring certain structures to have a key lock box installed on the
exterior of the structure to aid the City of Absecon Volunteer Fire
Department in gaining access to the structure when responding to calls
for emergency service. The key lock box system will eliminate forced
entries into structures thereby avoiding costly and time-consuming
efforts in gaining access to locked structures during an emergency.
Many properties are equipped with automatic alarm systems and/or sprinkler/standpipe
systems, and these automatic systems may cause the City of Absecon
Volunteer Fire Department to be summoned at a time when the building
or business is not occupied or when the occupant is not available
to provide entry for the Fire Department.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 1]
The following structures shall be equipped with a key lock box
at or near the main entrance or such other location required by the
City of Absecon Volunteer Fire Department:
A.
Commercial or industrial structures protected by an automatic alarm
system or automatic suppression system, or such structures that are
secured in a manner that restricts access during an emergency.
B.
Multi-family residential structures that have restricted access through
locked doors and have a common corridor for access to the living units.
C.
Government structures and nursing care facilities.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 2]
The cost of purchasing and installing, along with any cost associated
with implementation of the program at a specific property, will be
born by the property owner.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 3]
When a property is protected through a locked gate and where
immediate access to the property is necessary for life saving and
firefighting purposes, it shall be equipped with a Security Padlock
to be installed in a location approved by the representative of the
City of Absecon Volunteer Fire Department.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 4]
When a construction site is to be secured by a locked fence or gate, that site will fall under Section 192-44 above during the duration of the construction or until said fence or gate is removed.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 5]
This section shall not apply to those structures where a 24
hours, seven days a week, on site Police Force is present, provided
members of that police force respond to all Fire department responses
with the correct means of accessing the effected structures.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 6]
All newly constructed structures subject to this section shall
have the key lock box installed and operational prior to the issuance
of a certificate of occupancy by the Code Enforcement Officer. All
structures in existence on the effective date of this law and subject
to this law shall have one year from the effective date of this ordinance
(This section went into effect on October 2, 2008.) to have a key
lock box installed and operational.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 7]
The City of Absecon Volunteer Fire Department shall designate
the type of key lock box system to be implemented within the City
of Absecon and shall have the authority to require all structures
to use the designated system.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 8]
The owner or operator of a structure required to have a key
lock box shall, at all times, keep the following in the lock box:
A.
Labeled keys to locked access points of egress, whether interior
or exterior of such buildings.
B.
Labeled keys to the locked mechanical rooms.
C.
Labeled keys to any fenced or secured areas on the property.
D.
Labeled keys to any other areas that may be required by the representative
from the City of Absecon Volunteer Fire Department.
E.
A card containing a minimum of three emergency contact people and
phone numbers for each contact.
F.
Hazardous Materials MSDS as requested.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 9]
Floor plans of the rooms within the building may also be required
to be submitted to the City of Absecon Volunteer Fire Department.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 9]
The City of Absecon Volunteer Fire Department shall be authorized
to implement rules and regulations for the use of the lock box system.
[Ord. No. 12-2008 § 12]
Noncompliance with this ordinance will subject the responsible
party to a citation and mandatory appearance in Municipal Court with
a minimum fine established of $200. Continued noncompliance may result
in revocation of Certificate of Occupancy by the Code Enforcement
Officer.
