[Adopted by Ord. No. O-96-22 (§ 12-13 of the Revised General Ordinances)]
The governing body of the Township of Freehold finds that in order to better protect the property and welfare of certain businesses, business patrons and fire company members, a uniform system for rapid entry into certain buildings in the event of a report of a fire emergency is required.
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 STRUCTURES or AFFECTED BUILDINGS
Any of the structures or buildings described in § 162-24 below.
MULTIPLE DWELLINGS
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.
The following structures or buildings shall be required to have installed a rapid entry box system:
A. 
Any industrial or warehouse building or structure;
B. 
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.
C. 
All educational and day-care buildings or structures.
D. 
All mercantile buildings and structures including shopping centers.
E. 
All office buildings and structures.
F. 
All buildings and structures of public assembly, including houses of worship, restaurants and movie theaters.
[Amended 9-25-2007 by Ord. No. O-07-25]
Each affected building or structure shall cause an appropriate rapid entry box to be permanently mounted into the structure or building and accessible from outside the structure or building. Each rapid entry box shall be of sufficient size and configuration to allow the required contents as set forth in § 162-28 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 Freehold Township Fire Official as to the size and configuration of the proposed rapid entry box.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 162-25, Exemptions, was repealed 5-24-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-8. This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 162-26 through §§ 162-31 as §§ 162-25 through §§ 162-30, respectively.
The location on the outside of the building or structure at which the rapid entry box is to be located must be, as nearly as possible, uniform among similar type structures in order to promote quick accessibility upon arrival of fire personnel at the scene of an emergency. Given differing structural characteristics of different types of structures and buildings, the location of the rapid entry box on the exterior of each building or structure shall be submitted to and approved by the Township Fire Official.
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 (for example, 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.
Compliance with the provisions of this article must be achieved on or before January 1, 1998.
[Amended 5-24-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-8]
As used herein, "master key" shall mean 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) under the direction of the Fire Official.
Violations of the provisions of this article shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty.