[Adopted 2-7-2000 by Ord. No. 279]
The following newly constructed structures,
which otherwise contain a central station supervised alarm system,
shall have and maintain, and it shall be a condition precedent to
the issuance by the Township of Pine of an occupancy permit therefor,
an approved key lock box rapid entry system which meets the specifications
contained in this article: commercial structures and all multifamily
residential structures in which there is access to individual dwelling
units from a common internal or external corridor or other enclosed
space. The approval of the installation of such keylock box rapid
entry system shall be made by the Township of Pine or its authorized
designee, which may include the Township's Fire Marshal and/or an
authorized representative of the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company or
any successor thereto.
The key lock box rapid entry system required
by this article shall be located on the exterior of the structure
for which it is utilized, at a location at or near the structure's
main entrance. The required key lock box rapid entry system shall
be placed at a height of approximately six feet above ground level
and shall not be covered or have its visibility obscured by any items,
including but not limited to displays, signs or landscaping. The exact
location of the required key lock box rapid entry system upon each
structure shall be subject to the approval of the Township of Pine
or its designee prior to its installation.
The box for the required key lock box rapid
entry system shall contain labeled keys for all locked areas of the
structure for which it is utilized, including but not limited to all
locked points of ingress and egress to/from the structure, all locked
mechanical rooms, all locked elevator rooms, all locked elevator controls,
all locked fenced or otherwise secured areas and all locked individual
tenant spaces. In the event that the number of locked individual tenant
spaces is so large so as to preclude placement of all keys for same
within the key lock box rapid entry system box, a separate key vault
for same may be located elsewhere within the structure; however, its
location and access thereto must be provided within the key lock box
rapid entry system box.
The size of the required key lock box rapid
entry system shall be in conformity with the manufacturer's recommendations
for same and be subject to the approval of the Township of Pine or
its designee prior to its installation.
The required key lock box rapid entry system
shall be installed in accordance with its manufacturers instructions
by an approved contractor, such as a fire alarm installer. Such installation
shall be complete and shall be required to meet the approval of the
Township of Pine or its designee prior to issuance by the Township
of Pine of an occupancy permit for the structure.
The required key lock box rapid entry system
shall be interconnected to the structure's fire alarm control panel,
and there shall be produced both a tamper alarm to the central station
of the alarm monitoring entity and a local, audible alarm sound which
shall be audible at the location of the key lock box which activate
upon the opening of the key lock box. In addition, a visible clear/white
flashing strobe light shall also be installed at the same location
as the required key lock box rapid entry system, which strobe light
shall activate upon the annunciation of a fire alarm for the structure.
Certain structures shall not be required to
have a key lock box rapid entry system upon certification by the Township
of Pine or its designee that the structure is open to the public at
all times on a twenty-four-hours-per-day, seven-days-per-week basis;
or is occupied by staff personnel on a twenty-four-hours-per-day,
seven-days-per-week basis; or entrance into the structure, unless
evidence of fire is visible from the exterior (when forcible entry
by emergency personnel shall be utilized), is precluded by valid,
special security concerns. In the event that a structure previously
certified for exemption pursuant to this section has its use altered
so as to no longer qualify for the exemption specified herein, such
structure shall have a key lock box rapid entry system installed therefor
within 60 days of such alteration of use. Failure to then install
the required key lock box rapid entry system in such event shall result
in the revocation of the occupancy permit for the structure by the
Township of Pine and the imposition of the penalties hereafter provided
in this article.
All qualifying structures in existence which
contain a central station supervised alarm system and for which occupancy
permits have been previously issued by the Township of Pine prior
to enactment of the requirements for key lock box rapid entry systems
shall be required to install and maintain same in conformity with
the provisions of this article within one year of the Township's enactment
of the aforementioned requirements. Failure to then install and maintain
the required key lock box rapid entry system in such event shall result
in the revocation of the occupancy permit for the structure by the
Township of Pine and the imposition of the penalties hereafter provided
in this article. The location of the key lock box rapid entry system
required under this section shall be subject to the approval of the
Township of Pine or its authorized designee, which may include the
Township's Fire Marshal and/or an authorized representative of the
Wexford Volunteer Fire Company or any successor thereto.
For each and every violation of the provisions
of this article, any person or persons, firm, partnership, corporation
or other entity violating any of the provisions of this article shall
constitute a summary offense and, upon conviction within the magisterial
district which includes the Township of Pine, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $500, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default
of payment thereof, may be committed to the Allegheny County Jail
in conformity with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure for
a period not to exceed 10 days. Each and every day that a violation
of the provisions of this article exists shall constitute a separate
and distinct offense under this article and shall be subject to separate
and distinct penalties hereunder. The penalties provided herein shall
not be the exclusive method of enforcing compliance with the provisions
of this article but shall be in addition to all other legal and equitable
remedies available to the Township of Pine.
