Knox Box and Property Access Guidelines and order instructions.pdfKnox Box and Property Access Guidelines
The intent of this guideline is to define Snohomish County Fire Key Access Program and to
provide guidelines for its use and maintenance.
The Knox Box Program is designed to give authorized Fire Department personnel access to
keys for the protected occupancy whether vacant or occupied. This allows Department
personnel to quickly gain access to buildings during an emergency and prevents the
damage caused by forcible entry.
The Department requires a key access system for all occupancies in which there is a fire
protection system such as: sprinklers, fire alarm, special protection systems, etc., or where
access and other conditions are determined to be unduly difficult. This is based on the
rationale that rapid and efficient emergency operations will benefit the occupant by reducing
property damage.
Knox brand is the only approved key access system for Snohomish County Fire area of
response, including contract cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.
The Knox Box program in Snohomish County Fire #includes Knox Key Boxes, Knox
Padlocks, and Knox Key Switches. In this procedure the term Knox Box may refer to any of
the three types of Knox products listed above.
Knox Box Requirements: A Knox box shall be provided at the main entrance of buildings
with interior common areas. An additional Knox box shall be provided at the exterior
entrance to sprinkler riser/fire alarm control panel (FRCP) rooms and other locations
deemed necessary for building access. Once the Knox boxes are received, it is
recommended that the contractor/owner discuss box placement approval with the Fire
Marshal, or Deputy Fire Marshal. Typically boxes are located to the right of the main
entrance door and/or Fire Alarm Control Panel/Fire Riser Room door. Boxes will be placed
5-6' above finished grade. Building Owners should provide the following keys depending on
the requirements determined for the premises, and may include-
1 . Main entrance (or Master)
2. Interior access (if no Master)
3. Fire sprinkler riser room/fire alarm control panel access
4. Electrical, mechanical, and elevator rooms
5. Fire alarm control panel/fire pull stations
6. Electronic/magnetic key cards
On multiple -storied and larger buildings, additional keys may be necessary, for instance,
providing roof hatch access or, sets of keys anticipated for multiple firefighting crews.
12425 Meridian Avenue S / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 www.firedistrictl.org
The building Owner/Contractor should contact the Fire Prevention Office to discuss the
required Knox box for their building/complex or situation. The Owner/Contractor will use the
online ordering system at www.knoxbox.com to order Knox boxes. A more detailed guide
for ordering is available from the Fire Prevention Office.
Snohomish County Fire District 1's required Knox boxes include the 3200 Series boxes
WITH HINGE. For facilities requiring a larger number of keys or magnetic cards etc, a 4400
Series box may be required.
GATES ACROSS FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS ROADS
Residential - Multi-Family/Private Community Access - Gates across public and private
fire department access roads where serving more than two dwellings must meet the
following requirements/design:
1. Must have automatic opening feature activated by Opticom compatible or other
approved receivers that override all other opening systems.
2. Must have an approved Knox key switch which will be located on the entrance side of
the gate.
3. Must have battery back-up or be designed with fail safe mode allowing the gate to be
pushed open without the use of special knowledge or equipment or default to the open
position.
4. In private communities, where access already exists, any new gates must meet 100%
approval from protected property owners.
Residential —1 and 2 Family Dwelling Access - Gates that obstruct Fire Department
access roads/driveways that serve one or two dwellings and that are electrically operated,
shall meet the following requirements/design:
1. Where gates are electric, must have an approved Knox key switch which will be
conspicuously located at the entrance side of the gate. Non -electric gates may be accessed
using requirements for "Occupancies other than residential" below.
2. Where gates are electric, must have battery back-up or be designed with fail safe mode
when primary power is lost, allowing the gate to be pushed open without the use of special
knowledge or equipment or default to the open position.
3. Access gates must meet unanimous approval from protected property owners where
access already exists.
Occupancies Other Than Residential - Gates that obstruct Fire Department access roads
must meet the following requirements/design:
12425 Meridian Avenue S / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 www.firedistrictl.org
Electrically Operated Gates - The gate control shall be operable by an approved Knox key
switch located conspicuously at the entrance side of the gate. In the event of a power
failure, the gate shall automatically be transferred to a fail-safe mode allowing the gate to be
pushed open without the use of special knowledge or equipment or default to the open
position.
In all occupancies, where approved, manually operated gates and barriers may utilize Knox
padlocks. Approval is provided normally where conditions are such that delays in gate
opening are not deemed as a priority for access urgency.
On new construction, all Knox equipment shall be installed before a Certificate of
Occupancy is issued.
Building owners will assure that access equipment is maintained and contact Fire District 1
where locks are re -keyed and conditions for emergency access is modified.
FIRE DEPARTMENT CONNECTION (FDC) ACCESS —
Locking caps are not required for new or existing construction, but may be used where
problems of theft and vandalism are occurring, on a case by case basis. Contact the Fire
Prevention Office for more information.
Edition: March 2017
12425 Meridian Avenue S / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 www.firedistrictl.org
KNOX-BOX Rapid Entry Systems
Go to: www.Knoxbox.com
[1] Click on:
[2] Type in "Snohomish" in the fire department name box
To purchase, select your State/Province, then enter the name of your local department/agency.
- -: X Re-kev
Sabot StataVrwiMa v X
South Snohomish Co Fire &
Rescue
Everett, Washington 98208-5728
[3] Then scroll down to:
You will be directed to:
South FIRE & South Snohomish Co Fire & Rescue - EVERETT, WASHINGTON
RESCUE
Not your department? Please contact your local Fire Department or call Knox Customer Service at 800-552-5669
Scroll down to purchase
[4]Purchase either the 3262 or 3271 Box and then the Fire marshals office will receive an email for final
approval. When it arrives, install it at the location. (Call if location is an issue or you wish suggestions)
Once installed, give Fire marshal a call and we'll verify and close up the box with your keys inside.
If a padlock is required Model #3770
12425 Meridian Avenue S / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 www.firedistrictl.org