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Emergency Access Standard 4-2017OF EDP MOUNTLAKE TERRACE Fire Prevention Series Emergency Access Standard Emergency Access Standard: The intent of this guideline is to define Snohomish County Fire District 1's Emergency Access Standard and to provide guidelines for its use and maintenance. The Emergency Access Standard 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 products are the only approved key access system for Snohomish County Fire District 1 area of response, including contract cities of Brier, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace. The Emergency Access Standard within Snohomish County Fire District 1 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. Emergency Access 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 (FACP) 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/manual pull stations 12425 Meridian Avenue S / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 www.firedistrictl.org OF EDP MOUNTLAKE TERRACE 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. 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 is existing, 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. 12425 Meridian Avenue S / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 www.firedistrictl.org of EDA, �W MOUNTLAKE TERRACE 3. Access gates must meet unanimous approval from protected property owners where access is existing. Occupancies Other Than Residential - Gates that obstruct Fire Department access roads must meet the following requirements/design- 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: April 2017 12425 Meridian Avenue S / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 www.firedistrictl.org