The BOROUGH COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF QUAKERTOWN hereby enacts and ordains as follows:

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect and promote health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Borough and particularly Commercial Businesses.

WHEREAS, an ordinance is necessary to require certain commercial and residential buildings to install Knox Boxes; and,

Whereas, the benefits of installing Knox Boxes include providing immediate emergency access to firefighters leading to increasing Fire Department efficiency; preventing costly forced entry damage and allowing undamaged doors to be re-secured after the emergency; and protecting property, inventory, equipment and supplies as well as firefighters against possible injury.

2. Knox Boxes

A. Knox Box Required for New Commercial Buildings. All new commercial buildings shall have installed a Knox Box, of a Underwriters Laboratory (UL) type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office prior to the issuance of the permit to occupy.

B. Knox Box Required for Existing Commercial Buildings with Improvements. All existing commercial buildings constructing improvements that require Planning Board approval shall have installed a Knox Box, of a Underwriters Laboratory (UL) type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office prior to the issuance of the construction permit.

C. Knox Box Required for Existing Commercial Buildings. All existing commercial buildings equipped with automatic fire detection and/or suppression system shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office within (6) months of the effective date of this ordinance.

D. Knox Box Required for Multi-Family Residential Structures. All multi-family residential structures that have restricted access through locked doors and have a common corridor for access to the living units shall have installed a Knox Box, of a UL type and size approved by the Borough Fire Marshal, in a location specified by the Borough Code Enforcement Office within (6) months of the effective date of this Ordinance.

E. Knox Box Contents. All Knox Boxes shall contain labeled keys, easily identified in the field to provide access into the property and/or building, and to any locked areas within the said building as the Borough Fire Marshal may direct.

F. Locked Gates or Driveways. Any locked gates or driveways which allow access to a Commercial Business are required to place a Fire Department Access Lock on the said access point to allow immediate emergency access to the Commercial Property. All locks are to be approved by the Borough Fire Marshal.

3. Penalties:

Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000.00 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, Each day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.

ENACTED AND ORDAINED this 3rd day of December, 2008, at a regular meeting of the Borough Council of Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

For Additional Information contact the Borough Fire Marshal at 215-536-5001 ext. 114 or visit www.knoxbox.com.