If a fire alarm is sounding at 2:00 am in an unoccupied business or residence and entry into the building is needed to investigate the source of the alarm, the responding fire apparatus requests the Knox Box be opened by the Chester County 911 Dispatch Center. A signal is transmitted by Dispatchers to release the key from the electrically locked box in the fire apparatus. When the key in the fire apparatus is released, it is taken out and used to open the Knox Box mounted on the exterior wall of the building. Once the Knox Box is opened the building key can be utilized to open the building and investigate the alarm. When the firefighters are finished, the building key is returned to the Knox Box mounted on the exterior wall of the building and the box is locked. The key that opened the Knox Box is returned to the fire apparatus where it is placed back into the electronically locking box. If the Knox Box system was not available at this business, windows would have been broken, doors might have been forced open, or firefighters would have had to wait until someone showed up to open the door. This system allows firefighters rapid access in emergency situations that prevents expensive damaged to windows and doors.
If you have questions or would like to purchase a Knox Box for your business or home please contact us at 610-593-5800, or by using the contact form below.
Additional information on the Knox-Box system please go to their website at
http://www.knoxbox.com