Kent County Chiefs Association

Standard Operating Guidelines &

Standard Operating Procedures

Subject: Knox Box

SOG # 1-18

Approved

December 2004

Approved by: President Philip Lott

Revised

October 2012

I. Reference:

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-1 Fire Prevention Code (Section 3-6, 2000

Edition)

II. Definitions:

Knox Box – A key box made of heavy gauge steel that is approved by the fire department for the purpose of securing the owner/occupant keys. This box is served to the building in the

permanent fashion.

Knox Box Key – A key made by the Knox Box Company that is securely coded to only open Knox boxes for a specific jurisdiction.

Owner/Occupant Key – Key(s) provided to the fire department that will be placed into the Knox box. These keys typically provided access into the building or a room.

Knox Box Sticker – A red sticker with the Knox Company logo. The sticker is placed at the entrance door to alert the fire department that a Knox Box is present.

III. Purpose

The purpose of this S.O.G. is to ensure access to and into structures and building in the County of Kent, when they are unoccupied; using a proven system that safely secures the owner/occupant keys. This also eliminates the need for fire department personnel to carry multiple keys to properties in their response area.

IV. Application:

A. At the time of new construction or major renovation, a Knox Box shall be placed in accordance with NFPA-1 Fire Prevention Code.

B. The Knox Box order information will be provided it to the property owner by the Chief or his/her designee.

C. Knox Box keys will be issued by the Knox Box coordinator to the Chief or his/her designee.

V. Responsibility

The Chief or his/her designee or each station shall be responsible for the following:

A. Requesting and obtaining owner/occupant keys for all structures or buildings with Knox

Boxes.

B. Providing the Knox Box coordinator with identification of all owner/occupant’s keys

placed or removed from the Knox Boxes of structures and buildings. This information

shall be recorded on the following form:

1. Inventory List for Owner/Occupant Keys – See Attachment No. 1

C. The Knox Box Coordinator shall be responsible for the following:

1. Providing an inventory control list to the Chief or his/her designee of all Knox Box

locations by name, address and box area.

2. Providing an inventory control list and check sheet for location of all Knox Boxes.

This information shall be recorded on the following form:

a. Inventory Control List for Knox Box Locations – See Attachment No. 2

VI. Security, Audits & Disciplinary Actions

A. All personnel shall exercise extreme care when handling Knox Box keys to open a Knox Box and removed owner/tenant keys.

B. Security

1. Only Fire Department personnel can use Knox Box key to open a Knox Box

and remove owner/tenant keys

a. Exception: Hurst Tool maintenance & repair personnel when open a fire station

2. Knox Box entry shall only be done for official business or emergency access.

3. Knox Box entry keys shall be distributed by the Knox Box Coordinator to the Chief or

his/her designee.

4. The loss or breakage of a key shall be reported immediately to the Knox Box

Coordinator.

C. Audits

1. Audits of Knox Box keys, Knox Boxes and Knox Box contents shall be conducted as

following to ensure the integrity of our Knox Box System.

2. Knox Box entry keys shall be checked by the Chief or his/her designee at the first of the

month. The Knox Box Coordinator will check at each Chief’s Meeting.

3. An annual inspection of all Knox Box installations shall be conducted during the month

of January to ensure that;

a. Personnel are familiar with the location and contents of each box.

b. All necessary keys are present.

c. All keys are properly labeled

d. All keys function properly.

e. All records, (Inventory Control list for: Owner/Occupants Keys, Knox Box

Locations and Knox Box keys) are updated of the appropriate forms and forwarded

to the Knox Box Coordinator

f. Owner information and emergency numbers are present on a card inside the Knox

Box or posted in the building.

VII. All Key shall be locked in a secure box

VII. Any spare keys will be turned into the Knox Box Coordinator

IX. EMS – Fire Companies will be held responsible for list of members that have pass codes – PIN Numbers.

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief James L. Price, Sr.

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief David Turner

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Richard McIntyre

Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Christopher A. Powell

Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Chief John Krastel

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.

Chief Eric Jackson

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Derrick Elliott

Kent County Emergency Service Board

Chair Charlene Perry

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