Butler Council Approves Safety Feature for Multiple Dwelling Buildings

The adopted an ordinance Tuesday that will allow the installation of rapid entry key lock boxes on businesses, day care centers, schools, municipal buildings, churches, recreation centers and multiple dwelling buildings that have common areas.

The ordinance covers buildings where there would be a need for a forcible entry after hours, buildings equipped with a sprinkler system or automatic alarm system, and buildings where there are exits not visible from the exterior.

Borough Administrator James Lampmann said the boxes, known as KNOX-BOX, will all have the same master key, which will be brought to the scene by firefighters. The building keys will kept in the boxes which will be attached to the exterior of the buildings, he said. That way firefighters would not have to break down a door to enter the building during an emergency, he said.

“The cost of the lock box is much less than the cost of a new entry door,” Lampmann  said.

It was noted that the ordinance to install the boxes has the support  of the business community and the fire department.