NEWFANE — Little black boxes will soon be ready for installation at the entranceways of commercial buildings, large and small, throughout the town.
The fixtures, known as Knox Boxes, are a part of a new community lockbox program the town is planning to roll out this month.
The boxes, which will contain items such as the key to the building where it’s placed, aim to give firefighters and emergency personnel quicker access to buildings in emergency situations.
“It’s really about minimizing physical property damage in the event of an emergency,” town supervisor John Syracuse said.
A resolution adopted by the town board last year requires that any commercial, retail, industrial or multi-unit residential building that has more than four units, 20 employees or 10,000 square feet have a Knox Box installed at the building’s main entrance at eye level.
According to town building inspector David Schmidt, the boxes can only be unlocked with a programmed key that only town and fire personnel have access to.
“Being a contractor myself, some of these doors are expensive. If you could save any amount of money and get in there faster if (first responders) can’t get ahold of the homeowner, they can get there, open this up real quick, open the door and get in… without having to break the door down,” Schmidt said.
The key, mounted on a dock that is hooked up to a computer system, can be removed when a code is put in on the computer. From there, the programmed key can unlock the box for up to eight hours before it must be returned to the dock.
The technology has been installed at the town hall and on fire trucks belonging to the Miller Hose, Olcott and Wrights Corners volunteer fire companies.
“Once I put the code in, then this key will work and (it works) the same with any fire truck,” Schmidt said.
Inside the 7-by-5-inch box, building owners will be required to provide keys to doors, alarms and other building systems as well as a layout of the building and contact information. Businesses will have to purchase and program the box and its key with the building inspector.
Syracuse said the fire companies and several business owners with whom he has spoken are supportive of the program.
“Yes, it is an expense to those businesses, but it will hopefully be offset by the first responders and those businesses recognizing that they’re safer, they know what they can do with this property, they can get in get to the problem and be done with it,” Syracuse said.
While not required, different models of the box can be installed at smaller businesses and homes.
For more information on the program and how to acquire a box, contact Schmidt at 716-778-5947, extension 5.