A Knox Box is a small, wall-mounted safe that holds building keys for fire departments, emergency medical services, and sometimes police to retrieve in emergency situations.
In order to allow rapid entry to properties for firefighters, Statesville Fire Rescue uses a designated key box and proprietary key system, utilizing the Knox Rapid Entry System. The Knox Rapid Entry System includes devices such as key boxes, keypads, pad locks, and key switches.
The following properties are required to utilize the Knox Rapid Entry System:
- High-rise buildings
- Gated communities
- Commercial businesses that use, store, manufacture or process on site hazardous materials
- Buildings equipped with fire sprinkler systems and/or fire alarm systems
- Buildings with elevators
- Commercial properties or structures with gates obstructing fire department access
- Other properties or structures where fire department access would be delayed as determined by the fire code official
