What is a KnoxBox?

6/23/2021 (Permalink)

With a KnoxBox, you can save the fire department crucial minutes in their response.

If you’re a commercial property manager, then you’ve probably heard the term “KnoxBox” before. You may even already have one on your property. But do you know exactly what a KnoxBox is, what one is used for, and what should be inside?

What is a KnoxBox?

A KnoxBox is basically a small safe that you keep on your property, in an obvious location near major access points, that contains keys, keycards, fobs and anything else that the fire department may need in order to access your building in case of emergency.

Why use a KnoxBox?

When a fire breaks out on your property, a quick response from the fire department can be the difference between a controllable incident and a total disaster.

By placing a KnoxBox on your property, you enable the fire department to get into your building quickly, no matter if you’re on-site or not. Without this means of entry, they would otherwise have to force their way in by breaking down doors, windows or other access points. This forcible entry causes additional property damage and wastes crucial minutes as the fire is spreading.

What should be inside a KnoxBox?

We’ve already mentioned that the KnoxBox should contain whatever means the fire department requires to access all areas of your building. This might include a master key, as well as clearly marked access cards, fobs, gate keys and more.

Some property managers go the extra mile and include helpful resources for the fire department, like USB drives containing floor plans. As the property manager, you know your building best, and you should be able to easily generate a list of resources that might be helpful based on your structure and your tenants.

We should note that Knox is a brand and that similar types of safes do exist. Usually, the local fire district will designate a type of box that properties within the district can use, enabling them to use the same master key on every call.