“One man’s security is another man’s prison.” – Robert Hess, Microsoft CorporationWhile Hess’s quote referenced the development of software, it also applies to a situation that Don Cronkhite, owner of The Prairie Jewel in Falcon, found himself involved in last month.Locks have always been the first line of defense in securing a building; thus, Cronkhite thought it was counterintuitive to hand over a key to his business to a number of strangers, even if required to do so because of fire codes.Cronkhite has been operating his custom jewelry business out of a building on McLaughlin Road for a number of years and has always been the only person with a key to his business.However, part of the building has been remodeled for new tenant Four Paws Vet Clinic. The clinic was advised that before an occupancy permit could be issued to them, a Knox Box (lock box) had to be installed so the fire department could have access to the business in case of an emergency, which prompted a call to Cronkhite from building owner Ann Van Sant. He said she demanded a key to his business.In 2003, the Colorado Springs Fire Department adopted new fire codes, requiring all commercial and industrial businesses to install a rapid entry system. Knox Box is the brand name of the lock boxes used throughout the state where keys are securely stored so firefighters can enter a building in an emergency without having to destroy property.”The boxes became mandatory for all new commercial property when Falcon adopted the same fire code on Jan 1, 2006,” said Falcon Fire Chief Trent Harwig. “But most local businesses, including the Safeway shopping center, have been using the system since 2003.””I didn’t want to hand over a key,” Cronkhite said.” And it seems like I’m supposed to sacrifice my liberty to operate my business the way I choose in the name of safety.”Cronkhite is not the first business owner to object to the regulation. Frances Brester, fire prevention section supervisor for the Colorado Springs Fire Department, said she receives complaints from many business owners when they are first informed of the code. “Most of the complaints come from computer companies who are actually worried about their intellectual information being compromised should unauthorized people enter their buildings,” Brester said. “But once we explain how Knox boxes work and why they are required, all the businesses owners are usually willing to comply with the code.”However, Harwig said the fire department must respond to every alarm. “The boxes are a good alternative given that plate glass windows on most business cost up to $2,000 a piece should we have to break in, and most often we are usually responding to a false alarm.” While he couldn’t give an exact percentage for the number of false alarms the department receives, he said, “In the past month we have had eight false alarms at the Safeway.”Harwig also said there is little danger that unauthorized people will gain access to a building. “They are called Knox Boxes for a reason, because like Fort Knox they are very difficult to break into without a code or key,” he said.Harwig explained the security procedures associated with the Knox boxes. Business owners order the boxes by filling out forms at the fire department. When the box arrives, half the box is delivered to the business and bolted to the outside wall. Once the business is ready for occupancy, the second portion of the box is secured with the Knox key by the fire department. The boxes are made of the same material as heavy-duty safes.Most boxes are placed out of reach about 10 feet above ground level, he said. In some rare cases, Harwig said business owners like the boxes installed lower for quicker entry. But, only the fire chief, deputy chief and duty officer have access to the master Knox key that allows entry into each Knox box. When the master key is accessed, there is a device to record the time, place and person who removed the key from the system.Harwig said Van Sant was mistaken when she told Cronkhite that he had to provide a key because his business was established before the code requiring the boxes went into effect.”Business owners like Cronkhite can always apply for a variance to the regulation, and it will probably be granted, if they are willing to live with the consequence should the fire department ever need to gain quick access to their business,” he said.Cronkhite said he doesn’t see how having an entry system so far above the ground will help in a true emergency, and he would like this to be “a volunteer option for all business owners,” so they are free to operate their business without having undue regulation imposed on them.
