Knox Box for Business: A smart—and easy—solution for emergency access that saves precious time and property

What happens when a fire department needs immediate access to a commercial building during a fire or other emergency? Ideally, the property owner has installed a wall-mounted safe near the main entrance containing keys or access cards.

If not, forcible entry may take place, which can cause extensive damage to doors, windows or other entry points. 

So, if you’re a property owner who has not yet provided a secure access point for fire departments and other emergency responders, read on. 

Knox Box is the secure entry system used by Hand-in-Hand Fire Company.  Typically installed near the main entrance of a building, a Knox Box is a small, wall-mounted safe that contains keys or access cards for the building—and is restricted to authorized emergency personnel during emergencies when rapid access is crucial.

Fire departments and other emergency services are equipped with a master key or override system that allows them to quickly open the Knox Box and retrieve the keys or access cards inside. As far as security, the Knox Box system is tightly locked down at the Fire Company. All master keys are secured in a user-password-protected box that automatically logs when, who and for how long a master key was out of the box. 

Installation Tip: “If the facility has a camera, I like to mount the Knox Box in an area where they would have that extra layer of security,” suggests Assistant Chief Ephraim Stoltzfus, who is Knox Box Coordinator at Hand-in-Hand Fire Company. 

Additionally, every Knox Box is designed to be tamper-resistant and weather-resistant, ensuring reliable access for emergency responders when every second counts.