Categories Public Safety Education

Knox Box Program

Knox Box Requirements Knox

Fire department access is required for any commercial project within the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District. Although not a requirement for residential projects, Knox Box appliances are highly recommended, where efficient access is a concern.
Knox Box Questions

Why does my business need a Knox Box?
Fire department access is required for any commercial project within the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District. The Knox Box is a secure key box system accessible only by fire personnel during emergencies requiring immediate access to a facility. The system eliminates the need to use forcible entry techniques resulting in costly damage to the facility. The Knox Box will never be used for non-emergency access such as business inspections.

How do I purchase a Knox Box?
Order forms are available at the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Administration office located at
3324 Topeka Street, Riverbank, CA 209-869-7470.
Knox Box systems can be researched and in the future may possibly be purchased online at Knoxbox.com

I have received my Knox Box, where do I install it?
The Knox Box shall be mounted on the right hand side of the main entrance into the building. The right hand side shall be determined by standing on the outside of the building looking at the main entrance. The Knox Box shall be mounted five feet to six feet above the finished grade. When a Knox Box is not being shared with other occupants, there will be a red Knox Box sticker included in the packaging when you receive your order. The sticker should be applied to the main door within twelve inches of the lock on the main door. In addition, some Knox Box models have a completely removable door. Keep the door in a safe place until the fire department locks the door into place.
Additional Knox Box Installation Information

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Once I have installed my Knox Box what is the next step?
Call the Fire Administration office at 209-869-7470 and request an appointment to have your keys placed into the box and locked. A member of the prevention bureau or an engine company will meet you at your location.

What keys should I have locked into my Knox Box?
All entrance door keys, master keys, keys to electrical rooms, keys to all fire system locks and elevator recall keys. Also an emergency employee phone contact list, for after business hour response is recommended.

I have been required to install a Knox Box. Does the owner or occupant pay for the box and installation?
The cost is generally a negotiated item between the owner and the occupant. The business requiring the Knox Box will be held accountable in the inspection process.

Are there Knox Boxes available for my residence if I have a special need?
Yes, the Knox Company does have a residential line and the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District approves their use.

False Alarm Program

Excessive false alarms put the public at risk. There is an additional risk of creating a traffic hazard when our units respond to calls that serve no purpose. When our units are tied up on a false alarm call, they aren’t available for valid emergencies. When this occurs, we have to send another unit from a greater distance to provide service.
The Fire District understands false alarms are going to occur, it’s the nature of the business. We are also sensitive to the fact that acts of nature or accidents resulting in damage or activation of the system also occur. The intent of the false alarm program is to reduce the number of repeated false alarms coming from a few locations. Only rarely do we get multiple activations with little or no effort made by the occupant to eliminate the cause.
The primary purpose of this program is to ensure false alarms are reduced by utilizing early notification, recommendations from our field staff and then monetary fines as a penalty for non-compliance.

The False Alarm Policy is written as follows:

Justification
Per the current Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Ordinance for Adoption of the California Fire Code:

False Alarms: False alarms shall not be given, signaled or transmitted or caused or permitted to be given, signaled or transmitted. The Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection may adopt by resolution reasonable fees to recover the costs associated with responses to buildings or structures that have excessive false alarms.

Policy
The purpose of this ordinance is to promote the responsible use of fire alarm systems, to set forth additional regulations for the use of fire alarm systems and to provide for service fees and for cost recovery of service fees for violations of this policy. Furthermore, the provisions of this ordinance are intended to reduce the number of false alarm activations and responses by the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.

False alarm shall mean an activated fire alarm or fire alarm signal from any fire alarm system which is responded to by the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District but for which no emergency situation exists, or where there is no evidence to indicate that there was an emergency situation as determined by the responding personnel.

Fees for Excessive False Alarm Responses: Fees shall be levied and paid by the responsible party (owner or lessee) of a location that includes a fire alarm system, based on the total number of false alarms which generate a fire company’s response to the location during the same calendar year (January 1 to December 31). False Alarm fees are established by District Resolution and may be annually revised per the CPI. A copy of the most recent false alarm fee schedule can be provided upon request, or is available on the District website www.scfpd.us under Fire Prevention / Inspection Programs / False Alarm Program.

The Fire Chief shall cause to be issued a monthly bill for the unpaid service charges accrued during the billing period and prior periods. Such bill shall be due and payable within thirty (30) days after the billing date.

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Tent Permit Application

The following application contains all the information and requirements to obtain permission and follow compliance regarding use of tents.