#1 Anyone with any ideas for the local fire department to have 24 hr access to my gated facility. I was thinking of a lock box with a key but the gate does not take a key. Maybe a rear access gate with a pad lock that they could open. Not sure if anyone else has had this problem? Maybe just give them a swipe card or password to enter?

#2 my proposed site is in an existing industrial developement and the fire hydrants are located all around me on my property. The only problem is they are on the outside of the fence. Will they make me move them inside the fence? I want to have some ideas before I approach them. (Make access panels in the fence so they can pass the hose through the fence)


Anyones suggestions would be appreciated. I know it all depends on the High and allmighty fire departments decision but just wondering if anyone had some ideas.

I would sugest having someone from your local fire department come on site and advise you.

For us it was as easy as a lock box with a code for the gate --

We have several manual access gates for those times the power goes out. The Fire deparment has a couple little key lock boxes mounted on the fence. We also have some gates near the hydrants (but hydrants are inside our gate)

I think that Knox boxes are your answer. I agree that you should contact your local fire department, they always have very definite thoughts on what they want you to do. And a lot of those will be in the Codes that you are required to follow by law. For our other gates that have our locks, the fire department also has their lock, so that they or we can open the gates. The locks are hung in a chain fashion.

The Knox boxes are available through your security hardware people and your fire department and police department can each access your property in an emergency. What always makes me laugh a little about those two departments is that the fire department will keep the gates open for easy access and exit and the police department will close them to keep suspects in. They both have different needs sometimes.

The Knox box was named after the inventor. The small box is installed near your keypad and has 2 key holes, one for police and another for firemen.

The knox box is what they need. I will place one on the back gate also. Thanks. They are able to use the hydrants outside the fence. Thanks.

Glad to here that you got it figured out.

Sometimes they can cause a lot of problems, but you always want to make them happy hoping you never need them!

There is also a device availabe that will open you gate when they trigger their siren. I wish I could tell you what it is called, but the fire department or your gate guy (gal) should now.

Bob (Astro)