Authorization for The City of Calgary Fire Department to Have Approved Lock Boxes Installed

After an extensive review of the existing requirements for Fire Department and EMS Lock Boxes, the Fire Marshal has determined changes to the Lock Box program were needed to provide the City of Calgary and building owners and managers with increased safety, security, accountability, transparency, key control and risk reduction.

Effective June 1, 2006 in the City of Calgary, the only Lock Boxes acceptable to the “Authority Having Jurisdiction” per the Alberta Fire Code (AFC 2.5.1.3), will be the electronic key accessed TracVault. Any new buildings requiring a Lock Box will be required to install one of these designs effective this date. Buildings with existing Lock Boxes will be required to retrofit the Lock Boxes on their buildings to the new requirement. Requirements for installation by an approved Lock Box service company and the semi-annual inspection of the Lock Boxes remain unchanged.

2.5.1.2.1   A building that incorporates fire protection equipment, elevator control or door access outlined in Sentence (2) shall provide a key box constructed, keyed and located in a manner acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction containing a set or sets of keys or devices required to be used in an emergency.

2.5.1.2.2    A fire department key box shall be installed and provided with keys and devices in conformance with Sentence (1) in a building equipped with:

• - A fire alarm system where control features, including those for emergency voice communication systems, are located behind a locked panel
• - A fire alarm system where manually operated devices require a key or device in order to be reset
• - A fire alarm system where the electrical circuit breaker is located within a locked panel or room
• - An automatic sprinkler system where the main control valve is locked in the open position
• - An automatic sprinkler system where the main control valve is located within a locked room or enclosure
• - Fire fighting standpipe and water supply connections in a locked room or area such as on a roof
• - A key operated elevator control feature that will permit the exclusive use of elevators to fire fighting personnel only
• - A key operated elevator control feature that will switch selected elevators to operate on emergency power
• - Stairway doors that have been locked on the stairway side in conformance with the Alberta Building Code
• - Locked access doors to a roof provided for the fire fighting purposes

2.5.1.3    Keys or devices provided in conformance with Sentence (2) shall be affixed to a key ring or rings, and identified with tags indicating their function.

2.5.1.4   When a fire alarm system or sprinkler system is required to transmit a signal to the Fire Department in conformance with the Alberta Building Code, a Lock Box shall be installed on the exterior wall of the building in proximity to the principal entrance.