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City officials nix Knox box requirement
lockboxWEB
McMinnville officials gave consideration to a measure that would require all commercial businesses and some apartment complexes to install lock boxes, also called Knox boxes, onto their buildings. The boxes would be used by the citys fire department to gain access to a building, if needed. Currently in city code, the requirement is not being enforced.
Should fire department lock boxes be mandatory for all commercial businesses and some apartment buildings?That was the question under review by McMinnville officials during Tuesday night’s Building and Grounds Committee to discuss changes and adoption of new building codes.McMinnville Zoning Department director Nolan Ming says the state is requiring the city to review and update all its code requirements and he’s recommending the city enforce its fire department lock box requirement.“It’s basically a box installed on the outside of the building that the fire department has a master key to,” said Ming. “In that box is a key to the building. If there were a fire and they needed to get in, they could use that rather than breaking a door or window.”The boxes are also called Knox boxes due to the first one being invented by Knox Company in 1975.