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Knox Box

A white emergency Knox Box mounted on a wall.
An emergency Knox Box mounted on a wall

When a fire breaks out or there is a medical emergency, Knox® products allow immediate entry into buildings and property without forced entry damage or delay. Property owners store entrance keys, access cards and floor plans in high-security Knox-Box key boxes mounted near building entrances. Each Knox-Box purchased by a property owner is keyed to a single master key controlled by the local responding department.

In addition to key boxes and vaults, Knox padlocks and key switches operate with the same master key. There are so many gated communities today that fire and police departments are delayed when responding to emergency calls. Increased property damage and even total loss is a threat when property is not accessible.

Steps for Getting a Knox-Box for My Building

If you have any questions, please contact the Minoa Volunteer Fire Department before ordering.

  1. Make sure your building is located in our coverage area.
  2. Determine the number of items needed to be stored in the key box for the building. Generally:
    • One master key (or set of keys) per floor (or per 10,000 sq feet.)
    • One set of keys per elevator.
    • Alarm panel, pull station, sprinkler, and other fire protection controls.
    • Electronic access cards, padlocks, and/or special keys are not on the master system.
    • e. Computer thumb drive with building plans, your emergency procedures, hazardous materials on site and emergency contacts in .PDF format placed in a plastic bag.
  3. Visit www.knoxbox.com or call 1-800-552-5669
    Place an order for the correct product and accessories.
    • If less than 10 keys see Knox-Box 3200 Series (most common)
    • If 11-24 keys, see Knox Box 4100 Series
    • If 25-50 keys see Knox Box 4500 Series
    • SARA III facility, see Knox Cabinet
    • If more than 50 keys or other situations, contact the Minoa Volunteer Fire Department first.
  4. Select the zip code for the installation building. No signature from the FD is needed to order products.
  5. Determine a location to mount the key box.
    • An outside wall that is strong and has reasonable access 24/7 in any weather condition.
    • No higher than 6 feet off the ground.
    • Near an obvious outside fire department entry location such as the front door, control point, or sprinkler door. Discuss with the fire department and non-obvious location before installation.
  6. Pick your color
  7. Pick door type
  8. Pick mounting type
    • Surface mounted (easy to install on most surfaces)
    • Recessed (door is flush with wall). Requires a mounting kit.
  9.   Pick the Tamper switch. Optional but gives an additional layer of security.
  10.   Place an order with the Knox Company with shipping to your location.
  11.  Mount the box according to the instructions from the Knox Company. The finished box will remain open after installation. The use of a professional installer is highly recommended.
  12. Gather all items for the box. Determine the primary emergency point of contact (ie who gets a phone call in the middle of the night during a holiday). Keys should be clearly marked by use. Keyrings and tags may be needed to sort keys by function.
  13.  Contact the Minoa Volunteer Fire Department to secure the box
    • The FD officer will place the red Knox Alert Decal on the front door to alert responders that there is a Knox Box on-site.
    • If your keys or emergency contact person is changed for any reason, contact the Minoa Volunteer Fire Department as soon as possible.