Spring Issue 2 - Knox Box

EditorialOver the past three years, there have beenmany changes at the Knox Company.These changes are the direct resultof wanting to provide our customerswith the best service possible. Whilemost of the changes have been fairlyminor, several have been fairly large.UpdatingSentralok ® AFirmwareand SoftwareToday, we are experiencing anotherchange at Knox – we are implementinga system conversion. This more robustsystem will allow us to be better equippedto serve our customers for years to come.As a result of this conversion, somedelays in the processing and fulfillmentof orders have been experienced. Thesedelays are very short-term. By the timethis newsletter is printed and mailed,the delays will have been resolved.We apologize for any inconveniencethese delays may have caused.Again, thank you for your support of theKnox System. We look forward to servingyour department for years to come.If you have Sentralok units or Sentralok PC software that were received priorto January 2007, you need to update your firmware and software following theinstructions listed below. A change was made to the communications portion ofthe firmware and software to make the infrared communications more reliableand faster. The new software also supports the use of a “USB to IR” cable.Please note it is important that the update instructions be followed in theexact order listed. If at any time you have a question regarding the firmware/software update, contact our electronic technical support at1-866-566-9269. They are available to help walk you through the update.1. You must update the firmware in all of your Sentralok A units using thesoftware already installed on your PC and your Palm PDA units. Yourfirmware must be updated prior to completing the following steps.2. After the new firmware is uploaded to all of your SentralokA units, your older Palm PDA and PC programs will nolonger be unable to talk to your Sentralok A units.3. Delete the KnoXSAA and KnoxSAC programs on your PDA units.4. Uninstall the Knoxware Sentralok A program from your PC.5. Once steps 1-4 have been completed, you can beginto install the new PC/PDA software.6. Install the new PC Knoxware Sentralok A program on your PC.7. Install the new PDA programs on your PDA.8. HotSync your PDA to your PC.9. Lastly, go back to each Sentralok A unit and update the configuration datain each unit. This last step makes sure everything is working correctly.EditorCynthia JonesPublisherKnox CompanyArt DirectorCynthia WeissAll products mentioned in this document are registeredtrademarks and copyrighted by their respectiveowners.Rapid Access is published bimonthly by KnoxCompany, 1601 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, AZ85027. ©2007 Knox Company. All Rights Reserved.Remember, before installing the new software on yourPC and PDA, you must first use the old software toupdate all your units with the latest firmware.If you have any questions regarding this process, pleasecall 1-866-566-9269 for technical assistance.

Knox System MaintenanceThe Knox Master Key is a high securitykey with many security features builtinto the actual key. Normally you shouldnot encounter any problem with yourKnox Master Key, particularly if it iskept in a master key retention device.Unfortunately, not everyone utilizes amaster key retention device. This leavesmaster keys vulnerable to additional wearand tear. Due to the security featuresof the key, additional wear and tear onthe key can result in difficulty in thelocking and unlocking of a Knox box.The Knox Company recommends youtest your existing master keys on a regularbasis to ensure they operate correctly. Ifyou encounter a master key that doesnot consistently open a box, we suggestyou follow the steps below to determineif it is the master key that is damagedor if the lock core has beencontaminated with grit.1. Try three, or more, differentmaster keys to determine if it’s the key orthe keyway.2. If all keys have difficulty openingthe box, it is most likely an issue of thelock core having been contaminated withgrit. Complete the annual maintenancesteps listed below and retry the keys.Medeco Lock AnnualMaintenance• Spray lock mechanism with a dry Teflonlubricant such as Key Lube or LPS-1.• CAUTION: DO NOT use oil-basedproducts such as WD40.• Operate lock several times to checkoperation and spread lubricant.If the lock still does not openconsistently, perform the followingprocedure:• Spray the lock cylinder generouslywith a good carburetor cleaner such asGumout®, Poxylube or LPS-1. Theseproducts leave no residue that may interferewith the moving parts of the lock.• Take the Knox master key and work itin and out of the lock several times.• Spray the lock cylinder witha dry Teflon lubricant asecond time.• With a rubber mallet lightly tap the lock(if rubber mallet unavailable, place apiece of wood against the lock core andlightly tap it with a wrench or hammer).This sends a vibration through the lockcore to help free the pins.• Re-try all three keys. If all three keysstill experience problems, contact KnoxFire Service at 1-866-566-9269.If one or more keys function properly,i.e. have no difficulty in opening the box,then the keys that have difficulty are mostlikely damaged and need to be replaced.In line with Knox key security policies,fire department requests for master keysmust be written on department letterhead,signed by an authorized signer and mailedto the Knox Company. In the letter pleasestate that you are replacing a damagedmaster key.Please mail the original letter whenmaking key requests. We cannot acceptfaxes or copies when you are requestingkeys. In addition, keys are shipped to yourdepartment’s physical address via FedExand require a signature acknowledgingreceipt. Please provide your street addressrather than a post office box.The original master key being replacedmust be returned to the Knox Companyfor evaluation. Once our evaluation iscomplete, the key will be destroyed.Again, problems with the master keyare very rare. To reduce the likelihood ofthere being a problem, the Knox Companyhighly recommends you store yourmaster key in a master key retentiondevice.

Storz: What’s in a Name?In parts of the worldit is called a Stortz fitting.In the U.S. it is mostcommonly spelled Storz.Regardless how you spell it,a Storz connection is the generally acceptedcoupling used on all large diameter firesupply hose and a growing number of firehydrants and fire department connections.How did it come into existence? What arethe practical uses?Historical BackgroundThe concept of a fast action couplingwas the late 1800s brainchild of Germaninventor Carl Storz. A Storz couplingis essentially a variation of a hoseconnection. It is quick, reliable, and hasseen service in American fire departmentson large diameter fire hose for decades.It is also used as the auxiliary FDC intaketo supplement fire sprinkler systems orother fire protection applications like foamdeluge systems. It is generally used in 4inch and 5 inch sizes in America, but isavailable in Europe in a variety of sizes forapplications other than fire fighting. NFPA1963 Standard for Fire Hose Connectionsdefines the requirements for 4 inch and 5inch non-threaded connections. It definesthem as: “A coupling or adaptor in whichmating is achieved with locks or camsbut without the use of screw threads.”Compared to a conventional connectionthat has a threaded male and femalescrew connection at either end that canbe attached in only one direction (withoutthe use of an adaptor), a Storz connectionis a two-way universal coupling that can bejoined to another Storz coupling end. CarlStorz patented his design in Switzerlandin 1890 and submitted it to the U.S.Patent Office in 1893. It soon became astandard for fire hydrants throughout muchof Europe. While it saw wide spread usagein Europe in the early 20th century, ittook almost one hundred years before theconcept was embraced and implemented inthe United States. In 2007, all major U.S.hydrant manufacturers offer Storz as anoriginal equipment option.A detail of the original Storz fitting illustrationsubmitted to the U.S. Patent Office in 1893 byCarl Storz.Regulating StandardsThere are essentially two recognizedstandards that impact the construction,and application of Storz Connections;NFPA 1963 and DIN (Deutsches Institutfür Normung, or the German Institute forStandardization). While NFPA 1963 is thegenerally accepted Standard in Americaand addresses/sets all pertinent acceptancestandards, the original DIN Standardshave long been the benchmark for Storzapplication and construction acceptance inthe rest of the world. In some cases theDIN Standards are higher. Since Storz wasa German invention and it has enjoyedover a century of actual usage, the DINStandards do merit considerable respectand consideration. An example is DIN14303 and 1725 standards that specificallystate that any aluminum used in a Storzapplication must be ‘forged’ (hammered,machined, and formed like a Blacksmithmight do) and not ‘cast’ (heated until itis liquefied, then poured or ‘cast’ into amold). The DIN standard goes on to statethat in the interest of firefighter safety,any cast aluminum connection componentsmust be reserved for non-fire fightingapplications and suggest these productsbe used for agricultural purposes. Thisshould be something local jurisdictionsand contractors take into account whensetting acceptance criteria for theircommunity. It is interesting to note thatthe top U.S. component suppliers includingKnox Company’s StorzLok use only forgedand/or machined materials on all Storzproducts.Tactical BenefitsThe impact is evident in several ways.Storz connections typically connect moreeasily and more positively. Things weredifferent in the days prior to Storz andlarge diameter hose when fire departmentsused multiple sections of 2½” hose. Oncea supply line was laid between the firehydrant and the engine, many times adistance of hundreds of feet, a firefighter,after flushing, connecting the hose, andturning on the hydrant, would have to walkthe entire lay with a couple of spannerwrenches in hand and tighten eachconnection along the way. Depending onthe length of the lay and the number ofconnections that needed to be tightened,this could take a significant amount oftime. With Storz connections, the firefighterstill has to make that walk, but less time isneeded to walk/inspect the hose, gettingthe firefighter back to the engine andavailable to fight the fire. Another tacticalbenefit is that there is not as much needto have engines with different hose laysfor either supply or attack evolutions. Thishas made it easier for individual enginesto be more self-sufficient, allowing firedepartments to spread out more withsingle engine stations, compared to multienginestations, potentially lowering initial

y Larry Piggresponse times. It may be also partiallyresponsible for the advent of the multipurposepieces of equipment like quintuplecombination pumpers (quints) that cansupply their own large stream appliances.Another potential benefit is in thestandardization of equipment for mutualaid responses. There are literally dozensof different hose thread configurationsused in America. If a neighboring firedepartment crosses jurisdictional lines tocome to the aid of another fire departmentin a major incident, and can not connectto the fire hydrants and fire sprinklerconnections once they arrive, the resultscould be devastating. That is exactly whathappened in the Oakland Hills, Californiafire in 1991. That single incident claimedthe lives of 25 people, including a policeofficer and a firefighter. Close to 2500homes and over 400 apartments weredestroyed at a cost of over $1.5 Billion.Case study reports on the fire have listedincompatibility of fire hose and fire hydrantconnections as contributing factors. Storzconnections and large diameter hose havehad an impact on the sprinkler industrytoo. These connections are used in FDCapplications because of the higher gpmflow rates (500-1000 gpm) associated withlarge diameter supply hose. In sprinklerapplications where higher flow rates arerequired, many jurisdictions have optedto require one large Storz connection asopposed to a manifold with a large numberof conventional 2½” connections. While inDenver recently, a building official relayedthat their choice for a new constructionproject was a large manifold with eight2½” FDC connections, or one 5” Storz.While it does take more water to fill a largerdiameter hose, in a dynamic fire scenario,it is faster, more efficient, and will flowmore water with less friction loss, to layone large diameter line as compared tomultiple smaller ones.Types of Storz ConnectionsNFPA 1963 gives the generalrequirements for Storz connections usedby the fire service. Some types utilize agasket, some do not. Both have particularapplications, and may or may not beinterchangeable.Gasket TypeThere are two types of gaskets utilizedin some Storz connections. One is aPressure Gasket and the other is a SuctionGasket. While the end result is similar, theygo about achieving a water tight seal indifferent ways. The difference is in the typeand location of the gasket. Pressure gaskets(which are black)have a flap that isopen on the insidefacing the flow ofthe water. Waterpressure will seatthese gaskets frombehind as they swellmaking a waterproofseal. The Suction type gasket (grey orwhite) has a ridge flap on the outside rimthat forms an air tight seal when pressedagainst another suction gasket. Remember:Pressure and Suction gaskets are not meantto be connected together, that is why theyare significantly different in color. Somemanufacturers state that if mated togetherthey will leak resulting in a loss of pressure.Like any other gaskets associated with firesprinkler system connections, NFPA 25 theStandard for Inspecting and Testing of FireProtection Systems, requires these gasketsbe inspected regularly to insure that theyare in place and fully operational.Metal FaceWhile metal faced Storz connectionshave historically been reserved for use on firehydrants, they are now seeing use on intakeFDC applications. Instead of a rubber gasketthe inside face of the connection is raised,reducing the space between the two opposingcoupling sections. Since it is essentially adischarge connection, the outward flow of thewater offers a more natural seal. Additionallysince there is no gasket, there is less needto periodically inspect to make sure it is inplace. Again, the thing to remember aboutthese various configurations of connections isthat while they generally work as advertised,according to some manufacturers, they arenot interchangeable and will not work well ifmated to the wrong type opposing fitting.Storz is more than a slogan. It isthe standard that all large diameterconnections are judged. The spellingmay change as you move around theworld, but the material and constructionspecifications of the best suppliersand manufacturers remain true to theoriginal design. The tactical advantagesare realized by many fire departments allaround the world. Hopefully, you will findthis information both informative andenlightening and use it as a tool whendeveloping acceptance and applicationsstandards.

Residential Key Box Program Continued from page 1West Bend outlined the program’s many benefits in their request. Below is an excerptfrom their grant proposal.• Give senior citizens and physically disabled people independence for a longer periodof time in their own home. Seniors and disabled residents living independently arebecoming more common within the fire department’s jurisdiction. More independenceand a sense of security embody a better quality of life.• Give the same independence and security to individuals living in single familyresidential occupancies that individuals in multi-family housing receive. City codecurrently requires the owners of multiple family occupancies to provide a key lockbox at the front of the building.Captain Don Peil accessing the residential boxto gain entry into the house.• Decrease fire department patient contact times. First contact times increase whenaccess to a residence is not immediate. This program allows independent seniors anddisabled residents to receive quick access by the fire department for fire and medicalemergencies, improving their chance of a more successful outcome.• Provide rapid access the fire department needs to quickly mitigate incidents withoutcausing unnecessary forcible entry damage to the residence.• Enhance the West Bend Fire Department’s ability to protect the health and safetyof the public, as well as that of firefighting personnel. Public protection and firefightersafety is our goal! An effective key lock box program is one component of a completePublic Education & Life Safety Program to bring us one step closer to achievingour goal.• A File of Life (medical information)is also placed inside of the lock box.This gives responding units importantmedical information about the residentin case they cannot communicate withthe responding ambulance crew.• We also will perform a fire safety check of the home and make any recommendationsthey need to change to make their home a safer place to live in.Community agencies are encouraged tag to notify residents that the key boxto refer eligible candidates to the fire is the property of the fire department sodepartment. Eligible candidates receive they can be returned when occupancythe use of a Knox residential key box at no changes occur.charge. When the box is no longer needed, The goal of this program is to provideit is returned to the fire department for each resident of the target population ause at another residence. All key boxes residential key box at no charge. “The localhave been marked with an identification county health agency has given us a list ofthose who would benefit from this program– approximately 150 individuals in thecounty. At this point, we have 78 boxesso we can’t benefit everyone but we haveat least gotten a start,” explained Geidel.“We will continue to try to get additionalgrants to purchase additional boxes. Wealso intend to contact the resident byphone every 6-months to see how theyare doing or if their medical condition haschanged, or that the individual has movedinto a facility where they need to receiveextended care.”West Bend first implemented theKnox System in the early 1980s. In 2001an ordinance was passed requiring theboxes on sprinklered or alarmed buildings.Additionally multi-housing units wererequired to have a box. This ordinancewas retroactive. “The system has beena tremendous assist for our EMS calls,”shared Geidel, Approximately 15% ofthe city’s population is 65 years of ageor older.West Bend is on the outer suburbsof Milwaukee. The city got its name fromthe course of the Milwaukee River runningthrough their community.

Knox ContactsFIRE SERVICE MANAGERSBill Brown888-342-3530Fax 888-342-6655AlabamaFloridaGeorgiaBryan McIntosh877-707-5286Fax 877-773-4197DelawareMarylandNew JerseyNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaVirginiaWashington D.C.Jeff Moser866-361-5844Fax 866-361-5845AlaskaColoradoIdahoMontanaNevadaOregonUtahWashingtonWyomingJoe Shanley866-223-2623Fax 866-223-2640IllinoisIowaMinnesotaNorth DakotaSouth DakotaWisconsinJon Kemp866-436-0493Fax 866-436-0494ConnecticutMaineMassachusettsNew HampshireNew YorkRhode IslandVermontLarry Lulich866-889-4181Fax 866-613-9412IndianaMichiganOhioPennsylvaniaWest VirginiaMarlene Briones866-702-4406Fax 866-275-4039ArizonaCaliforniaHawaiiRebecca Heller866-417-8458Fax 800-704-0889KansasLouisianaNebraskaNew MexicoOklahomaTexasVirginia Cardwell866-504-7230Fax 901-685-2125ArkansasKentuckyMissouriMississippiTennesseeFIRE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTThis department provides customer service tofire departments.800-KNOX-BOX(800-566-9269)ELECTRONIC SUPPORTThis department deals exclusively with technicalquestions regarding KeySecure® and Sentralok®units.866-KNOX-BOX(866-566-9269)PROPERTY OWNER SUPPORTProperty Owners & General Inquiries to Knoxshould be directed to our main number.800-552-KNOX(800-552-5669)KNOX NEWS2007 Tradeshow ScheduleOklahoma Fire Chiefs Broken Arrow OK April 25-27NFSA Las Vegas NV May 2-5Idaho Fire Chiefs Lewiston ID May 3-5New Mexico Fire Chiefs Ruidoso NM May 8-11Chattanooga Fire Chattanooga TN May 10Northwest Fire & Rescue Expo Portland OR May 18-19Fire Expo Harrisburg PA May 18-20Winnebago CO Fire Chiefs Rockford IL May 23NFPA Boston MA June 3-5Georgia Emergency Conference Atlanta GA June 5-7MS Fire Chiefs Natchez MS June 6-9SFFMA Amarillo TX June 8-9IL Assoc Fire Protection Springfield IL June 10-11Arkansas Fire Chiefs Forrest City AR June 14-16NY Fire 2007 Lake George NY June 14-16Maryland Fire Convention Ocean City MD June 16-22Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Green Bay WI June 20-24SEAFC Wisconsin Dells WI June 21-23New England Fire Rescue West Springfield MA June 22-24The Key to a Secure SystemKnox System security is always important. Protecting the Knox ® Master Key anddocuments listing installation addresses helps ensure that the Knox System is solely forthe benefit of your department.The four security steps listed below are the ways your department contributes to thesecurity of the Knox program in your community. Thank you for following these simple yetimportant rules.1. Keep all Knox keys in a secure place.2. Do not release the Knox provided keys to any non fire departmentor law enforcement personnel.3. Do not provide Knox installation database access to any non firedepartment or law enforcement personnel unless required by law.4. Notify Knox immediately of loss, theft or attempted duplicationof any key.1601 W. Deer Valley RoadPhoenix, Arizona 85027 • 623-687-2300 • 800-552-5669 • Fax 623-687-2299 • www.knoxbox.com

Field Testing in Lake OswegoThe Knox Company has two new products that will beavailable this summer – SecureCap and StorzLok.These two new water-tight locking devices will joinour FDC Product Family. While these two products wereinitially designed for conventional FDC and standpipeconnections, they are also applicable to hydrants.Currently, these products are being field tested byseveral departments. The Lake Oswego (Oregon) FireDepartment is one such department. The fire departmentwas first approached by their local water department aboutlocking several hydrants that had repeatedly experiencedunauthorized use. The three hydrants in question arelocated near a horse arena. During certain times of theyear, individuals open the hydrants and steal water. Thewater department wanted to stop the theft of water butstill allow the fire department access to the hydrants.Gert Zoutendijk, Fire Prevention Officer for Lake Oswego,contacted Knox about the availability of locking devices forhydrants. “We wanted to make it simple,” Zoutendijk stated.The Lake Oswego Department is a FDC plug user and wanteda product that locked the hydrants to unauthorized usersbut that was easily accessible to the fire department. Mostimportantly, they didn’t want to have to carry any additionaltools. Both the SecureCap and StorzLok were designed touse the Knox Keywrench. Since Lake Oswego already carriesthe keywrench, they would not need any additional tools toaccess the hydrants.So far, SecureCap and StorzLok have worked as designedand water has not been stolen. These products have a projectedrelease date of June 1. As soon as the products are available,Knox will send out product announcements.SecureCap (left) andStorzLok (right) installedon a hydrant.Gert Zoutendijk removinga SecureCap.1601 W. Deer Valley RoadPhoenix, AZ 85027PRESORTSTANDARDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDPHOENIX, AZPERMIT NO. 1662MADE IN THE USA© Copyright The Knox Company 2007.