The Nashville Fire Department (NFD) has made a big step in improving public safety by strengthening the enforcement of its KnoxBox ordinance. This is being done by utilizing the advanced features of the IROL (InspectionReportsOnline.net) reporting system. This effort is aimed at reducing false alarms and eliminating the waste of NFD operational resources, saving unnecessary costs to the city. The focus is on addressing the issue of the fire department's inability to access life safety systems in locked commercial buildings during non-business hours
To mitigate these expenses and improve emergency response times, NFD now mandates the installation of KnoxBoxes on all commercial buildings in Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County that are equipped with fire alarm and sprinkler systems. These secure, wall-mounted safes store building keys and are accessible to fire departments, emergency medical services, and sometimes law enforcement during emergencies. By providing rapid access to buildings, KnoxBoxes help prevent costly property damage that often results from forced entry.
Fire Marshal Lawrence Hutchison emphasized the financial and operational burdens that led to the department's action. "When an alarm is triggered after hours, our firefighters are required to investigate,” Hutchison explained. "Without a KnoxBox, or with an outdated key inside, our resources are tied up waiting for a keyholder. This not only wastes time and money but also delays our response to other potential emergencies in the city."
In a collaborative effort to strengthen the enforcement of the KnoxBox ordinance, NFD reached out to its current Third-Party Reporting vendor, IROL, to refine its reporting guidelines. The IROL platform has been enhanced to collect critical KnoxBox data, including the presence of KnoxBoxes, their locations, and up-to-date emergency contact information. This data integration enables NFD to efficiently reestablish and verify compliance across the city.
"With the updated IROL system, inspectors can now swiftly identify which buildings have a KnoxBox, their precise location, and the current emergency contacts," Hutchison noted. "This streamlined process allows us to prioritize inspections and take corrective action more quickly, ensuring that our resources are used efficiently and effectively."
Jill Cotton, President of IROL, praised the collaboration, stating, "The ability to customize data collection, such as KnoxBox information, is vital for fire departments. Nashville recognized a local risk and utilized the IROL solution to capture the necessary information to mitigate that risk. This is Community Risk Reduction at its finest—connecting people with the information they need to reduce risk and enhance efficiency. At IROL, we are committed to supporting communities like Nashville in achieving their safety goals."
This enhanced partnership between NFD and IROL represents a critical advancement in the city's efforts to protect both property and lives while optimizing the use of public resources.
About IROL
InspectionReportsOnline.net (IROL) is a Software as a Service (SaaS) company providing online inspection reports aimed at Prevention and Community Risk Reduction services and solutions for: Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), Service Providers (SP) and Property Owners/Occupants (PO). For more information, go to www.InspectionReportsOnline.net
About the Knox Company
The Knox Company offers innovative rapid access solutions for first responders and fire and life safety executives with products that provide fast, safe, and secure entry into commercial, industrial, educational and residential properties, while minimizing damage and maximizing safety. More than 15,000 fire, EMS, and law enforcement departments/agencies, as well as schools, universities and corporations, depend on Knox products to gain access into over 1 million buildings/properties and to protect their most critical assets. For more information, go to www.KnoxBox.com.
