A proposed ordinance before the Charleston City Council would require owners of some apartment buildings and businesses to install emergency lock boxes near the entrances to their buildings.

Each lock box would hold a building key and could be opened by the fire department with a master key.

The measure is designed to reduce the time firefighters spend entering buildings, said Fire Chief Kris Phipps, whose department proposed the measure.

“It’s to free up the fire personnel from having to wait for a key-holder,” Phipps said. “That helps us prevent further (fire) damage.and helps with evacuation.”

Under the proposed ordinance, any apartment complex with at least four units sharing a common space would have to install a lock box at the common room door, Phipps said.

The ordinance would also require businesses with fire alarm systems to install lock boxes, he said.

“Any business with an alarm system that dials directly to the fire department would have to put in a lock box,” Phipps said.

Phipps also said that, in cases where businesses lease their buildings, the landlord, not the business owner, would be responsible for installing the lock boxes.

The city council is set to vote on the measure at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave.

Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7945 or at [email protected].