Vol. 79, No. 2New technology

Smartphone and lockbox displayed on a table.

Access granted

Lockbox solves entry issues with multi-family buildings

In multi-family homes, locked front doors can hinder a first responder from helping residents. RCMP and the fire department in Richmond, B.C., will use Bluetooth-enabled lockboxes to ensure a swift response. Credit: Cpl. Kevin Krygier, RCMP

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For first responders, getting into the locked front door of an apartment building can be a challenge, especially when seconds count.

Often, they resort to randomly calling people using the apartment's intercom system in the hope of being buzzed in, or, in a critical emergency, smashing their way in.

"People get upset with us when that happens, but it's the nature of emergency response," says Cpl. Kevin Krygier, Richmond RCMP. "We do what we have to do when someone's life is in danger."

And once they get into the lobby, that doesn't mean they can access the stairwell, each floor, the parking lot or the roof. "Locked doors are great for keeping bad guys out, but it means we're also stuck," says Krygier.

Krygier knew there had to be a better way and reached out to partner agencies for help. Richmond Fire-Rescue was eager to get involved.

"From an optics perspective, it's great to have a partner like the fire department, which is getting in there to save lives 100 per cent of the time," says Krygier. "If the police were managing the system, people might think they're being watched."

Together, Krygier and Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Gray looked for a way to help emergency responders quickly access these buildings.

Smart solution

They started by eliminating all the methods that had been tried in the past, but didn't work well. For instance, they knew that a physical key could get lost. "When that happens, the whole system is compromised," says Gray.

Armed with knowing what wouldn't work, they identified several requirements for a new program and searched the market for applicable technology.

They wanted the solution to have a digital fingerprint, whether an app or an e-key, and a way to track who's accessed the keys, and when.

What they found was a Bluetooth-enabled lockbox that uses a smartphone to open the box where keys or key fobs can be stored. And should the smartphone get lost, in addition to requiring a passcode to open the app, the app itself can be removed from the device remotely, adding increased security.

Further, every time the box is opened with the smartphone, a transaction gets sent to a database that's managed by the fire department.

While typical lockboxes are surface-mounted to the wall, this one is flush-mounted, making it virtually impenetrable.

Enhanced safety

Armed with a project plan, Gray and Krygier consulted with the Condominium Home Owners Association of B.C. and the City of Richmond. Both have endorsed the project, which should be up and running later this year.

City councillor Bill McNulty, Chair of the City Community Safety Committee, is also fully supportive. "Our number one priority is to have a safe community," says McNulty. "That means all aspects of safety and whatever we can do to improve things to make things safe for our residents. This particular initiative will provide quicker access to our first responders when people are in trouble."

While the project will be managed by Richmond Fire-Rescue, it will be up to property managers to buy and have the technology installed by approved locksmiths. Property managers will then be required to register the box with the program, sign the contract with the fire department and allow them to connect their devices and system with the lockbox.

For now, the lockbox project is entirely voluntary. "We aren't going to force anyone to get involved in this, we're going to encourage them because it prevents the potential for damage to the building and it enhances the safety of the residents in the building," says Krygier.

He adds that there are many ways first responders can improve the way they do things using technology, and this is a good example because it's very simple. "It's just a matter of us knowing what's out there, working with our partners and trying to leverage the tools that are available to us to benefit the community," says Krygier.

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