# 911 Respondents and Door Codes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 2, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165 "2009-02-02T23:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/1 "2009-02-02T23:07:10Z")
Do the police/emts/fireman, etc. have access to the codes needed to be punched in to get into all of the buildings in the city? Is there a “master” code? or do they just have to bust in (wasting valuable time and damaging property) and worry about it later? ---
**Author:** ![Capcha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Capcha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capcha)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/2 "2009-02-02T23:13:54Z")
What i know in the retail stores i worked at: if the security sensors pick up movement, the security center calls the owner to come meet them at the door. It happened too ofter that a clerk was still stuck inside, while everyone left, locked the doors and armed the alarm. If that employee knew the cell number of the boss, they would call them who in turn call the center to inform them that it’s a fluke. ---
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/3 "2009-02-02T23:22:26Z")
Where I live, there are lockboxes outside of the doors of multi-tenant apartment buildings and some businesses that only the fire department can open. I think the trade name for them is Knox box. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/4 "2009-02-03T01:09:01Z")
In the absence of a Knox box, which contains keys to the building, the action taken depends on the nature of the call. Fire alarm, with no one inside to advise if there is smoke or fire showing - use the sledge hammer and find out why the alarm is sounding. Fire alarm, with someone inside who says he sees nothing and smells nothing, wait for a keyholder to show. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/5 "2009-02-03T01:18:22Z")
If I was with the first arriving unit, I’d run my fingers up and down the door bell panel. 100 percent of the time, regardless of the hour, some tenant would buzz the door open. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/6 "2009-02-03T02:55:05Z")
Say I was ill or injured severly enough that, although I was able to place the call and give my location, I couldn’t get down to the lobby and let them in. In my building, people aren’t “buzzed” in, you have to enter a code. I guess I just assumed that any emergency personnel would have a key like someone mentioned above or access to all of the codes. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/7 "2009-02-03T03:31:29Z")
> [@hekk](#): > > Where I live, there are lockboxes outside of the doors of multi-tenant apartment buildings and some businesses that only the fire department can open. I think the trade name for them is Knox box. There’s such a box by the front door of my work and another by the front door of my apartment building. It never occurred to me that they might have _keys_ inside. The one at my apartment says FIRE SAFETY PLAN on the outside, and I always thought that it had diagrams of the building showing where all the emergency switches and breakers, furnace equipment, gas lines, water lines, electrical lines, alarm panels, etc, were located. Edit: they don’t look at all like the ones on the [Knox Box](http://www.knoxbox.com/) site. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/8 "2009-02-03T04:49:36Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Is there a “master” code? Yes, it’s called an axe. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/9 "2009-02-03T05:09:39Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Yes, it’s called an axe. 😛 Ya, I was going to say the fire department always has a master key. The city fire department actually owns the Knox box on the outside of a building. You have to call the fire department to come out if you need to change any of the keys or pass cards. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/10 "2009-02-03T05:12:39Z")
I tried to post this before, but it got eaten by the database. I’ve never worked anywhere where there’s a “master code” to get into buildings. Sometimes it’s on file at the 911-call center, sometimes the caller gives it to our dispatcher, and sometimes we use **ltfire** ’s method. My favorite is the gated subdivision where we can open the gates by tapping them with the ambulance bumper! > [@Fir\_na\_tine](#): > > Fire alarm, with no one inside to advise if there is smoke or fire showing - use the sledge hammer and find out why the alarm is sounding. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the fire service, but I still work with them closely and we usually monitor their radio channels. I’d be really, really surprised to see a crew force entry for an alarm unless they could see smoke or fire. St. Urho Paramedic ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/11 "2009-02-03T05:22:38Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > If I was with the first arriving unit, I’d run my fingers up and down the door bell panel. 100 percent of the time, regardless of the hour, some tenant would buzz the door open. Weird, I’ve never seen a buzz box that works like that. The ones here require you to key in a number that corresponds to a certain tenant (such as #08), and that patches through to their phone, where you can speak to them through the intercom and they buzz you by pressing a number on the touch-tone pad. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/12 "2009-02-03T06:19:37Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Yes, it’s called an axe. 😛 Please, thats absurd. A halligan bar works better. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/13 "2009-02-03T06:23:41Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Please, thats absurd. > > A halligan bar works better. 😃 That’s what I was going to say. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/14 "2009-02-03T07:17:00Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Weird, I’ve never seen a buzz box that works like that. The ones here require you to key in a number that corresponds to a certain tenant (such as #08), and that patches through to their phone, where you can speak to them through the intercom and they buzz you by pressing a number on the touch-tone pad. That’s exactly the situation where I’m Nannying. My new living situation and this place inspired my OP. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/15 "2009-02-03T07:41:09Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Weird, I’ve never seen a buzz box that works like that. The ones here require you to key in a number that corresponds to a certain tenant (such as #08), and that patches through to their phone, where you can speak to them through the intercom and they buzz you by pressing a number on the touch-tone pad. A lot of those have a directory. On some calls, I’ve gotten the reporting party’s name from dispatch and looked for that in the directory. Sometimes there’s an entry for manager, or something similar, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/16 "2009-02-03T22:20:58Z")
> [@St.Urho](#): > > It’s been a while since I’ve been in the fire service, but I still work with them closely and we usually monitor their radio channels. I’d be really, really surprised to see a crew force entry for an alarm unless they could see smoke or fire. > > St. Urho > Paramedic We’ve always taken the position that someone is paying good money for a fire alarm. The fire alarm has detected either smoke or fire. The portion of the building that can be seen from the front door varies from 1% to 99%. If I can see a large majority of the interior and there’s nothing showing, I’ll wait for a keyholder. If I can’t see the majority of the interior, I have to assume that there’s a smoldering fire generating smoke and just waiting for the right moment to blow out the windows. Unless the keyholder is arriving really, really soon, the “master key” will be used. Yes, we do try to take out the smallest (and cheapest) accessible door or window. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/17 "2009-02-03T22:29:38Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Please, thats absurd. > > A halligan bar works better. But axe work looks so much sexier to the lady bystanders. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/18 "2009-02-04T04:05:51Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > But axe work looks so much sexier to the lady bystanders. Axe it is, then!😃 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/19 "2009-02-04T04:19:24Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > But axe work looks so much sexier to the lady bystanders. But some of us aren’t trying to impress the lady bystanders; we’re trying to impress the male bystanders! A girl and her Halligan… it’s a beautiful thing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165/20 "2009-02-05T19:30:17Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Please, thats absurd. > > A halligan bar works better. Halligan, hooligan, you guys need to develop a lighter touch. 😃 Seriously? If seconds count, the most direct method is preferred. Sometimes sweeping the buttons WILL get you in, and it’s worth the 2-5 seconds of effort. Otherwise? Force. Doors and locks can be easily replaced. A patient, not so much. Cartooniverse ( retired EMT ) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-respondents-and-door-codes/484165.md?page=2)