Triggered by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New Yorkand Washington, DC, Florida firefighters demanded and receivedauthority for unobstructed access to thousands of high-rise andmid-rise buildings over five stories in the state's 67counties.

A single master key for each of seven newly establisheddistricts will open elevator doors that will allow firefightersaccess to upper stories in office and government buildings,condominium and apartment towers and hotels. "It's not aprecedent-setting law but we think other states will follow" oncethey study how Florida's legislation is working, Bert Locke Jr., asenior real estate manager in asset services at CB Richard EllisInc.'s local office, tells GlobeSt.com. Locke co-chairs BOMAFlorida's Government Affairs Committee.

"The original plan was to have a single master key openelevators in any multi-story building in the state," Bert says."But that became impractical when you consider how many differentmakes of elevators there are and the possibility of a single keynot being able to open every elevator."