Subject: Re: Backup power and garage door/gate
From: Mary Deskovich (mdeskovich@yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Nov 20 2007 - 10:57:43 CST
Okay, so we have established that we will have to wait until we can reach a board member or someone from 1P to get into the building if the backup battery malfunctions or power is off beyond the time that the backup battery lasts. This is ridiculous. I evidently didn't read the directions well when we were given the fobs because I too was under the impression that our keys would work, which seems to me to be the better solution should the fob system stop functioning. I would think that the technology would be able to render our keys unusable EXCEPT when the electronic system doesn't work. That way no one has to wait for 1P like they did today (and I'm sorry, but being locked out of your house for an hour, through no fault of your own, is a BIG DEAL.) or get in touch with a board member, which would probably be impossible if there's a power outage. Cordless phones don't work in a power outage and I assume that most of the board member's home phones are cordless.
Besides, who has the board's phone numbers memorized or programmed into their cell phones? And calling them from the intercom won't work either since it is connected to home phones. I can guess that the answer will be that we need to program them, along with their cell phone numbers and work numbers into ours. Seems a bit unwieldy if making our keys function in these events is possible.
Now for the garage and parking lots. How do we get out of the parking spots when the power fails? I know there has to be some way to manually operate the door and gates. To prevent some damage being done to them, would it be possible to provide us with instructions for doing so? If there is no way short of calling 1P or a board member, there should be one established.
Mary (614)
Jim Thomas <jthomas@math.niu.edu> wrote:
When the power goes out, two things are supposed to happen:
1) A backup battery is supposed to kick in. It was reported to be
working properly the last time it was tested. If it didn't there's
obviously a problem that the company will correct.
2) If the backup battery isn't functioning, then the key option is
designed to kick in. Keys were not removed from the owners. The key that
opens the gates in both parking lots is the same key that opens the
front and rear doors of the building. If the keys weren't working,
there's obviously a problem beyond the backup battery. Was there
a problem in usting the key as well? If so, let us know ASAP and we'll
make sure that's examined along with the backup battery problem.
Jim
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007, rodellknight@ameritech.net wrote:
>
> My issue was not that power went out. Things like that happen. My concern is that our building and precedures we have in place are not vey tolerable of such an event occuring. If power goes out in the neighborhood street lights will be out and thus traffic bad. Getting someone out to the building will take some time. I don't know where they are coming from but 10 minutes after makinbg the emergency call I called back for an ETA and they said they had not reached anyone yet. I then called First Properties and talked to Brian Stigall who forwarded me to Joe and Joe said 10 minutes. That was a 2 minute phone call that began at 1:23. As I said by 1:45 no one had arrived. I don't want you to believe that I am upset with their response. It is possible that under certain conditions that this is the best that can be done. I know that the keys were removed from residents. Was that identified as solving any issues. I know it was done as it could eliminate a vulnerability however if
!
th!
> ere was no real threat simply a suspected one then there was no real risk and owners having keys to common doors would not be a real problem as more an expense to mantain when things are lost. But if the system is working entry to the building is fine however the ability to get in and out of the parking structures is a separate issue and perhaps not as important but the association should decide the importance and not just myself. I just wanted to throw it out on the table as an issue. I personal would say TV alternatives like comcast time warner or RCN are a higher priority to me than the parking issue but getting the key fob system working on the backup battery I think shouldbe higher than them both.
>
> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jim Thomas / NIU Distinguished Teaching Professor (emeritus)
Department of Sociology, Northern Illinois University
jthomas@math.niu.edu / http://jthomasniu.org
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