LGA Alarm Usage
Review of Training Session with Additional Information
- Arming your system – Exiting your apartment – Use Delay mode.
- Arming your system – Staying inside your apartment –Use Delay or Instant mode.
- Disarming your alarm system when you enter your apartment.
- Disarming your alarm system when you are already inside in either Instant or Delay mode.
- Communication by the Monitoring Company in the event of various alarm signals.
- Arming your system – Staying inside with your windows open.
- Panic Alarm.
- When you have an intruder.
- Canceling an alarm.
- Tips to prevent accidental alarms.
- Consequences of a false alarm – fines imposed by the City of Gainesville.
- About glass breakage.
- Activating Door Chimes.
- Lights on your Keypad.
Review of City of Gainesville Alarm Operator False Alarm Prevention Checklist
- I have been instructed in the proper operation of the alarm system.
- I have been given a summary-operating sheet for the alarm system.
- I know how to cancel an accidental alarm activation.
- I have the cancellation code for the system.
- I know how to turn off motion detectors while leaving other sensors on.
- I know how to test the system, including the communication link with the monitoring center.
- I understand the length of the delay time on designated entry / exit doors and I believe this will provide sufficient time to get in and out of the premises.
- I have the alarm company phone number to request repair service or to ask questions about the alarm system.
- I understand that indoor pets can cause false alarms, and I will contact my alarm company to adjust the system if I acquire any additional indoor pets.
- I know where the main control panel and transformer are located.
- I have received an alarm sheet that describes how the alarm company will communicate with me in the event of various alarm signals.
- I understand the importance of keeping my emergency contact information updated and I know how to do this.
- I understand the importance of immediately advising the alarm company if my phone number changes (including area code changes).
- I have been made aware of the alarm ordinance that governs the operation of alarm systems, and I will comply with applicable requirements (permits, fees, etc.).
- I understand that certain building defects (such as extensive painting, moving walls, doors or windows) can cause false alarms. I will correct these defects or contact management to have defects corrected as I become aware of them.
- I will advise the alarm company if any remodeling (such as extensive painting, moving walls, doors or windows) is done..
- I have been provided with false alarm prevention techniques to help me prevent false alarms.
- I understand it is my responsibility to prevent false alarms, and I understand it is critical and my responsibility to assure that all users of the system (such as residents, employees, guests, cleaning people, and repair people) are instructed on the proper use of the system.
- I understand that I am financially responsible for any false alarm charges as provided in Article IV, Chapter 21 of the Gainesville Code of Ordinances.
- I have been provided with an alarm permit application.
Summary of How to Use the Alarm System
Arming your system – Exiting your apartment – Use Delay mode.
- Verify the green “Ready” light is on.
- Enter your 4 digit code. Your system will arm in 30 seconds.
- At the end of the 30 second delay, the Arm light changes to red indicating your alarm is armed.
- Exit the apartment and close the door before your alarm system arms.
- If you re-open the door, you must disarm the alarm and repeat the exit procedure.
Arming your system – Staying inside your apartment –Use Delay or Instant mode.
- Verify the green “Ready” light is on.
- Enter your 4 digit code
- If you wish to arm your alarm system with no 30 second delay, press * after you enter your 4 digit code.
In this mode, if you have an intruder, the alarm code will be sent instantly to the Monitoring company with no 30 second delay. As soon as you enter an *, the Instant light will turn on indicating your system is armed in Instant mode. - Note, if you choose Instant mode, you must remember to disarm your system before opening an armed door or window.
Otherwise you set off an accidental alarm.
Disarming your alarm system when you enter your apartment.
- Enter your 4 digit alarm code within 30 seconds of opening the door.
Disarming your alarm system when you are already inside in either
Instant or Delay mode.
- Enter your 4 digit alarm code before opening an armed door or window.
Communication by the Monitoring Companyin the event of
various alarm signals.
- Intrusion alarm. If someone sets off an alarm, the Monitoring Company calls your apartment to verify whether there has been an intrusion or whether the alarm is accidental. If the alarm signal was sent in error, the occupant of the apartment must answer the phone and provide the 4 digit code to the Monitoring Company. This number is the same code used to activate the alarm in the first place; that is to say, the activation and deactivation codes are the same.
- Panic alarm. If someone initiates a Panic Alarm, there is no communication by the monitoring company, and the alarm cannot be cancelled. The Monitoring Company immediately notifies the police that a panic alarm has been sent from the apartment.
Arming your system – Staying inside with your windows open.
- You may wish to arm your system (primarily your front door) leaving the window(s) open. If you wish to exclude arming your windows, enter *2*. This action bypasses Zone 2 which protects intrusion through windows.
- Enter your 4 digit pass code to arm your system in the usual manner.
Additional Information
- This alarm is always armed, even if you never use your system.
- To send a Panic alarm, simultaneously press * and #. Hold both keys down for 3 seconds.
- You cannot cancel or deactivate a panic alarm.
- The intruder activates an alarm signal by entering through a door or window or, in some cases, by breaking a window.
- The alarm signal is sent to the Monitoring Company.
- The Monitoring Company calls your apartment to verify that this is a genuine intrusion alarm using the phone number you entered on the Universal Security Monitoring Service Agreement form.
- If you do not provide your 4 digit code to the Monitoring Company, they assume your apartment has a genuine intruder, and they summon the police.
- If the alarm signal is sent in error, an occupant may cancel the alarm by providing the 4 digit code when requested by the Monitoring company. This number is the same code used to activate the alarm in the first place. The activation and deactivation code are the same. If the occupant cannot provide the code, the Monitoring Company notifies the police.
- Leaving the apartment and not closing the door within the 30 second delay time period.
- Re-entering after 30 seconds without realizing the 30 seconds had passed and the system was armed.
- Forgetting the code.
- Allowing someone to enter your apartment who does not deactivate the alarm.
- Forgetting to lock your door on exiting and the wind blowing it open.
- Raising a window while the alarm is armed and forgetting that the window is part of the system.
- Breaking glass within the apartment when the glass alarm is activated and not realizing glass breakage is part of the alarm system.
- Responsibility for false alarms are borne by the tenants of an apartment.
- The responding officer determines whether an alarm was false.
- The City levies fines ranging $25 for the first or second alarm to $400 for the ninth false alarm.
- www.alachuasheriff.org Scroll down the page and click on City of Gainesville Alarm Ordinance. Refer to section 21-53 for details regarding fines. Section 21-53 begins on page 8.
- Windows at walkway or ground level have glass breakage protection.
- Glass breakage is monitored by zone 3.
- When the system is armed, any sound of breaking glass may initiate an alarm whether it emanates from a window or not. Example: the breaking of a beer bottle.
- When this feature is activated, opening the door activates a chime.
- This feature is a “toggle.” To activate or deactivate the chime function, enter the first digit of your alarm code. Wait, and after a few seconds, your alarm will beep indicating that you can now enter another command into your keypad.
- Power Light
- On – system operating normally
- Off – power to your apartment is off.
- Blinking – backup battery low. Notify Looking Glass office.
- Arm Light
- On – solid red light – system is armed
- Off – system not armed
- Ready Light
- On – solid green light. Ok to arm your system
- Off – window or door is open. You cannot arm your system.
- Instant Light
- On – your system is armed in Instant mode. No 30 second delay.
- Off – not armed in instant mode.
Review of City of Gainesville Alarm Operator False Alarm Prevention Checklist
I have been instructed in the proper operation of the alarm system.
- Proper operation of the alarm system.
- Looking Glass provides instruction in use of the alarm system at the time this Checklist is signed.
- All students are invited to attend a refresher course that Looking Glass teaches at 5:00 on the Friday following the mid-August move in period. The dates are August 23, 2002, and August 22, 2003.
I have been given a summary-operating sheet for the alarm system.
- Summary operating sheet for the alarm system.
- Looking Glass provides a summary-operating sheet when the Check-list is filled out.
I know how to cancel an accidental alarm activation.
- Enter four-digit code. The arm and disarm code are the same numbers.
- If code is entered wrong, keypad will beep 3 times, enter correct code again.
- When the alarm company calls to verify the validity of an alarm, tell them that the alarm activation was an accident. They will ask for your code to verify you are qualified to cancel an alarm. If you cannot provide the code, they will dispatch the police and you will be subject to the false alarm penalty.
I have the cancellation code for the system.
- The cancellation code is the same as your activation code.
- There is no way to cancel a Panic alarm. If you invoke one, the police will be notified.
I know how to turn off motion detectors while leaving other sensors on.
- Not applicable.
I know how to test the system, including the communication link with the monitoring center.
- Call Universal Monitoring at 331-9032. They will walk you through the process.
I understand the length of the delay time on designated entry / exit doors and I believe this will provide sufficient time to get in and out of the premises.
- You have 30 seconds to deactivate the alarm on entering the apartment and 30 seconds to close the door on exiting after entering the activation code.
I have the alarm company phone number to request repair service or to ask questions about the alarm system.
- Call Crime Prevention Security Systems at 332-6100 for repair service and for questions about your alarm system. Crime Prevention may refer you to Universal Monitoring at 331-9032 for certain types of questions.
I understand that indoor pets can cause false alarms, and I will contact my alarm company to adjust the system if I acquire any additional indoor pets.
- Looking Glass does not use motion sensors which is the primary mechanism by which pets cause false alarms.
I know where the main control panel and transformer are located.
- The main control panel and transformer are mounted in a clothes closet in your apartment.
I have received an alarm sheet that describes how the alarm company will communicate with me in the event of various alarm signals.
- Communication by the alarm company. Looking Glass provides this information when the check-list is filled out.
- If an intrusion alarm is generated from an apartment, Universal Monitoring Company will call the phone number you have provided for verification of the alarm. In order to cancel, you must provide your code. Otherwise, Universal Monitoring dispatches a police officer to your apartment.
- If you initiate a Panic alarm from your apartment, no communication is made with you. An officer is automatically dispatched without calling your apartment to verify.
- Looking Glass provides an alarm sheet with this information when the check-list is filled out.
I understand the importance of keeping my emergency contact information updated and I know how to do this.
- It is essential that an alarm operator keep emergency contact information updated because if there is an alarm, correct information is necessary to verify the alarm and to contact the operator if necessary.
- Call Crime Prevention Security Systems at 332-6100 for updating instructions.
I understand the importance of immediately advising the alarm company if my phone number changes (including area code changes).
- The monitoring system is connected through your phone line.
- If your line phone line is inactive, no alarm will be sent.
- If you do not notify the alarm company of a phone number change, but your line is still active; an alarm signal can still be sent over your phone line. However, if you have an accidental activation, the monitoring company will not be able to call you to make a verification. A false alarm will be charged to your account.
I have been made aware of the alarm ordinance that governs the operation of alarm systems, and I will comply with applicable requirements (permits, fees, etc.).
- The alarm ordinance is part of the City of Gainesville code of ordinances. It is designated as article IV, Chapter 21 and entitled “False Burglar and Robbery alarms.” Ref: Secs. 21-50 thru 21-66 and Sec. 2-339
- It can be found http://www.alachuasheriff.org/alarms/alarm_downloads.htm Scroll down the page and click on City of Gainesville Alarm Ordinance. It begins on page 6.
I understand that certain building defects (such as extensive painting, moving walls, doors or windows) can cause false alarms. I will correct these defects or contact management to have defects corrected as I become aware of them.
- Self explanatory
I will advise the alarm company if any remodeling (such as extensive painting, moving walls, doors or windows) is done.
- Self explanatory
I have been provided with false alarm prevention techniques to help me prevent false alarms.
- False alarm prevention
I understand it is my responsibility to prevent false alarms, and I understand it is critical and my responsibility to assure that all users of the system (such as residents, employees, guests, cleaning people, and repair people) are instructed on the proper use of the system.
- Self explanatory
I understand that I am financially responsible for any false alarm charges as provided in Article IV, Chapter 21 of the Gainesville Code of Ordinances.
- Self explanatory
- http://www.alachuasheriff.org/alarms/alarm_downloads.htm Scroll down the page and click on City of Gainesville Alarm Ordinance. See Sec. 21-53 for details. The explanation of fines begins on page 8 of the ordinance.
I have been provided with an alarm permit application.
- Provided by Looking Glass Apartments simultaneously with this checklist.