Turning OFF the Alarm System
The alarm works like most home alarm systems; when you first enter an alarm protected area you will hear a long steady tone. The steady tone will last about 10 seconds which is the time you have to type in your code into the alarm keypad to disable the alarm. The alarm keypads are usually located near the area's entry points. If you take too long to disarm the alarm system, the tone will change to a beeping sound and the system will automatically notify UTPD. If this happens, continue to type in your code to turn off the alarm but then call UTPD to let them know of the false alarm. The phone number for UTPD is 471-4441 and the number is printed on a label attached to the keypad. When you call UTPD they will ask you to give them your "Personal Identification Code" as proof of your identity. If you do not call UTPD, they will send a police officer to the room to investigate.
If the keypad is closed when you arrive, you will need to open it to access the numeric keypad. | |
After you open the keypad you can enter your numeric alarm code to turn on/off the alarm system. You use the single numeric code assigned to you to both turn on and turn off the system. |
Turning ON the Alarm System
First, make sure all doors to the area are closed and then type in your alarm code into the keypad. You'll need to stand still while you are doing this so that you do not trigger the motion detector. You will not be able to enable the alarm if any of the alarm sensors in the area are being triggered. On the keypad is a light labeled “Ready”. When this is illuminated green then that means no sensors are being triggered and you can type in your code to turn on the alarm (see picture below). Once you type in your code the keypad will start beeping slowly and then gradually increase in speed as the system gets near to actually arming. While the keypad is beeping is the time you have to exit the area. The alarm will become fully activated when you hear the rapid beeping change to a steady tone which lasts about 5 seconds. You should already be out of the area by the time this steady tone occurs.
You can not turn on the alarm system until the "Ready" light is green. |
What to Do if You Accidentally Trigger the Alarm
If you take too long to turn off the alarm system, the keypad will start making a beeping sound which will beep at a constant rate and continue until you turn off the alarm by typing in your numeric alarm code. The steady beeping sound indicates that the University Police Department (UTPD) has been notified of an intrusion into the area and they will immediately send a police officer to investigate. Usually the police officer will arrive at the room within 10 minutes. If you accidentally trigger the alarm system YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY notify UTPD of this. Failure to report the false alarm is technically a criminal offense. Once you notify UTPD of the false alarm, they will contact the police officer who is currently enroute to the room so that they will know they do not need to investigate the incident. Here is an overview of what you need to do in the event of a false alarm:
- Attempt to turn off the alarm system by typing in your numeric alarm code. If after a few tries you are unsuccessful at turning off the alarm system, proceed with calling UTPD.
- Call UTPD at 471-4441. If you call using one of the office desk phones in the building, then you only need to dial 1-4441. After you dial, you are presented with a menu of options to choose to route your call. The option to report false alarms is the “non-emergency” line which is option #9.
- When you call UTPD, tell them that you want to report a false alarm in Room 1234 in the Sanchez building. Change 1234 to be whatever the room number is of the area which you accidentally triggered the alarm. If you are in the Bellmont building then state that instead of Sanchez.
- The UTPD operator will then ask you for your name and "Personal Identification Code". When you give your name, make sure it is your full legal name as it appears in the UT Directory. The "Personal Identification Code" is the secret code word that you received at the same time that you received your numeric alarm code for the room. The "Personal Identification Code" is how UTPD verifies you are who you say you are by looking it up in a list of people who have been assigned alarm codes for the room.
- Once the UTPD operator verifies your "Personal Identification Code", they will ask you if you were able to "reset the alarm". "Reset the alarm" means if you were able to turn off the alarm. If you were unable to turn off the alarm, tell this to the operator and they will inform the responding police officer that you need assistance turning off the alarm.
Sounds the Alarm System Makes
Turning ON the Alarm - This is an audio clip of a room alarm system being turned on. At the beginning of the clip you can hear the alarm keypad user's numeric alarm code being typed in to turn on the alarm. You then hear the keypad slowly beep for 20 seconds. The last 10 seconds before the system becomes fully armed, the keypad beeps rapidly. The system then makes a steady 1 second tone. This steady 1 second tone signifies the system has become fully armed.
Turning OFF the Alarm - This is an audio clip of an alarm system being turned off. At the beginning you hear the room's door being opened which triggers the alarm system. You then hear a steady tone signifying the period for which you can turn off the alarm before UTPD is notified of an intrusion. You then hear the keypad user type in their numeric alarm code to turn off the alarm. After typing in the numeric alarm code, the tone goes silent signifying the system has been deactivated. IF YOU DO NOT DISARM THE SYSTEM IN TIME, the steady tone will change to a beeping sound which will beep at a constant rate. The beeping sound signifies UTPD has been notified of an intrusion into the area. Even if you turn off the alarm at this point YOU MUST call UTPD to report the false alarm.
Error Beeps - If you type an incorrect alarm code into the keypad or a motion sensor is tripped in the area while you are trying to arm it, the keypad will beep 3 times to signify an error. If this happens, repeat what you were trying to do. This sound clip is what the 3 beeps sound like.
How to Get an Alarm Code for the Room
Alarm codes are assigned to individuals and cannot be shared. This is because each alarm code and "Personal Identification Code" are uniquely assigned to each person and UTPD is given a listing of each person who has access to alarm systems along with their assigned "Personal Identification Code". Contact the Information Technology Office Helpdesk at help@edb.utexas.edu or https://help.edb.utexas.edu and request an alarm code.
What To Do if You Forget Your Alarm Code or Personal Identification Code
Contact the Information Technology Office by sending a help request to the helpdesk system at help@edb.utexas.edu. When you send an email to the helpdesk system, a help request ticket will automatically be generated for you. The first available technical support technician will assist you in retrieving your numeric alarm code and Personal Identification Code. Alternatively, you may create a help request ticket by logging into the helpdesk system's web interface at http://help.edb.utexas.edu.
What is the Personal Identification Code?
A "Personal Identification Code" is a code word that is uniquely assigned to individuals who can turn on/off room alarm systems. The purpose of the Personal Identification Code is so that UTPD has a way of verifying the identity of someone that calls them up to report a false alarm. UTPD is given a list of everyone with an alarm code for the room along with the person's assigned Personal Identification Code. When you call UTPD to report a false alarm they will ask you for your name and Personal Identification Code. They will then verify your information with the list that they have. Do not share your numeric alarm code or Personal Identification Code with anyone.