General Questions and Problems

1. Locking and Unlocking Labs and Classrooms
2. Where are the alarm key pads?
3. How do I set the alarm?
4. How do I unlock the classrooms and labs?
5. What do I do if the alarm has gone off?
6. What do I do if there's a fire in the lab?
7. What do I do if a threatening person comes into the lab?

1. Locking and Unlocking Labs and Classrooms

If you are the last person to leave one of the CWRL classrooms, open labs or proctor stations, you must activate the alarms and lock the door before you leave.

2. Where are the alarm key pads?

Always near the door, but not every room has one:

• PAR 6: activates/deactivates the alarm for that room only.
• PAR 102, 104 and 104a: each pad activates/deactivates the alarms for all three rooms: PAR 102, 104, and 104a.
• FAC 7: activates/deactivates the alarm for that room only.
• FAC 8: activates/deactivates the alarm for that room only.
• FAC 9a: activates/deactivates the alarm for FAC 9, 9a and 10.

When people are moving in the room the keypad will say "System Not Ready."

3. How do I set the alarm?

1. Make sure that the doors to all rooms connected with the alarm are closed and the lights are turned off.
2. Enter the room where the alarm key pad is housed and close the door.
3. The alarms in each room are motion-sensitive. Hold still for 4-5 seconds until the green ready light comes on, and the message changes to "System Ready."
4. Enter the alarm code. The red "active" light should come on.
5. Exit room and lock door.
6. WAIT outside the door until you hear the loud beep indicating that the alarm has been properly set.

4. How do I unlock the classrooms and labs?

Once you open the door to one of the labs or classrooms, you have 30 seconds to deactivate the alarm.

First, make sure that you open a room that has an alarm key pad. If you are opening the FAC classrooms, open 9a first (9 and 10 have no key pads). If you are opening the PAR classrooms, open PAR 102 or 104 first--104a has two key pads, which may be confusing. You will always use the pad with the green LED display. Any of these pads deactivates the alarm for all three rooms.

After unlocking and opening the door the alarm will go off as a warning. Immediately key in the alarm code on the keypad. If you do so correctly, the alarm will turn off, as will all the lights on the keypad except the bottom one (labeled "AC").

If the alarm continues to beep after keying in the code, try pressing the # (pound) key twice and reentering the code.

If you fail to deactivate the alarm within 30 seconds, there will be a loud noise and campus security will automatically be contacted. First, try again to disarm the alarm by pressing the # (pound) key twice and reentering the code. After the alarm is off, call campus security (471-4441) to report the incident. Identify yourself by name as a member of the CWRL staff and provide your personalized identification code, which you received at orientation.

5. What do I do if the alarm has gone off?

1. First and foremost, remain calm.
2. Then call the UT Police Department (471-4441), if they have not already called you, and give them your name and personal identification code.
3. Since the alarm is probably making a good deal of noise, see if you can deactivate the alarm. Press the pound key (#) twice and enter the alarm code.
4. If you have managed to turn the alarm off, you might take a quick look around the room to make sure everything looks the way it should. If the alarm goes off while you are out of the room, it's possible that someone has tried to break into the room. If anything looks amiss, leave the room and wait for the police to arrive. If you are in Parlin 6, a good place to go is the DRW Office, PAR 3; if in the Parlin classroom labs, step down to the English Office, PAR 108. You'll still be able to see the police when they arrive at the rooms.

6. What do I do if there's a fire in the lab?

1. Get everyone out of the room, as quickly and calmly as possible.
2. Call the UT Fire Department at 911.
3. Call the Austin Fire Department 9-911.

7. What do I do if a threatening person comes into the lab?

Many people go in and out of the labs all day, so you need not be suspicious of any particular person in a room. However, someone may pose an immediate threat to you or someone else in the room, or you may be alone in a room with someone and feel uncomfortable about being there alone. Here are some steps you might take:

If others are present:

• If the person has already become violent, agitated, or vocal, you should ask the person to leave the room immediately. If the person does not comply, call the UT Police Department immediately at 911.
• If the person is a serious threat to you or to others (e.g., carrying a weapon, acts disturbed and irrational), leave the room immediately. Call the police from the nearest safe phone.
• You can also use the panic button feature of the alarm system. Pressing # and * at the same time will send a silent alarm to UTPD.

If you are alone:

• If you are in immediate danger, leave the room as quickly as possible and call the UT Police at 911.
• If you feel threatened and/or uncomfortable to be alone with the other person, you might announce that you have to close the lab, and that everyone needs to leave so that you may lock up. Stand near the door while you do this. If the person leaves, you can lock the door and stay in the room until the coast is clear, calling for help if necessary. If the person is reluctant to leave and/or to let you leave, you will be near the door and can get to a safe place if necessary.
• You can also use the panic button feature of the alarm system. Pressing # and * at the same time will send a silent alarm to UTPD.