A Cautionary Tale: First Floor Alarm Box

By Candace Barrick, Becketwood Member

Do you live on the first floor? Have you noticed a box like this by the inside of your unit door? Have you wondered why it is there? Was it your understanding that this was an old alarm that is no longer operational?

Watch out!  This box can act up unexpectedly and get you in trouble.

Background

Originally, these boxes were used as alarms to notify the front desk if a Member had left a window or a sliding glass door open. If one wanted to open a window or door there was a code to enter to disarm the alarm.

Five or more years ago I remember learning at a Town Hall meeting that these alarms were no longer functional and would never be repaired. They are out of date and parts are no longer available.

Since that time there have been a number of changes at Becketwood that relate to these alarms. New windows have been installed in all units. Pull cords for emergency alerts have been removed. Much has changed since 1986 when these first-floor alarms were installed.

My story

One weekend night I looked at that old alarm box and decided it was ugly and should be covered by something more attractive. I had an old post card that my grandmother had sent to my grandfather before they were married to remind him about their date on Saturday night. I found a clear plastic box frame that was just the right size for that lovely post card.

I had not even touched the alarm box yet. When I started to place the picture over the box, the fire alarm started blasting. I thought of all my neighbors-- would they wake up, wanting to find out what happened? Would the front desk staffer come running to my unit to save me? I called the front desk to say I was okay. Then I took action to stop the alarm. It was driving me crazy and I couldn't think straight. So I got a screwdriver and removed the cover. I removed some wire nuts, but the alarm wouldn't stop. Then I did the unforgivable (until you pay): I cut some wires, being careful to keep the wires I cut wrapped together.

The security person was at my door trying to figure out what was going on. I explained. They said they had an alarm on their board. I followed them back to the front desk. They told me that the alarm was not sounding and the alarm light was off. It looked like the trouble was over. Boy, was I wrong!

During unit inspections I was reminded about what had happened when they tested the fire alarm. I mentioned it to maintenance staff. The response I received reminded me of a scolding from my dad.

I was told that I had no business cutting wires. This unit is owned by Becketwood, not me. I just own shares in the cooperative, not my unit. No Member is ever allowed to cut any wires. Becketwood has 24-hour maintenance. If I had reported this to the front desk they would have contacted the maintenance staff on call and they would have come here and fixed the problem. Now it will require a special low voltage electrician to repair the wiring and the hourly cost would be charged on my monthly bill.

The Collins electrician arrived a few days later and repaired the wiring. Afterward, I was given permission to cover the box with my picture. I paid the $292. Others have paid more for their mistakes.

Warning others

I tried to tell as many people as possible about my mistake to save them from a similar experience.  I told them, you have to tell the front desk and they will call 24-hour maintenance.

Another Member's alarm

But wait, that is not the end.  Not long ago, I heard an alarm from a unit near 153. Being a nosy person, I went to investigate, thinking I might save them from an experience like mine.

A relative of a Member had entered their unit in the dark. They were trying to find the light switch and began pushing buttons on that old alarm box. The fire alarm was going off and it was very stressful, as you would expect. I tried to tell them not to do what I had done and mess with that box.

We went to the front desk where I expected that the security person was calling Becketwood 24-hour maintenance. (That staff person didn't seem to know about on-call maintenance.) Instead they were calling their supervisor, Robin. He told them to use a screw driver to remove the cover of the alarm box and unplug the wiring. (I was thinking, ‘but that is how I got in trouble!’).  A short time later, the alarm stopped.

What should we know

I was curious, what should Members know, and what should Security staff know about those old alarm boxes in most first floor units? (Some have been removed by contractors in consultation with Maintenance staff.)

Some days later Robin said he would show me how those old alarms worked. He explained about the alarm being connected to the windows and how the alarm could be disarmed. He demonstrated why it was no longer possible to disable the alarm. Of course, the alarm is no longer connected to the new windows that were installed.

I was able to gain an understanding, from Robin, about how simple it would be to temporarily unplug the red connector for the alarm to stop the noise.
Furthermore, Robin explained, someday these old alarm boxes would eliminated when new fire panels are installed.

Until then, stay away from these old boxes, and warn your guests and contractors not to touch them, unless they are supervised by Becketwood Maintenance staff.

When I exit my unit now, I see that picture of a woman shaking her finger at me as if to say, "Shame on you. Now behave."