Types of Systems

There are two types of alarm and access control systems for campus buildings:

• Centralized systems Ð those connected to the University Police Department (UCPD) or an outside alarm company such as ADT.
  
• Standalone systems Ð those that are self-contained at the controlled location (building).

Centralized Systems
The UCPD maintained centralized alarm system is Y2K compliant, and the alarm vendor has provided written certification of this. During the fourth quarter of 1998, UCPD conducted a test of the alarm system central receiving unit, and confirmed it will function as designed.

For the last two years, centralized access control users have been told that there was a need to make a major upgrade of the card key systems in campus buildings. On December 1, 1998 the Police Department notified users of the centralized access control system of the cost of the required Y2K upgrades. The costs are not trivial, as they require the replacement of all card readers, and other major components. The upgrades will also cost the Police Department in excess of $45,000. As of mid-September, this upgrade work was expected to be finished in November or December of 1999, due to the number of buildings and ongoing construction on campus.

Standalone Systems
On January 21, 1999, the Departmental Building Alarms And Access Control subcommittee sent out an e-mail letter and attached survey to campus building coordinators. The letter and survey were intended to raise awareness of the Y2K issue, to compile some information about the level of diversity in access control and alarms systems on campus, and to help the subcommittee assess potential problems.

For departments with stand-alone systems, it is important to check these systems to determine if there is the potential for Y2K problems. We strongly recommend that if a standalone system has a clock or date function, the department check with the manufacturer regarding Y2K fixes or recommendations.

Questions and Comments
For centralized alarm and access control systems, contact Sherree Wiezer, manager of alarms and access control, UCPD, at (510) 643-9375, or wiezer@uclink4.berkeley.edu

For standalone systems, contact Ad‡n Tejada, Lieutenant of Community Outreach, UCPD, at (510) 642-3679 or adan@uclink4.berkeley.edu