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1. ellenater
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   So this is one part complaining and one part opinion gathering...

   Today something really awful happened to me! I got trapped in the elevator in my building. I am pretty claustrophobic and actually carry around 1 xanax for this potential reason. Ironically, I had switched purses and so did NOT have my emergency xanax. How ironic. I didn't watch the clock because I didn't want to freak out but I think I was in there anywhere from 25-45 minutes. I had my dog with me also. I have been in contact with managment, also so this is not a complaint they aren't aware of. I am pretty appalled and I want to see how others feel. Mainly I want to see if I am over reacting or not.

   We were given key fobs at move but they had not been activated yet. When I got in the elevator today, the doors closed and I pushed the button for parking. Nothing happened. I then started randomly pressing other floors. Nothing happened. I got freaked out and pressed the call button and talked to someone at dispatch who told me some others buttons to press. None worked. She told me she was trying to contact the building and a mechanic also. She went off the line and back a few times. Eventually, the car started moving and went down a floor and the doors opened. I was pretty freaked out and I don't remember everything that was said but basically here is what happened:

   They activated the key fobs and didn't tell us. The elevators are now being run on key fobs on certain floors. You can, according to management, go to the lobby without it, just not numbered floors or parking garages. The elevator worked when someone called it. That's how I was able to get out. It didn't occur to me to try my key fob as I didn't know it had been activated. I did have it with me but could just as easily not as they were not activated. Here's my question: Do you think the key fob system is dangerous? I do!!! Any unknowing person or child could get stuck in the elevator. Personally, I think the whole system is stupid and ridiculously complicated. Mural has a key fob for the elevator room in parking. Also, in an emergency, the elevator should work. The dispatch lady clearly didn't know that was the issue or she would have told me.

   Please give me your opinion. I really want to know what others think. I'm not comfortable with the safety of this system at all!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

2. MargL
   Member Profile

   Is the lobby secured too? Do you need a code or fob to even get in the front door?
   Personally I'd rather have a code in my head than a fob on a keyring I may or may not have with me.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

3. datamuse
   Member Profile

   

   When I worked at Amazon we had keycards to activate the elevators. But you could ALWAYS get the doors to open on the first floor, whether you had a keycard or not. That seems like basic safety.

   Elevators shouldn't be used in emergencies, generally. (Please tell me your building has fire stairs!) But they should have told you the fobs were activated.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

4. ellenater
   Member Profile

   

   You do need a code, or you can slide your key fob to get into the lobby. You can then go from lobby to all floors. You need the key fob to go to numbered floors or parking garage levels but apparently not the lobby. Theoretically, guests can come and go from the lobby. But not the parking garage and not from floor to floor.

   As of this moment, the stairwells can be accessed but you can't get form floor to floor. You can only enter the stairwell and get down to the street. I think that is supposed to be different in the future.

   datamuse, when you worked at Amazon, could what happened to me happen there, too?

   Shouldn't the "door open" button have at least worked? That is the part I don't agree with. That is insane to me!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

5. KBear
   Member Profile

   I wonder what the fire marshall would say about this system.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

6. MargL
   Member Profile

   I think the 'door open' button should have worked if you had just gotten in and the doors had closed but the elevator hadn't moved.
   I'm sure you are not the only one who's going to end up forgetting the 'key fob' - so what do you do then? Ride up and down until someone gets on/off at your floor? Do they have staff at the lobby that will be able to let you back up to your floor?
   Security is nice but it sounds pretty complicated.
   At least if you work at an office with this kind of system there's usually a security guard or a co-worker that can help.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

7. ellenater
   Member Profile

   

   I think so, too.

   I wouldn't mind riding up and down! I just don't want to get stuck in an elevator that isn't moving, again. And I don't want anyone else to either! It seems overly complicated to me, too. They do get some leeway as they are new and things are rocky. But this is different.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

8. austin
   Member Profile

   

   I used to live in a building in belltown that had an elevator, but you didn't take it if you had to be anyplace because one out of four or five times riding the elevator it would break. Two or three days out of the week I'd either be leaving or coming back and a carfull of bored, stuck AI students would be dicking with the elevator intercom waiting for the repairman to show up. The advantage was that always running up and down six flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator was an alright way of staying in shape.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

9. ellenater
   Member Profile

   

   scary! Agreed about the stairs. I chose my actual apt. partly due to stairs proximity. I am hoping they will unlock them soon.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

10. austin
    Member Profile

    

    "I am hoping they will unlock them soon."

    D'oh!

    Posted 2 years ago #         

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