Specifications

Alto 818 Installation and Operation
1-6 P/N 66109074001 Rev. D
BUILDING OPEN MODE
The building open mode is used during periods of time such as normal working hours when access
to buildings or controlled areas needs to be authorized for the greatest number of card holders.
Door switches and monitor points that trigger alarms in the building limited or closed mode can
be set to remain silent during the building open mode.
BUILDING LIMITED MODE
The building limited mode is used during periods of time in which only part of the building or area
is to be empty and only some of its monitor inputs are to be active. During this mode, areas in
which security requirements are minimal would be made accessible to card holders such as
janitorial personnel, etc., while doors to more sensitive areas would be locked and their monitor
points would trigger alarms.
BUILDING CLOSED MODE
The building closed mode is used when the building is unoccupied. Door switches and monitor
points that do not trigger alarms in open or limited mode can be defined to do so in the closed mode.
Authorized access to buildings or controlled areas will be minimal. The individual who places the
system in the building closed mode must first ensure that everyone else has left the building.
Anyone still in the building when it was closed could set off an alarm when leaving the building or
be locked in, depending upon the type of door locks used.
CHANGING BUILDING MODES
Building modes can be changed by two methods:
 From the system terminal by an operator assigned rank D or higher through the use of the
OPEN, LIMIT, or CLOSE commands.
 From a remote station switch by a privileged ( see Section 1.3.4) card holder who has access
to the switch. Limited mode cannot be selected by this method. For security purposes, the
remote switch should be restricted in its use to only a few individuals by making it a key switch.
The Alto 818 will refuse to change the building mode from open to either limited or closed if any
report event is active which is programmed through the REPORT command to prevent building
closure. A log message will be sent to the terminal and host ports that an attempt was made to
change the building mode and will identify the problem. After the problem has been corrected the
building mode can be changed.
System operators can use the STATUS command to identify any pending activity that can prevent
building closure. The problem can then be fixed or the SHUNT command can be used to override
the activity and the building mode can then be changed.