Safety Solutions

          Will your phone system work if the lights go out?

Many newer systems won’t if you don’t take a few steps to prepare. As for that  good old fashion phone hanging on grandma’s kitchen wall that will more than likely keep on working. Why? The old phone's copper wires supplies power to run the phone.  However those old phone lines are being replaced across the country. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Traditional copper phone lines are being phased out across the country. They are expensive and offer limited capacity to move data efficiently (internet service). Fiber optics are the new choice and unfortunately don’t carry power in them to energize phone systems.
2. Make sure your phone system is tied into your emergency power supply the same as your computer network so even if the lights do go out you can still operate both computers and phone systems during the event.
3. Don’t rely solely on cell service. During natural disasters towers can be damaged, systems can overload due to high call volume resulting in a busy signal or back-up power can fail at tower locations.
4. Redundant systems are best. Have a combination of a backed up land line and cell access and hopefully one of them will offer service.

As far as your home phone is concerned some states are requiring phone companies to offer battery back-up systems to energize a phone if there is a power loss, however these batteries have a shelf life of a few years and cost anywhere from $20-60 each. No doubt as technology advances these type of very practical issues will have to be managed both for homeowners and large organizations such as school districts. This is John Baker for safetysolutions4schools.com. If you want to discuss this or other safety and security related issues contact me at 717.201.2257 or email at johnr_baker@iu13.org.

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