Another call out for fire trucks

 

If you burn the toast ...

Our upgraded fire system is great.  The fire stairs are so much better lit that I can negotiate them even with my poor eyesight.  The voice that urges residents to find the nearest fire exit is mellifluous.  The sirens are compelling without being deafening.  I did notice that they don't sound over the bottom three levels, but Gazelle assures me that it is because the new system has not yet been installed on those floors.  The old alarms are still there, but not nearly as loud as they used to be.

There are several new smoke detectors in the remediated apartments.  They are very sensitive, and can be set off by steam as well as smoke. So, what do you do if you burn the toast?  Near your front door there is a button like the one pictured above.  The message "fire alarm silence" is rather enigmatic when what it really means is that it turns off the sound of the smoke alarm when pressed.  At this stage it is useful to have someone else in the apartment to open the windows and let the smoke or steam out while you are silencing the alarm.  Opening the apartment door is not recommended, as this will let the smoke or steam into the hallway, which will set off the actual fire alarm.

And, if there is a real fire in your apartment, pressing the button will not work. The heat detectors, which are also installed in the remediated apartments, will set off the real fire alarms, and that tuneful voice will urge you to vacate your apartment and head down the fire stairs to the emergency point outside the front of the building.

Take a coat, or warm dressing gown at night, something to cover your head, essential meds, and your phone.  And don't forget the tab to put on the emergency board when you arrive downstairs.  And please leave your apartment door unlocked, so that if necessary the firefighters don't have to smash it down.

Hanging pictures and mirrors in C apartments

This is courtesy of Mike Underhill, who lives in 11C. Normally, as he says, when putting up a hook or bolt for hanging a picture, a DIY person taps the wall to find a stud for good attachment.  On the southern walls of C apartments, this will not work.  There are no wooden studs.  Instead, there are steel soldiers.  So you have to make a strong attachment in the gib wall between the soldiers. For this you use a rawlplug, or a wall anchor.  The anchor is even better, as the bottom splays out on the other side of the wall, creating a fixing point that is much, much stronger than a hook or a screw.

Actually, rawlplugs and wall anchors could be used anywhere, and not just on walls that do not have wooden studs.

Restoration of light fittings

People may notice that light fittings have not been replaced in their remediated apartments.  This is a matter that should really be discussed with Rachel.  As I understand the situation, some fittings can't be returned as they are contaminated with ACM from the old asbestos that has been removed from the ceiling. Otherwise, if the fittings are clean, and are being restored in the old places exactly as originally found, Aoraki will do this.  If the fittings are being put in new places, or are new fittings, this is shareholder responsibility, and the lights will have to be installed by a proper electrician.

But, as I said, when in doubt consult with Rachel, who is the go-to person for everything about your remediated apartment.