Kings III has designed a step-by-step process to help you determine your emergency phone needs. This assessment will help you determine all the specifics about the emergency phones such as how many, for what purpose, and if you will be needing professional monitoring. Take a minute to read through, and don't hesitate to contact Kings III directly at 1-866-807-3547 if you have any questions.

Specific Phone Needs

The first step in making an analysis of your phone requirements is to determine where the phones are needed, and for what purpose. For instance, the phones may be needed in remote parking lots, in parking garages, by building entrances, in building stairwells, in elevators or by swimming pools. You need to identify and list each phone location. Then you need to note the purpose of the phone if it is for something other than reporting an emergency situation. For instance a non-emergency use of a phone could be to help visitors seeking directions to certain buildings, let visitors into a building after hours or to let a car out of a parking lot when the drivers forget their exit cards.
 
To determine the number of phones needed, you might want to ask a question like, “How closely placed do phones need to be in a large remote parking lot?” There is no precise answer to this question. The best guide is your own “Common Sense.” Circumstances of a particular location such as remoteness, incidents of crime, availability of supplemental patrols, and so forth, all play a part in defining the number and placement of phones needed. If you think of yourself, your spouse or child, and what makes you feel comfortable for them and yourself, this is a good guide. The same holds true for parking garages, hallways of buildings and so on.
 

In some cases where many phones will be needed, it may be necessary to have a Kings III representative survey the area where the phones are to be placed. This representative is an expert in Kings III equipment, and can tell you exactly what will be required in the installation process. The cost of professional consultation is free for orders over 10 phones, and costs $150 for orders with less than 10 phones. Keep in mind this $150 charge will be applied to the purchase price.

1.  What type of facility do you need the phones for?

     Example: dormitory or hospital

2.  Where in that facility will the phones be used?

     Example: stairwell or elevator

3.  Will they be exposed to the elements?

     Example: yes, the phones will be in a parking garage that is prone to freezing in the winter.

4.  For what purpose will the phones be used?

     Example: information or assistance.

5.  How many phones will you need? 

(1)  Is electrical power needed? If so, is an outlet close by? (Solar power may be an option for exterior applications).

(2)  Proximity of a phone line or strong cellular signal.

(3)  What is the phone to be mounted on? (examples are a concrete wall or column, light pole, or freestanding tower.)

 

A. Electrical Power 

Electrical Power is needed if:
 
(1)   A strobe light is being used or

(2)   If a back up battery is desired or

(3)   A cell phone connection is being used

If you need electrical power then the next step is to see if an electrical outlet is available where the phone is to be located. If not, how far must a line be run (usually it needs to be run in conduit). Will trenching be required? If the phone is to be located outside, and gaining access to a power line is difficult, then solar power should be considered.
 

The first question is whether a phone line is available where the emergency phone is to be located. If not, how far must this line be run, and will trenching be required? Also note whether the phone line type is standard POTS (plain old telephone service), PBX, Centrex, DSL, or VoIP (voice over internet protocol). If getting access to a phone line is not practical, then cellular is an option, provided that a strong signal is available. If the phone is to be located in a building, and reception is poor inside but good outside the building, an antenna may (in most cases) be run for up to 10 feet to reach the outside of the building.

Finally, determine how each phone is to be mounted. The choices here are often dictated by where the phone is to be located. Obviously an elevator phone goes in the elevator. But even here, you need to know if it is behind the return, in a box or under our special surface mount plate. A parking garage phone is typically mounted on one of the concrete columns supporting the building. A swimming pool phone may be mounted on the manager’s office building if the pool is nearby (usually the phone must be 200 ft. from the pool) or on a light pole by the pool. A parking lot phone may be mounted on a light pole or on one of our towers designed for this purpose. If a tower mount is selected, then a proper foundation pad of reinforced concrete needs to be prepared. A concrete drive at least 5 inches thick will also be sufficient.
 
 If an existing light pole is the mounting location of choice, you will need to note the shape, diameter and height of the pole. 

Kings III’s phones can report to anyone’s call center, and they can also be programmed to call more than one number should the first number not answer.
 
Kings III’s monitoring center can act as the primary or secondary call recipient. See monitoring for information. Kings III ‘s monitoring charges vary with the number of phones, but range from $10-$20 per month (based on the number of phones monitored).  

Kings III services what it sells and installs. Kings III offers long-term service and maintenance contracts that cover labor and materials for everything except batteries, disconnected phone lines and physical damage. It is a way to fix costs and to assure your emergency phones are working. Kings III's phones also may be programmed to place automatic test calls, which confirm the equipment and phone lines are in working order.  The rates vary with the number of phones but range from $10- $17 per month for standard phones and $22-$30 for solar/cellular phones.
 
Service and maintenance contracts are available anytime Kings III does the installations.
 

We offer a Turnkey Solutions program for most of our phones. This simply means that everything relating to your emergency telephone needs is covered by a single price, and that we assume the responsibility for it all. It may also make possible the elimination of dedicated emergency phone line costs when using our patented line seizure communication device.  OurTurnkey Solutions include all the necessary equipment, installation, line seizure, programming, initial testing, monitoring and dispatch (optional), and all service and maintenance.
 

The buyer will also want to take some other aspects of the emergency phones into consideration such as the cold climate option for extreme winters, the use of stainless steel faceplates, and what color(s) and/or special logos are desired.

If you are installing equipment, then you may elect Kings III to pre-assemble the equipment, or for us to provide on-site technical training for the first few days of installation to make sure that it goes smoothly.  Please contact your Kings III representative about pricing and availabiity.