Princeton University

The following FAQs indicate how to use your keyless lock and also detail procedures for lock outs and replacing lost TigerCards. Students can also contact Facilities Customer Service at (609)258-8000 if they have other questions not answered below.

General Questions

• What is a keyless lock?
• How does the keyless lock work?
• Will the door automatically lock when closed?
• What happens if I prop or circumvent the closing/latching mechanisms?
• What is a Hot Spot (Keyless Lock Hot Spot)?
• How often do I need to hit a Hot Spot (validate my TigerCard)?
• Where are the Hot Spots located?

Troubleshooting

• What do I do if the lock won’t open and/or displays a red status light?
  
• Why does my lock flash red 3 times before allowing me to open my door?
• What if I present my card to the lock and nothing happens?
• What if I forget my PIN?

Lock Outs and Lost TigerCards

• What do I do if I’ve left my TigerCard in my room and am locked out?
• What do I do if I’ve lost my TigerCard?
• Are there fees for Lock Out Service and/or TigerCard Replacement?

A. All dorms have been equipped with keyless door locks. The locks use the TigerCard (University ID) and a PIN to open the door. Each student will no longer use brass keys to open his or her dorm room.

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A. To open a door with a keyless lock:

1. Hold your TigerCard in front of the numeric keypad approximately one inch away.
    
2. Hold your card still until the status light begins to flash from green to red. Enter your 4-digit PIN.
    
3. A small electronic motor will sound, and the door becomes unlocked when the status light turns to a solid green. Turn handle and enter. The door will automatically lock when door is closed.

Watch the How-to Video

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A. Yes. The NJ State Construction Code requires room entry doors to close and latch. The door is fire rated, therefore, the door is a smoke and heat barrier and is required to stay closed and latched. If a fire occurs, the door keeps the fire and smoke from spreading to the hall or from the hall into the room. The International Fire Code (NJ Edition) requires that the University maintain the doors as they were installed and intended for use under the NJ State Construction Code.

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A. When a door is discovered to be propped open and/or the closing/latching mechanism is circumvented, an automatic $25 fine is issued to each occupant of the room for the initial offense. The fine increases for subsequent offenses as per the Undergraduate Housing Fire Safety Policies and Graduate Dormitory Housing Fire Safety Policies.

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A. A (Keyless Lock) Hot Spot, pictured below, is a computer hardware device used to validate and update your TigerCard in the keyless lock system.  

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A. The first validation occurs during Move-in. For the 2012–2013 Academic Year, students will need to hit a Hot Spot by noon on the last day of each of the following validation periods:

October 31–November 7 (following Fall Recess)
January 2–January 9 (following Winter Recess)
January 30–February 6 (conclusion of Fall Term)
March 20–March 27 (after Spring Recess)

Additionally, students must hit a Hot Spot whenever a room assignment is changed, and also at the start of the 2013-2014 Academic Year.

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A. Below is a directory of Hot Spot locations (view map). Hot Spot locations are also viewable through the iPrinceton mobile app.

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A. First, try validating your TigerCard on a Hot Spot and then try the lock again. During business hours, if the card still does not work, please call Facilities Customer Service at (609) 258-8000. After business hours, go to the Public Safety office to obtain a loaner card or call (609) 258-1000 to have a Public Safety officer dispatched to gain re-entry into the room. A $30 fee will be applied if a Public Safety officer is dispatched to assist in gaining re-entry.

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A. The lock’s batteries are low. In this situation please call Customer Service at (609) 258-8000 to request that the lock's batteries be replaced.

A. Please call Customer Service at (609) 258-8000 during regular business hours. After business hours, you should contact Public Safety at (609) 258-1000 to have the lock issue reported to Facilities personnel.

A. If a student forgets his or her PIN, he or she can obtain it by doing the following:

1. Visit Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH).
2. Login using your Princeton NetID and password.
3. Select “Undergraduate” or “Graduate Student,” then select “Personal Information.”
4. Click on the “Display My PIN” link near the bottom of the page. Your PIN will be revealed next to the link.

A. See Keyless Lock Program Lock Out Policy.

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A. See Lost TigerCard for instructions.

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A. The fee schedule for lockouts within the keyless lock system is as follows*:

Loaner Cards issued at Housing and Real Estate Services or Public Safety 
$0 if returned within 24 hours

Non-returned loaner cards or cards returned after 24 hours
$75 per incident

Public Safety dispatched to assist in gaining re-entry 
$30 per incident

Replacement of a lost TigerCard
$15 per incident

*A grace period without fees or tabulations will be in place from August 15 to September 30 each year and during all scheduled fire drills.

At the discretion of Housing & Real Estate Services, any student who is repeatedly locked out of his or her room will be recommended to the dean for further action. Also, any student who is found misappropriating use of the loaner card will be referred to the dean for further action.

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