Fire Safety
In the Event of a Fire
Since fire is a risk in every building — whether you sleep, study, or work there — you should always have an escape plan. You may need to escape within a few minutes of a fire’s start, so your safe exit depends on immediate warning from smoke alarms and advance planning of escape routes. When constructing your escape plan try to keep these things in mind:
- Include two ways out of every room in all escape plans
- Designate a location to meet outside the building
- Verify that smoke alarms are installed to provide early detection and warning so you’ll have enough time to execute your escape plan
- Make sure doors located in your path of travel can be opened from the inside under all lighting conditions
- Verify that doors located in your path of travel Do not require a key to open from the inside
- Take note of whether any disabled or elderly residents will require evacuation assistance
- Conduct a roll call to verify everyone has escaped the building
- Remain outside until notified by the fire department that it is safe to re-enter the building
- Practice, practice, practice your plan!
If your secondary escape route is a window…
- Make sure the window can be opened from the inside
- Assure the window is large enough for you to pass through the opening
- Verify the windowsill is low enough to allow you to crawl through the opening
- Make sure any security bars can be opened from the inside without the use of a key, and that you can open them under all lighting conditions
- Determine how you will escape if the window is above the first floor: will you purchase a rope ladder or other emergency escape device, or will you wait for the fire department to arrive and evacuate you?
- Make sure sloping terrain, the location of the window, or other factors will not prevent the window from being used as a secondary escape route
For more information you can learn more .
Fire Systems
Fire Alarm
All campus buildings have automatic fire alarm systems to alert occupants should a fire occur. These systems typically consist of manual pull-boxes located at exit doors, with smoke detector systems in corridors and common areas. Single-station, hard-wired smoke detectors are installed in all rooms as well.
Fire Sprinkler
Many buildings on campus are protected by automatic fire sprinkler systems. If your fire sprinkler system is leaking, it is vital to make sure there is no active fire triggering your sprinkler system to discharge. Once certain there is no fire hazard in your facility, call EH&S as soon as possible and be ready to share as many details about the leak as possible. Fire sprinkler systems are prone to corrosion, damage, equipment failure, and freezing temperatures, and may burst if not addressed!
Emergency Lighting
All halls are provided with emergency power systems, which activate if primary power is lost. There is emergency lighting in assembly rooms, corridors and exit stairwells.