University Facilities

Environment, Health & Safety Services

FIRE & LIFE SAFETY

Dorm Safety
Evacuation Planning Guide
Policies & Procedures
Fire Extinguisher Training
Gas Pump Fire Safety (video)

Forms & Guides

Contact EH&S

If you detect a fire in a campus building or residence hall:

Off-Campus fire emergencies dial 911.

Dormitory Fire Safety

Know Your Fire Protection Systems - Learn about how the fire protection systems work in your building.

What to Do in Case of Fire - Simple steps to remember to protect yourself during a fire

Know Your Fire Protection Systems
(Download the Poster Version of this Information)

Your residence hall is protected with the following fire protection systems:

Sprinklers

The residential sprinkler system installed in your building is designed to prevent a fire from growing large enough to affect general resident safety.

• A sprinkler is designed to be activated individually by heat from a fire and will discharge a minimum of 18 gallons of water per minute of operation on the fire.
• A sprinkler may be activated when subjected to abuse such as being struck, or if used as a place to hang clothing.
• Covering and or interference with a sprinkler head or tampering with sprinkler valves is considered Criminal Tampering and may result in criminal charges being placed against perpetrators, as well as punitive action by the Resident Life Office.
• Water from a sprinkler will continue to flow after the fire is extinguished and is shut off by closing a system control valve that is accessible only to authorized persons.
• Water flowing in the sprinkler piping and out an open sprinkler head will cause the building fire alarm system to activate, sounding the building fire alarm.
• Everyone must evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds and proceed to the assigned assembly area. No one should re-enter the building until directed to do so by University Police.

Smoke Detectors

A smoke detector is designed to sound the building fire alarm when it senses products of combustion in the air. When the building fire alarm sounds, everyone must exit the building

• Smoke detectors are located in individual apartments and in public areas.
• Smoke detectors may go into an alarm mode if exposed to steam from showers or smoke from cooking. When showering always have the bathroom exhaust fan turned on to prevent steam from collecting in the room and setting off the smoke detector. This occurs when the bathroom door is opened and steam fills the hallway.
• When cooking always turn the stove ventilation fan on and never leave your food on the stove unattended.
• Covering and or removing a smoke detector from the ceiling is considered Criminal Tampering and may result in criminal charges being placed against perpetrators as well as punitive action by the Resident Life Office.
• Everyone must evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds and proceed to the assigned assembly area. No one should re-enter the building until directed to do so by University Police.

Fire Extinguishers
Portable fire extinguishers provided are dry chemical, water and Carbon Dioxide.

• Use of portable fire extinguishers is restricted to persons trained in their operation, is limited to fires in the early stage of development and is secondary to activation of the building fire alarm system.
• Any use of a portable fire extinguisher for purposes other then to extinguish a small fire is considered Criminal Tampering and may result in criminal charges being placed against perpetrators as well as punitive action by the Resident Life Office.

Pull Stations
Red Fire Alarm Pull Stations are located in common areas and in exit corridors.

• A pull station should be activated if you are aware of a fire in the building or have reason to believe that there is a fire in the building.
• Pull stations may be activated if bumped or struck and therefore caution should be exercised around them.
• Any inappropriate action that causes a pull station to activate the building fire alarm system is considered Criminal Tampering and if the action is an intentional false alarm a charge of falsely reporting an incident may be charged against the perpetrator.
  

What to do in Case of Fire in Your UB Residence Hall
(Download the Poster Version of this Information)

If The Fire Alarm Sounds While You Are In Your Room:

FEEL THE DOOR NEAR THE TOP & THE DOOR HANDLE FOR HEAT

IF THE DOOR OR DOOR HANDLE IS HOT - DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR - you are safer in your room than in the corridor

IF THE DOOR AND DOOR HANDLE ARE COOL - Check the corridor for smoke. Open the door slightly, if there is smoke in the corridor close the door and remain in your room. Protect yourself by:

• Covering the opening at the bottom of the door with pillows or blankets to prevent smoke from getting in your room
• Call 2222 and report the fire and your location
• Open a window just enough to allow some fresh air into your room
• Stay in your room until a firefighter or police officer comes to you

IF IT IS SAFE TO ENTER THE CORRIDOR

• Leave your room, close the door behind you and proceed to an exit
• Pull the fire alarm on your way out of the building
• Do not use the elevator - Use the stairways

• Go to your assigned assembly area
• Do not re-enter the building until directed to do so by the University Police