Fire Safety in Housing Facilities

Contents

Housing Facility Fire Systems

Both housing facility fire systems are housed in a central system monitored by the College for Creative Studies Campus Safety Office 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Art Centre Building is fully sprinkled with a fire pump and also includes fire hose risers and pull stations. There are fire extinguishers and horn/strobes in every suite, on each floor. The fire alarm system is inspected in accordance with NFPA 25 and maintained by Simplex Grinnell.

The Taubman Center’s fire system was installed in 2009 and met all Life Safety System, State, and City Codes required when installed. The fire system is fully suppressed and has a sprinkler system. This fire system also includes smoke detectors in each room, annunciators, and strobe lights. Each floor has fire extinguishers and pull stations also found in the hallway. The fire alarm and sprinkler system in inspected in accordance with NFPA 25 and maintained by Simplex Grinnell.

Residents should not hang anything from sprinkler heads or in a manner that would block the coverage of the sprinkler water flow. Nothing should be stored within 18 inches of the ceiling according to NFPA code.

Fire Safety Education

Each year at move-in, residents attend a housing orientation in which students are instructed on the fire evacuation procedures. For the students who have kitchens, they are also told that they have fire extinguishers to use if needed. Those who do not have kitchens are instructed where the extinguishers are located on the floor. They also hear an example of the alarm and are instructed to follow the evacuation procedures, call 911 and let Campus Safety know if there is an actual fire in their suites.

If a resident knows that their suite is responsible for the fire alarm, they are asked to notify the front desk of the cause and if the alarm is an active fire or a false alarm.

Fire Policy Restrictions

The following restrictions have been put in place to ensure proper precautions to reduce fire in the residence halls.

Smoking

Student housing is a Smoke Free Environment. All areas, including all suites, stairwells, hallways, and elevators and 15 feet from doorways are non-smoking. Residents and guest found smoking in student housing will be subject to fines and/or judicial action.

Hookahs & Water Pipes

Hookahs and water pipes are not allowed in student housing. If they are found in your suite, they will be confiscated by Student Life Staff and not returned.

Vaporizers and Electronic Cigarettes

The use of vaporizers and electronic cigarettes is prohibited from all College buildings include the residence halls. Use of these products is restricted in the same manner as tobacco products and must be used outside more than 15 feet from doorways.

Wax

Students are not allowed to melt wax or work with melted wax in student housing.

Incense

Due to the fire hazard incense presents, it is not permitted in student housing. If incense is found in your suite it will be confiscated by Student Life Staff and not returned.

Candles

Due to the fire hazard candles present, candles are not permitted in the student housing. If candles are found in your suite they will be confiscated and disposed of by a member of the Student Life Staff in addition to having to meet with a judicial officer in regards to your offense.

Electronics

Residents are advised to have surge protectors on all electrical equipment that could result in damages from a power surge. It is highly advised that surge protectors be used with stereo equipment, computers, televisions, DVD players, microwaves, etc.

Lamps

Halogen lamps are not permitted in student housing. Residents are to supply their own lamps for their suite. If halogen lamps are found in suites, the lamp will be confiscated and not returned.

Lighting

The placement of any material in or around facility lighting, inclusive of lights in resident rooms will be in violation of the Fire Safety Code.

Machinery

Machinery that is required to run on gasoline (or any other flammable substance) is not permitted in the student housing.

Dangerous Items

Items including, but not limited to fireworks, firearms, explosives, toxic substances, highly flammable substances, knives, and other weapons are prohibited from use or storage in the residence hall. Any item that may be considered a dangerous item, and is needed for academic reasons must be used solely for its intended academic purpose, and have the prior approval of the Residence Life Coordinator to be kept or used in the building.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles, mopeds, or other gasoline-powered vehicles are not to be stored in student housing. These vehicles can be parked in the parking garage.

ACB-specific Policies

Cooking

Students are to keep the cooking area in their suites clean, safe, and healthy.

Radiators

When the weather gets cold you can regulate the heat in your suite by opening and closing your radiators. If your radiator does not have a knob to open and close the valve or if your radiator makes a hissing noise, notify the Housing Office or an RA.

Do not store items on top of or near radiators, especially flammable or pressure contained items. The completed renovations of the ACB will eliminate all radiators from the suites and will be replaced by modern HVAC units.

Taubman-specific Policies

Cooking

Students are not allowed to use any open coiled kitchen appliances in their suites. This includes George Foreman style grills, toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, pizza ovens or any other open coiled appliance. You may bring a microwave, mini refrigerator, coffee pot, rice cooker, and crock-pot. For further verification that a kitchen appliance is allowed, please contact the Residence Life Coordinator. Items that are not allowed and found in housing will be confiscated and not returned.

Evacuation Procedures

Evacuation upon the sounding of the fire alarm system is required. Failure to evacuate housing when an emergency alarm is sounding is a violation of the resident agreement and federal regulations. Residents are expected to become familiar with the evacuation procedures during their first few hours in residence. If the evacuation instruction information (found on the back of the room door) is illegible or missing, residents should contact the Residence Life Coordinator immediately for a replacement. Residents are expected to attend all housing meetings referencing safety training.

When evacuating you should:

  1. Yell for your suite-mates to ensure that they hear the fire alarm.
  2. Close your door behind you so that if the fire spreads to your floor the door will deter its speed.
  3. Knock on the doors to the other suites on your floor. You should not wait for your suite-mate or floor mates before you evacuate the building.
  4. Do not use the elevator when evacuating. Please use either sets of stairs located on each floor.
  5. Once you have left the ACB, you should proceed to the cafeteria and wait for further instructions from Student Affairs Staff. If you are evacuating from the Taubman Center, please go to the parking lot between Cass and Woodward for further instructions. Resident Assistants and/or Campus Safety personnel will determine when it is safe to re-enter the building.

Carelessness Related to Fire Alarms

Residents who are responsible for repeatedly showing carelessness and causing the fire alarm to sound will be charged a fine. A charge of $50 may result the second time an alarm is set off due to carelessness and/or negligence, and the third time the resident may be asked to vacate student housing.