01.01 This UPPS establishes procedures for the
response to fire alarms and conduct of fire exit drills for University
facilities. The evacuation procedures outlined in this policy apply to activation
of any alarm including fire, fire exit drill, or other non-fire emergency. Evacuation
procedures are applicable to university buildings and also include other university
facilities.
01.02 The specific objectives of this UPPS are to:
a. Assign administrative responsibility to Environmental
Health, Safety and Risk Management (EHS&RM) for facilities evacuation
training.
b. Require compliance with the training provisions
of the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code operating
features regarding fire alarms and fire exit drills. The purpose of such
training is to facilitate the orderly evacuation of university facilities by
faculty, staff, students, and other occupants.
c. Establish a program to evaluate fire alarms
and fire exit drills to ensure that established procedures and fire alarm
reporting systems operate efficiently and effectively.
d. Establish procedures to address evacuation of
persons with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA). Sample fire and emergency evacuation procedures for persons with
disabilities are included as Attachment I. This sample should serve as a guide
for developing individual departmental procedures. The Office of Disability
Services (ODS) will inform students with disabilities of the evacuation
procedures through the ODS website. The Human Resources Office will inform
employees with disabilities of such procedures.
01.03 Failure to comply with this policy may
jeopardize the safety of the individual who is in non-compliance, as well as
other university employees, students, or rescue personnel. Non-compliance is a serious
issue and may result in disciplinary action or financial penalties.
01.04 This policy applies only to fire drills, fire
alarms, and facilities evacuation. Refer to UPPS No. 05.04.03 for policies and procedures
associated with all other emergencies or disaster situations.
02.01 Fire Drill – A pre-planned activity designed
to test the fire alarms and evacuation procedures
02.02 Fire Alarm – Audible or visual signal from a
fire safety system, designed to warn of a potential fire danger or other
emergency
02.03 Emergency – A situation that threatens the
physical safety of university personnel or property and is not the result of a
fire, e.g. bomb threat, environmental conditions
02.04 Fire Official – Fire Department Officer at the
scene
03.01 EHS&RM has responsibility for conducting
fire exit drills, as detailed below. EHS&RM will coordinate such drills
with the dean or director of each area.
OCCUPANCY SEMESTER QUARTERLY MONTHLY
Residence Halls X
Health Care X
Facilities
Child Development X
Center (CDC)
Other Buildings At the discretion of the Director of
EHS&RM or at the request of a department head
a. Residence halls will conduct one fire drill
each fall and spring semester. A fire alarm activated accidentally during the
first thirty days of a semester may be credited toward the fire exit drill
requirement. Residence hall directors may request additional fire exit drills,
if deemed necessary, to ensure the resident staff and students are familiar
with the building evacuation procedures.
b. Health Care Facilities – for accreditation, a
quarterly fire exit drill will be conducted for each shift.
c. The Child Development Center (CDC) to comply
with the minimum standards for day care centers will conduct a fire exit drill
once each month.
d. All other buildings – An annual fire exit
drill will be conducted at the discretion of the Director of EHS&RM, or at
the request of a department head.
e. The Director of EHS&RM will include the
San Marcos Fire Department (SMFD) in university fire drills and training, on an
as-needed basis, to assure SMFD is familiar with the university procedures,
facilities, and emergency personnel.
04.01 EHS&RM has primary responsibility for
conducting training programs under this policy. EHS&RM provides fire
response training in several ways:
a. NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION – A fire/safety
briefing will be given to all new staff employees at the monthly New Employee
Orientation conducted by the Professional Development Office.
b. NEW FACULTY ORIENTATION – A fire/safety
briefing will be given to all new faculty employees in conjunction with the New
Faculty Orientation sessions conducted by Academic Development & Assessment.
c. RESIDENCE HALLS – EHS&RM will conduct
training on fire drill and evacuation procedures for resident directors and
resident assistants at the beginning of each semester.
d. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER – EHS&RM will
conduct training for Student Health Center employees consistent with
accreditation requirements and the Center’s Fire Safety Plan.
e. ASSEMBLY OCCUPANCIES – Local, state, and
federal fire codes require that owner/operators of facilities with assembly
occupancies greater than 1,000 have fully-trained crowd managers. These staff
members are to be versed on space, energy, time, and metering techniques which
are essential to effective crowd management in large assembly halls or other
required areas. EHS&RM will ensure that crowd managers are designated and
trained annually.
f. OTHER DEPARTMENTS – At the request of a
department head, EHS&RM will conduct a fire/safety class in the workplace
for department employees. All department heads are encouraged to arrange a
fire/safety class for their sections on a biannual basis.
04.02 Fire Training Programs will include the
following subjects:
a. Chemistry of fire – prevention and extinguishment
b. Fire alarm systems
c. Use of building fire extinguishers
d. Crowd management
04.03 Department heads will assure that their
employees are familiar with fire exit and building evacuation procedures.
Procedures should include the following requirements:
a. When the fire alarm is activated, all
building occupants are required to evacuate the building.
b. When a fire drill is conducted, alert all
building personnel that a fire drill is in progress. The building fire alarm
should then be activated as a means of alerting the occupants.
c. Utilize the building communication intercom
system, if available, to notify occupants of the nature of the alarm. An
announcement should be made stating that a fire drill is in progress and direct
all occupants to evacuate the building.
d. Intercom announcements should identify the
area or zone of the building. For
residence halls, the announcement should identify the zone of the alarm by
referring to the fire alarm panel in the building.
e. Direct rescue operations to the building zone
of the alarm.
f. Have personnel report to a designated
central location outside the building. Procedures must be established to
account for building occupants.
g. Remain outside of the building until the
building has been checked for fire and occupants. The senior university police
officer on the scene will give the building occupants permission to re-enter
the building.
04.04 Resident directors will conduct a training
session with their residence hall staff and provide each staff member with a
copy of detailed evacuation procedures prior to each fall and spring semester.
The session will cover at least the following items:
a. The identification of students with
disabilities, their location of residence in campus residence halls, and
procedures for the evacuation of persons with disabilities in the event of a
fire or fire exit drill;
b. Identification of all fire extinguishing and
fire alarm equipment located in the residence hall;
c. Procedures for spreading the alarm and
ensuring evacuation of all building occupants from the building;
d. A complete review of the hall evacuation
plan; and,
e. Requirement that all entrances and exit
routes (corridors, hallways, and aisles) are clear of furniture, storage items,
or other obstructions.
05.01 The Director of EHS&RM or his or her representative
is the only University official authorized to conduct a fire exit drill and to
activate a fire alarm for such drills. The Director of EHS&RM will
coordinate with the SMFD for joint participation.
05.02 The occupants of each residence hall, academic
or administrative building are expected to participate fully in the drill.
05.03 Fire drills in an academic building will be
scheduled to start ten minutes prior to the end of the academic class.
05.04 Resident Directors/Resident Assistants
a. Upon sounding of the building fire alarm or
having been notified, resident directors and resident assistants or their
representative on duty will:
1) Alert occupants within their sector and cause
them to evacuate according to drill procedures and assemble at the assigned
evacuation station outside of the building;
2) Insure occupants do not attempt to use
elevators. Evacuation must be accomplished by the use of stairwells; and,
3) Assist, as necessary, persons with
disabilities to the point of safe refuge.
b. The resident director will hold the resident
assistants accountable for:
1) Adhering
strictly to emergency evacuation procedures during fire drills; and
2) Performing
such other duties as may be assigned by the resident director during the drill.
05.05 The Director of EHS&RM
a. The Director of EHS&RM will review the
results of all fire drills and evacuation procedures.
b. Prior to initiating the alarm for a fire exit
drill, the Director of EHS&RM will take the following actions:
1) Alert
the Director of the University Police Department (UPD), allowing sufficient
time for their participation if desired;
2) Alert
the SMFD, allowing sufficient time for their participation if desired;
3) Notify
the Director of Housing and Residential Life of the impending drill;
4) Report
to the residence hall or building involved to observe the procedures; and
5) Have
available the Fire Exit Drill and Building Evacuation Procedure Evaluation form
(Attachment II).
c. Upon
sounding the building fire alarm, the Director of EHS&RM will:
1) Closely
observe the practices used for compliance to the written procedures;
2) Closely
evaluate all the factors and note appropriately on the evacuation/fire drill
checklist;
3) Avail
himself or herself of all information related to any absences and take
appropriate action;
4) Coordinate
the services of the SMFD with UPD to direct traffic from the area, to protect
fire equipment, and to provide emergency communications; and
5) Upon
the determination that the building is ready to be reoccupied, the Director of EHS&RM
will advise the resident director and UPD to notify occupants that re-entry is
authorized.
d. The Director of Housing and Residential Life
or designee will:
1) Report
to the scene (when practical) to observe the drill procedure for compliance;
2) Take
notice of any procedural problems for the purpose of discussion with the
resident director;
3) Upon
completion of a fire exit drill, secure all pertinent data for evaluation
purposes and arrange for a debriefing with the resident director; and
4) In
the event of a fire requiring relocation of students, will initiate emergency
housing procedures.
05.06 Unauthorized activation of a fire alarm in a
non-emergency situation by a student or employee may result in disciplinary
action or financial consequences. This is also a criminal offense, under
Section 42.06 of the Texas Penal Code, and criminal prosecution may result in
addition to any university sanction.
06.01 Because of the danger posed by an actual fire
or other non-fire emergency, any individual may activate a fire alarm to alert
others to an imminent danger in or near a university facility.
06.02 UPD
has primary authority during an actual fire and other non-fire emergency. UPD
will coordinate with the SMFD, San Marcos Police Department, and other
emergency/rescue personnel. EHS&RM and other university departments will
serve as support staff for the emergency situation, as needed by UPD.
06.03 Evacuation procedures for buildings and other
university facilities will be as follows:
a. The facility will be evacuated according to
the procedures outlined for fire exit drills. Residents or building occupants should
proceed to a designated area outside and away from the building.
b. If possible, UPD and the SMFD should be
contacted by telephone immediately after an alarm has been sounded. The person
calling will identify the location, type and extent of the fire, and any
personal knowledge of persons in imminent danger.
c. Upon arrival of fire officials at the scene,
the building managers will report to the senior fire official for information
and instructions.
06.04 Re-entry procedures will be as follows:
a. The SMFD will return control of the building
to the occupants through UPD. UPD will notify the building manager when the
building is cleared for occupancy.
b. The building manager will assist UPD in
notifying occupants that the building is cleared for occupancy.
c. No one will be allowed to re-enter the
building for any reason until the building is released by the fire official or
UPD.
07.01 Upon completion of each fire exit drill or
after facilities evacuation (due to a fire or other non-fire emergency), a
written evaluation will be prepared by the Director of EHS&RM.
07.02 The fire exit drill evaluations will
address:
a. Evacuation time and efficiency;
b. Student, faculty, and staff safety;
c. Response time:
1) SMFD
(where appropriate),
2) University Police units.
d. Effectiveness of evacuation procedures:
1) Training;
2) Routes and exits.
e. Procedural deficiencies;
f. Recommendations for improvement in
procedures; and,
g. Recommendations for alterations in the
facility.
07.03 Distribution of the evaluation will be as
follows:
a. For residence halls:
1) Vice President for Student Affairs;
2) Director, Housing and Residential Life;
3) Resident Director;
4) Chief, University Police Department;
5) Associate Vice President for Facilities;
6) Associate Vice President for Financial
Services; and
7) University Safety Committee.
b. For other facilities (non-resident):
1) Divisional
vice president/provost (where appropriate);
2) Department
heads of facilities involved;
3) Associate
Vice President for Facilities;
4) Associate
Vice President for Financial Services
5) Chief,
University Police Department; and
6) University
Safety Committee.
c. Recommendations for revising procedures
impacting other university departments shall be routed to those departments for
their input and consideration.
d. Building and fire systems found to be
non-compliant will be noted in the evaluation and reported to the Associate Vice
President for Facilities for repairs or the department managers for corrective
action. Departments or individuals who have caused non-compliance may be
charged for repairs or other cost of compliance.
08.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:
Position Date
Director,
Environmental Health, Safety December 1
E4Y
&
Risk Management
Associate
Vice President for Facilities December
1 E4Y
Director,
Housing and Residential Life December 1
E4Y
Director,
Office of Disability Services December
1 E4Y
Director,
University Police Department December 1
E4Y
This
UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official
capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of
this document until superseded.
Director,
Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management; senior reviewer of this
UPPS
Vice
President for Finance and Support Services
President