Fire Safety

Policy Statement

Adelphi University has long been committed to maintaining a comprehensive fire safety program for all members of the Adelphi community with the assistance of our students, faculty and staff, and through the cooperative efforts of the Garden City Fire Department, Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention. Our fire safety program has contributed to what we believe is an excellent record of safety.

Reason for Policy

Adelphi University is concerned about the safety of every individual on campus and therefore has very strict fire safety regulations. Students, faculty and staff who do not observe these regulations jeopardize the safety of others on this campus and therefore will be subject to disciplinary action and/or fines.

Who Is Governed by this Policy

Faculty, Staff and Students

Policy

At Adelphi University all residence halls have a sprinkler/standpipe system. All residence halls have a smoke detection system with automatic alerting to the fire department and Public Safety. Residence halls with burning gas also have Carbon Monoxide detection in full compliance with Amanda’s Law and the Nassau County Carbon Monoxide Law. The Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act, we provide written information on fire safety and sprinkler systems to all students residing in university residence halls.

State Law requires that hallways and stairways be completely clear at all times. This means that students cannot store anything in these areas (examples: shoes, clothes racks, boxes, furniture, and bicycles).

Fire and life safety programs must receive community-wide support in order to be effective. Cooperation from all students at fire drills, announced and unannounced, is expected.  Students who do not vacate in a timely manner are subject to disciplinary action. There are a minimum of four fire drills conducted in each of the residence halls each year.  Two drills are conducted in the evening, and two are conducted during the day. Public Safety Officers conduct the drills in conjunction with the Resident Assistants or Assistant Directors of Residence Life and Housing, when available, in each Residence Hall. The Resident Assistants or Assistant Directors of Residence Life ad Housing, when available, assist Public Safety in the evacuation process during both fire drills and actual alarms guiding students outside of the building and to aid in accounting for those occupants who have evacuated. Students are encouraged to take the opportunity of a fire drill to learn the quickest and safest ways out of the residence halls.

Escape Plans and Emergency Evacuation Procedure

In the event of a fire, remember – time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape plans help you get out of your location quickly. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a location to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames.

Procedure:

In the event of a fire, remain calm. If you must take immediate action, use your judgment as to the safest course of action, guided by the following information:

If the fire is in your residential room:

• Close the door to the room where the fire is located after leaving the room.
• Make sure EVERYONE leaves the room with you.
• Take your keys.
• Close the entrance door as you exit, but do not lock the door.
• Ensure that nearby persons are aware of the emergency. You can alert them by knocking on the doors on your way to the exit.
• Use the nearest stairway to leave the building.
• DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR
• Once you reach a safe location, call Adelphi Public Safety (516.877.3511) and 911. Do not assume the fire has been reported unless Adelphi University Public Safety and firefighters are on the scene.
• If known, notify responding emergency personnel if anyone is unaccounted for.

If the fire is not in your residential room:

• If you can safely exit your room, follow the instructions for a “fire in your room” above.
• If you cannot safely exit your room, stay inside and listen for instructions from firefighters, unless conditions become too dangerous.
• When you exit your room, first feel your room door and doorknob with the BACK OF YOUR HAND. If they do not feel hot, open the door slightly, with face and body away from the ajar door, and then check if there is any flame or smoke in the hallway. If safe to exit, follow instructions for “fire in your room” above.
• If you cannot safely exit your room or building, call Adelphi Public Safety at 516.877.3511 or “5” from any campus phone, call 911 or the Fire Department Dispatcher (516.742.3300) and inform them of your situation. Provide the address/building name, floor, room number, and the number of persons present.
• Seal the room door with wet sheets or towels. Seal air ducts and any other openings where smoke may enter.
• Open windows a few inches at the top and bottom unless flames or smoke is coming from below.
• Do not break any windows; they may need to be closed later.
• If conditions in the apartment appear life threatening, open a window and wave a bed sheet or towel side-to-side to attract the attention of firefighters.
• If smoke conditions worsen before help arrives, get down on the floor and take short breaths through your nose.
• The above procedure is effective for all residential facilities on campus.

Tips

• Always know at least two (2) escape routes and emergency exits from your building.
• Learn where the nearest fire alarm pull station is.
• Know how many doors are between your room and the exit stairwells in the event that you might have to crawl to safety because of heavy smoke. Take time to focus on a mental picture of the route you intend to use to exit your building.
• Check your door before you open it. Feel with the back of your hand, and if it feels hot to the touch, do not attempt to leave. Without delay, telephone the Department of Public Safety and Transportation by dialing #5, 3507, 3511, or 911. Remain calm and inform the answering officer of your name, location, and nature of the emergency. Next, go to the window and wait there to attract arriving firefighters.
• In the event that you are able to exit your room do the following:
  • Take an outer garment with you.
  • Close the door and windows behind you.
  • Calmly proceed to the nearest safe stairwell while knocking on all other resident doors alerting them of the emergency condition.
  • Assist anyone with special needs.
  • Use the stairs. If possible, do not take the elevator. Smoke rises into elevator shafts.
  • Stay on the right side of the stairwell as you descend in order to allow fire fighters enough room to quickly move to the emergency floor.
  • Exit the building and move 150 feet from the entrance in order to allow others to safely exit and firefighters to move freely to the emergency.
  • Re-enter the building only upon the orders of the fire department.
  • Finally, never think that it’s probably just another fire drill, or it’s not really a fire.

Fire Violations Disciplinary Actions

The University bans dangerous items from resident’s rooms such as candles, microwaves, hot plates, floor lamps, holiday decorations, and lights. Candles (including those used for religious purposes), incense, and other open flame devices are not allowed in residential buildings or classrooms. Smoking is prohibited in all areas of all University residence halls. Smoking devices including, but not limited to pipes, bongs, vapor/e-cigarettes and hookahs are not permitted in the residence halls. Students who violate the above will be referred to the Dean’s Office and may be disciplined up to and including suspension or dismissal from the University.

Students who misuse, tamper, or otherwise disturb fire safety equipment, including carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, pull stations, and fire doors, or remove batteries from detectors are subject to fines as well as the cost of restoring the equipment (see Adelphi’s Fire Violations Disciplinary Actions). These students will be referred to the Division of Student Affairs and may be dismissed or suspended from the University.

Faculty and staff who misuse, tamper, or otherwise disturb fire safety equipment, including carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, pull stations, and fire doors, or remove batteries from detectors are subject to disciplinary action.

Education and Program

Fire safety education programs for all students and staff living or working in on-campus residence halls are held at the beginning of each semester. These programs are designed to familiarize everyone with the fire safety system in each residence hall, train everyone on the procedures to be followed in case there is a fire, and distribute information on the University’s fire safety policies. During the training, Residential Life distributes a fire safety instructional brochure containing a copy of the Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act. They also discuss policies and procedures regarding electrical appliances, smoking, and open flames. During these training sessions, it is emphasized that all must participate in fire drills.

The Garden City Fire Department visits the campus to hold seminars for residence hall directors and all resident hall assistants. The training includes video presentations followed by a “smoke out” whereby a hallway is filled by “smoke” so the participants are trained on how to respond.

All are encouraged to visit the public safety Fire Safety website for more information and tips.

National Fire Prevention

The Adelphi University Department of Public Safety and Transportation would like to remind everyone that National Fire Prevention Week is usually the second week in October in which the University actively participates.

Annual observances like the National Fire Prevention Week are excellent opportunities to focus on fire hazards. But we should all practice fire safety every day – at work, at play, and particularly at your residence. The most common causes of home fires result from cooking, heating, electrical malfunction, smoking materials and candles.

Fire Log

The Department of Public Safety and Transportation also maintains a daily campus fire log in the Public Safety Command Center located in Public Safety located in Levermore Hall, suite 113. This log records incident number, date of fire, time of occurrence, general location of the fire in a residence hall, and cause if known.

The crime and fire logs are accessible for public view for the most recent 60 day period during normal business hours. The University will make available any portion of the log older than 60 days within two business days of a request for inspection.

Plans for Future Improvements

Adelphi University is committed to ensuring that all on-campus housing is fully equipped. Fire safety is continually assessed to ensure compliance with all regulatory agencies and opportunities for improvement. Plans for future improvements in fire safety, if determined necessary by the University, will be implemented with all due diligence and speed.

Definitions

Fire: Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or burning in an uncontrolled manner.

Fire Drill: A supervised and scheduled orderly evacuation of faculty, staff, students and visitors from a facility for the purpose of ensuring the safety of occupants during an actual emergency. Fire drills are conducted at various times throughout the year to provide occupants familiarization with a facility’s fire safety features and avenues of egress. In the residence halls and places of assembly fire drills are conducted a minimum of four times a year, two of which are in the evening.

Fire Log: The Department of Public Safety and Transportation maintains a daily campus fire log in the public safety command center, Levermore Hall. This log records incident number, date of fire, time of occurrence, general location of the fire in a residence hall, and cause if known. The fire log is accessible for public view for the most recent 60-day period during normal business hours. The University will make available any portion of the log older than 60 days within two business days of a request for inspection.

Fire Safety System: Any devices, systems or combinations of systems designed and intended to detect fire, activate alarms, suppress or control fires. Such systems may include smoke detectors, heat detectors, sprinklers or other similar systems.

Sprinklered Building: A building in which all parts including dwelling units, common areas, refuse chutes, and utility rooms are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.

Partially Sprinklered Building: Buildings in which only select areas are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.

Smoke Detector: A device intended to sound an alarm upon sensing products of combustion. A smoke detector may also activate a visible signal and may sound locally or transmit a signal to a central station.

Fire Protection Equipment: All Adelphi University residence hall facilities are equipped with automatic fire detection and alarm systems, and are fully covered by sprinklers. The two newest residence halls, A and B, are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors in compliance with New York State law. The equipment is monitored by public safety and a central station 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

Health and Safety Inspections: The New York State Office of Fire Prevention performs annual fire inspections of all residence halls. Residence Life conducts monthly health and safety inspections with emphasis on fire related issues (e.g. prohibited items such as hot plate burners, extension cords, electric heaters, halogen lamps, Medusa Lamps, or lamps with plastic covers, etc.).

Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in all areas of all University residence halls. Smoking devices including, but not limited to, pipes, bongs, and hookahs are not permitted in residence halls.

Open Flame: Candles, incense, outdoor grills, or any other type of open flame or open coil device are not permitted in residence halls.

Procedures

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Fire Violations Disciplinary Actions

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

Forms

This policy does not have forms associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Related Information

This policy does not have related information at this time. Upon periodic policy review this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Document History

• Policy Origination Date: Not known
• Last Reviewed Date: July 30, 2024
• Policy Reviewed by: Policy Owner and Policy Experts
• Last Approval Date: July 30, 2024

Who Approved This Policy

John Siderakis, Vice President of Administration and Executive Leadership