Fire safety and fire checks
As we transition into spring, it is important to make sure that our dorms do not contain any fire hazards as fire safety checks begin. The last thing you want is to get fined for a fire hazard that can be easily avoided. With fire inspections starting on Apr. 18, let’s go over the five most common fire violations.
Hanging combustibles. If you have posters on your walls, you should make sure that they are two feet below the ceiling. This goes for anything that is made of paper, cardboard, wood, cloth, or plastic material. There should be nothing hanging from or within two feet of the ceiling. This is because if a fire starts in your room, the heat and smoke will rise and combustibles near your ceiling can catch fire. Make sure to move these items or take them down before RA’s come check rooms.
The next on SUNY Geneseo’s list is tapestries. We all love a good tapestry, but unfortunately, they are not allowed in dorm rooms. If one of these catches on fire, it can easily spread throughout the room.
Also on our list is extension cords. They make our lives easier but can be a dangerous fire hazard. Regular extension cords are allowed only for temporary use—SUNY Geneseo describes “temporary use” as a class period or about two hours. You can, however, use power strips or cords with surge protectors. These can stay permanently but must be plugged into a wall.
It is important when using power strips and extension cords that you do not overload the strips with too many appliances. If you have too many items plugged in a fire is more likely to spark. Also make sure to not secure strips down with tape, tie-downs or anything else for that matter. Just let those strips live free, and remember, put those extension cords away if they aren’t surge protected or a power strip.
Next is combustible material storage. This is essentially any materials that are easily combustible, like paper, cardboard, wood, or anything that would catch on fire. You should make sure these materials are away from electrical outlets, lights, heaters, and anything else that can cause a fire.
Lastly, we have blocked exits. In case of a fire, you want to make sure that you can easily leave your room or building. If items are blocking the exit, this may be detrimental to your safety. Make sure that you leave these exits free of items such as shoes, furniture, books, etc. The doors must be free of chains or other ties that could impede its ability to open.
These are the most common fire violations that SUNY Geneseo sees when they conduct their fire inspections, so save yourself a fine and a potential fire and make sure your room is fire-safe. If you aren’t sure if something is a fire hazard, go and ask your RA—they are there to help you and will be able to tell you if you are in the clear or not. Stay safe!