SMfire emergencies

FIRE AND EVACUATION POLICY/
SHELTER-IN-PLACE PROCEDURES

1. Fire Emergencies
2. Suggested Designated Areas
3. Shelter-in-Place Procedures
4. Fire Wardens
5. Fire Prevention (Smoking, Candles, Decorations, Storage)
6. Evacuation Procedures for Disabled Individuals

FIRE EMERGENCIES

If it is a very small contained fire, alert the people in the area and activate the alarm.

Call or designate someone nearby to call the Fire Department, 911 and notify University Public Safety (215-596-7000).

Smother the fire or use the fire control equipment in your area to put out the fire, if you can do so without endangering yourself, and only if you have received fire extinguisher training.

If there is a larger fire, remember R.A.C.E.:

Rescue	-	Remove people from immediate danger. (Alert people and protect yourself)

Alarm	-	Pull the nearest alarm. From a safe location, call 911 and/or call University Public Safety (X7000 or use emergency call boxes).

Confine	-	Close all doors. Smoke can only be contained if drafts are removed and all fire doors kept closed. Prevent smoke and fire from entering exit pathways. Never wedge or prop open a fire door.(i.e., at stairwells, exits, across hallways)

Exit	-	Exit or evacuate the building. Do not use elevators.

If possible, shut down equipment in the immediate area.

IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS THE PERSON WHO NOTIFIED OR GENERATED A NOTIFICATION TO USP PUBLIC SAFETY OR FIRE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL (FIRE DEPARTMENT). RELAY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED INCLUDING SPECIAL HAZARD INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY KNOW.

If the fire alarms are ringing in your building:

evacuate the building via the nearest exit.
move away from the building to a pre-determined designated area. (Remain at a safe distance, away from the building.)

Faculty, supervisors, managers, heads of departments shall inform their employees and students of their designated area in advance of a fire emergency or drill.

If you are a supervisor, account for your employees and report any missing persons to the fire emergency personnel at the scene. Assist fire emergency personnel as may be requested.

The fire alarms may not be silenced or reset until directed to do so by fire emergency personnel. DO NOT RE-ENTER THE BUILDING UNTIL DIRECTED TO DO SO BY UNIVERSITY PUBLIC SAFETY OR FIRE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.

Suggested Designated Areas for Evacuation:

	Alfred J. D'Angelo Mall or 43rd Street near Griffith Hall for: McNeil Research Center, Rosenberger Hall and Whitecar Hall.

	Alfred J. D'Angelo Mall or 42nd Street near East Building for: Pharmacology/Toxicology Center.

	Alfred J. D'Angelo Mall or 43rd Street near Rosenberger Hall for: Griffith Hall.
	Woodland Avenue between crosswalk and 43rd Street for: Kline Hall and Alumni Hall/Gymnasium..

	42nd Street near Pharmacology/Toxicology Center for: East Building.
	42nd Street and Woodland Avenue, near the J. W. England Library for: 4140 Woodland Avenue Building.

	Quad or Parking Lot behind Wilson and Goodman Halls for: Residence Halls - Wilson Hall Student Center and Goodman Hall.

	43rd Street near loop road for: 4500 Woodland Avenue Building and Glasser Hall.
	Across 42nd Street or rear parking lot for: Residence Hall - Osol Hall.
	Parking Lot behind Wilson and Goodman Halls for: Athletic Recreation Center and the McNeil Science and Technology Center.
	ARC Parking Lot for: Central Utility Plant.

SHELTER-IN-PLACE (Reverse Evacuation)

When directed by local authorities (KYW AM 1060), or notified through the Department of Public Safety's Emergency Notification System (ENS) network which utilizes e-mail, text messaging, the wide-area emergency broadcast system (WEBS), an internal phone system, video display systems, the campus TV cable network or website, or if the community alert siren system sounds in an emergency,

Go inside or stay inside the building. If you are outside, cover your nose and mouth and find shelter as soon as possible.
Do not leave the building until the emergency is over.
Shut all windows and doors as soon as possible. (Lock windows if it will provide a tighter seal.)
Turn off air intake systems, if possible. (e.g., heating and air conditioning units in your area that bring in outside air)
In laboratories, stop work and close, cover, contain and secure the materials you are using. Completely close the sash of fume hoods.
Go to recommended shelter areas listed below or another appropriate area. (Interior corridors or rooms and areas with as few operable windows and doors, as possible. Also, locations should be near restrooms for access to drinking and lavatory facilities.) See suggested predetermined designated areas.
Monitor for additional information or for notification that the emergency has ended through the Department of Public Safety's Emergency Notification System (ENS) network or listen on KYW AM radio 1060 or www.kyw1060.com. The siren will not sound to indicate that an emergency has ended. KYW is the City's official emergency station.
When notified that the emergency is over, Fire Wardens and University Public Safety will help direct occupants outdoors until building air-handling systems are operated to remove any contaminants. (Help open operable windows and doors.)

Siren Tests:

The Community Alert Siren System will be tested during the 1st Saturday of every month at noon and the test siren will sound for approximately 30 seconds. The test sirens should be ignored. In the event of a real emergency, the siren will sound continuously for 3 minutes.

	Suggested Designated Areas for Sheltering-in-Place:

	Alexandria Building - stay in suites, but move to the living room area
	Alumni Hall - 1st Floor Corridor
	Athletic Recreation Center - All floor levels move to the 1st floor weight room area
	Central Utility Plant - Office room #105
	East Building - All floor levels move to the 2nd floor, room #200 or 2nd floor interior corridors and offices
	Glasser Hall/4500 Woodland Avenue Building - All floor levels move to the 4500 Woodland Avenue Building, room #107 and room #110 and nearby corridors
	Goodman Hall - 2nd floor, 3rd floor and 4th floor corridors
	Griffith Hall - GH-A, GH-C, 2nd floor center corridor, 3rd floor center corridor
	Kline Hall - 2nd floor (top level) lobby area and corridors, or 1st floor corridors
	Library - All floor levels move to the 2nd floor of the library
	McNeil Research Center- All floor levels move to the Pharmacology/Toxicology Building 2nd floor lobby area and 2nd floor corridors
	McNeil Science & Technology Center - All floor levels move to the 1st floor auditorium or the 1st floor south corridor
	Osol Hall - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th floor lobby areas
	Pharmacology/Toxicology Center - All floor levels move to the 2nd floor lobby area and 2nd floor corridors
	Rosenberger Hall - Conference room #100, room #101, room #102 and nearby corridor
	Whitecar Hall - All floor levels move to the 2nd floor, conference room #207 and corridor
	Wilson Hall - 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor corridors
	4140 Woodland Avenue Building - stay in interior offices and conference rooms or interior corridors
	4140 Woodland Avenue Warehouse - interior offices or rooms
	4100 Chester Avenue Building - stay in individual offices

FIRE WARDENS

Purpose

The fundamental purpose of a Fire Warden is to direct the safe and orderly evacuation of the building in the case of a fire alarm, evacuation or other emergency. The concern of Fire Wardens is for individual safety and not the protection or salvage of property.

Authority

Fire Wardens are charged with carrying out University policies regarding evacuations and other emergencies. Fire Wardens wear red jackets for recognition and as symbols of their authority.

Duties

1.	The primary duty of a Fire Warden is to direct the safe and orderly evacuation of people in their assigned areas of the building. In addition, to assist University Public Safety with moving the occupants to a safe area. (Away from the building) DO NOT put yourself in danger by waiting to ensure everyone evacuates.

2.	It is the duty of a Fire Warden to regard a fire alarm as a potential fire emergency. Fire Wardens should not take the time to ascertain whether the alarm represents a false alarm or a bona fide emergency situation.

3.	Fire Wardens should ensure that doors in their area are closed on their way out. This will eliminate drafts and provide for containment of deadly smoke, gases and fire in the event of a fire emergency.

4.	As a Fire Warden, report individuals who are not evacuating to the responding University Public Safety Officer.

5.	Fire Wardens should help the University Public Safety Officers and responding emergency officials keep employees and students from re-entering the building until the "all clear" is given. (Even if the bells have stopped ringing) Responding fire department personnel or University Public Safety, with the fire department's permission, will give the "all clear".
6.	If you can safely do so, Fire Wardens are requested to assist a person with physical disabilities. See Evacuation Procedures for Disabled Individuals.

Shelter-in-Place Duties

When requested to Shelter-in-Place, or when the community alert siren system sounds in an emergency, Fire Wardens should help direct people to the building's inside Shelter-in-Place recommended area(s) or to an interior corridor, classroom or office. Ensure that all windows and doors are closed. When a Shelter-in-Place emergency is over, Fire Wardens should help University Public Safety direct people outside and open operable windows and doors.

FIRE PREVENTION

SMOKING:

Due to the accumulating evidence that smoking increases the risk of cancer and other health hazards and the passing of Philadelphia's Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law, employees are prohibited from smoking in all campus buildings and in all University-owned vehicles. Smoking is also prohibited within 20 feet of any building entrance. Please remember to dispose of all ashes and discarded cigarettes properly.

CANDLES:

Lighted candles, incense and potpourri are prohibited in all University buildings. Candles or small heating sources (i.e., alcohol burning devices) may be used for catered events when securely fixed on substantial non-combustible bases and in spill-proof containers. Candles must be so located as to avoid the danger of igniting combustible materials.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS:

All decorations shall be fire resistant.
Live trees are not permitted in University buildings. Artificial trees must be flame resistant.
Electric lights and decorations must be approved by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or a similar standard. These must be unplugged when the area is unoccupied.
Lights will not be used in combination with combustible materials. (such as dried flowers, wreaths and so forth)
Decorations should not hang from or obstruct fire detectors, fire alarm pull stations, exit signs, emergency lights, fire extinguishers, fire signals/strobe lights, sprinklers or any emergency equipment.
Decorations shall be of a manner as to provide safe accessibility and unobstructed view in or around passageways.

STORAGE ON CAMPUS:

No storage of any type is allowed in exitways. Stairwells and exits must be clear at all times.
Storage must not obstruct emergency, fire or electrical equipment. (such as fire detectors, fire alarm pull stations, exit signs, emergency lights, fire extinguishers, fire signals/strobe lights, sprinklers, electrical panels, safety showers and eyewashes, etc.)
Combustible materials, or flammable or combustible liquids are prohibited in mechanical rooms. Keep other items away from heat producing appliances.

Combustible materials are those capable of burning and igniting when exposed to heat, sparks, or flames. (such as paper, wood, cardboard, furniture, cloth, plastic, etc.)

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia • 600 South Forty-third Street • Philadelphia, PA 19104-4495 • phone: 215-596-8800 • email: safety@usip.edu