UAHuntsville Fire Safety

EMERGENCY EGRESS PROCEDURES

If you discover fire, smoke, or hear the fire alarm:

1. Leave the building immediately via the stairs. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS.
2. As you leave close all doors, including those propped open.
3. On your way out, you will pass a fire alarm pull station. If the alarm is not already ringing, PULL IT.
4. Once outside, get away from the building.
5. The Building Emergency Supervisor should call the University Police Department and report the details of the fire: 824-6911 or 9-1-1
6. Remain outside the building until the "ALL CLEAR" is given by the Huntsville Fire Department or the University Police Department.
7. Silencing of the alarms does not constitute an "ALL CLEAR."

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FOR MOBILITY IMPAIRED PERSONS

If a person with a mobility impairment is able to exit the building without use of the elevator, then evacuation should follow the appropriate route out of the building. If exit from the building is only possible by use of the elevator, follow the procedures outlined below:

1. The mobility-impaired person should proceed to the nearest enclosed stairwell or "area of safe refuge" and remain there.
2. In case of a fire, enclosed building stairwells are "safe refuge areas," and have a higher fire resistive rating. If possible a co-worker, supervisor, instructor, or building emergency supervisor should be notified. Make sure the door to the stairwell is closed. Open doors will violate the "safe refuge area" and will allow smoke, and possibly fire, into the stairwell.
3. Once outside, the co-worker, supervisor, instructor, or building monitor should inform the Huntsville Fire Department or University Police Department that there is a mobility-impaired person in a stairwell, which floor the person is on and location of the stairwell or refuge area.
4. When stairwell evacuations are necessitated, such decisions and evacuations will be made by Huntsville Fire Department. UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL SHOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO CARRY ANYONE DOWN THE STAIRS.
5. After the "ALL CLEAR" has been given by Huntsville Fire Department or University Police, the co-worker, supervisor, instructor, or building emergency supervisor should immediately go to the stairwell or refuge area and inform the person that it is safe to re-occupy the building.

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FIRE SAFETY INSPECTIONS

The local Fire Marshal inspects all of the buildings that belong to the University of Alabama in Huntsville on a regular basis to assure compliance with fire codes. All new construction requiring a permit is inspected by the local Fire Marshal. Major renovations and new construction require the approval of the Alabama Building Commission before construction can begin. The local fire marshal can be reached at (256) 427-5150.

Fire safety inspections and emergency egress inspections are conducted routinely by the Campus Safety Specialist. The form used during this inspection can be acccessed by following this link: fire safety inspection form.

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FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

Almost every building on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville has a fire alarm system. A fire alarm system consists of the following components:

1. Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)
2. Initiation Devices (Smoke Detectors, Heat Detectors, Pull Stations, etc.)
3. Notification Devices (Bells, Horns, Strobes, etc.)

When an initiation device is activated, the FACP switches on the notification devices to alert the building occupants. All of the fire alarm panels on the campus are part of a large computer network. The network controller is located in the Physical Plant Building and is monitored 24 hours a day by Facilities and Operations personnel. When an alarm occurs in a university building, the network controller is notified within 3 seconds. The system at the University Police Department will print out the name of the building along with other pertinent information about the location of the alarm. The University Police Department then notifies the Huntsville Fire Department. The Huntsville Fire Department has a response time of 4 to 6 minutes. The Facilities and Operations Department assures that the responding fire fighters get to the correct building in a timely manner.

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STANDPIPE SYSTEMS & FIRE SPRINKLERS

A standpipe sytem is an arrangement of piping, valves, hose connections and other associated equipment. The hoses are arranged in a way that allows water to be discharged in a stream or spray pattern for the purpose of extinguishing a fire. Most standpipe system points of discharge are located adjacent to or on stairway landings.  Huntsville Fire Department utilizes their own hoses when standpipe system use is necessary.

Sprinklers are distributed throughout a building in a manner dictated by the fire codes. The sprinklers are connected to a system of pipes filled with high pressure water. Sprinklers are rated at specific temperatures. When the heat of a fire reaches the operating temperature of the sprinkler, the heat destroys a heat sensitive device on the sprinkler, allowing the water to escape. The pressurized water then sprays directly over the heat source. Sprinkler systems communicate with the fire alarm system with a device called a flow switch. When water flows through sprinkler pipes, it is usually because a sprinkler has been activated. The flow switch senses the water flowing through the pipe and activates the fire alarm system. NFPA regulations require that sprinkler systems be tested annually. Facilities and Operations maintain the contracts for inspection, testing and maintenance of the Universities sprinkler and standpipe systems.

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PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10 establishes the criteria for portable fire extinguishers. NFPA categorizes fires into the following categories:

• Class A – Fires in materials such as paper, wood, cloth and certain plastics.
• Class B – Fires in flammable liquids and flammable gases.
• Class C – Fires that involve energized electrical equipment.
• Class D – Fires in combustible metals such as magnesium and titanium.
• Class K – Fires in cooking appliances that use large quantities of combustible cooking oils.

There are five basic types of portable fire extinguishers. Each is designed to extinguish a specific type of fire:  A, B, C, D or K. The type of fire that an extinguisher is designed to suppress is listed on the label of the extinguisher. Newer fire extinguishers have pictures on their labels that show what kinds of fires they are effective on. Many extinguishers have multiclass ratings. An extinguisher rated ABC is designed to suppress A, B, and C fires. Besides the alphabetical rating, Class A and Class B portable fire extinguishers also have a numerical rating. This numerical rating describes the extinguishing potential of a given size extinguisher.

Most of the portable fire extinguishers found on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville are rated ABC and contain a dry chemical fire extinguishing agent. Some of the laboratories on campus have extinguishers rated BC and may contain carbon dioxide as the extinguishing agent. Carbon dioxide extinguishers can be identified because they do not have a pressure gauge indicator on the handle.

Using Portable Fire Extinguishers
When should you attempt to fight a fire with a portable fire extinguisher?

• If you are trained
• If you are capable
• If you are willing
• If a fully charged fire extinguisher is available
• If the fire has already been reported
• If you can fight the fire safely
• If you have a clear exit path behind you

Fighting a fire with a portable fire extinguisher is NOT in the job description of most employees at the University. If you choose to fight a fire with a portable fire extinguisher, remember the following steps:

1. Call 911 or activate a pull station
2. Grab the fire extinguisher - if it is in a cabinet with a glass window, use a heavy object to break the glass, DO NOT USE YOUR BARE HAND.
3. Use the P.A.S.S. method:
   • P - Pull the pin on the extinguisher handle
   • A - Aim the nozzle towards the base of the flame
   • S - Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguishing agent
   • S - Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire

The Office of Environmental Health & Safety provides training to employees on the use of portable fire extinguishers. Contact the OEHS at 824-2352 for more information.

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SPACE HEATERS

The use of space heaters introduces a strong fire safety concern. No personal space heaters are allowed in campus buildings. If an area needs temporary supplemental heat, UAH Facilities will issue and install. All space heaters issued by Facilities must meet safety requirements as classified by the National Fire Protection Association. All space heaters must meet the following specifications:

• be UL approved
• must be electrically powered (fuel powered heaters are not permitted)
• must be fan driven
• have elements that are protected from contact
• be tilt-proof (when tipped over, heater goes off)
• be thermostat-controlled

The University of Alabama in Huntsville recognizes that individuals have different levels of comfort associated with temperature and heat. The use of Facilities approved and issued electric space heaters as a temporary measure is permitted in limited applications. Heaters may not be used in areas where flammable liquids are in use or storage. Space heaters are NOT allowed in Residence Halls.

Approved space heaters may be used only if the following conditions are met:

1. The heater may only be located on the floor. Heaters located on filing cabinets, tables, desks or equipment are more susceptible to being knocked over, resulting in accidents or fires.
2. Never place anything on top of a space heater.
3. At least 3 feet of clearance must be maintained around the heater at all times. Combustible materials like paper, plastic, and cloth must be kept away from the heater.
4. Electric cords must be kept out of foot traffic paths to prevent tripping.
5. Electric extension cords and power strips are not allowed. Heaters must be plugged directly into a wall receptacle.
6. The heater must be unplugged (not just turned off) any time the room or area being heated is unoccupied, especially at the end of the workday.

Facilities and Operations reserves the right to approve or reject any space heater request where that heater may create a hazard or is inappropriate to a particular location based on specific circumstances and/or fire safety code requirements.

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