University Business - November 2009 - (Page 37)

Prevent to Protect Having a prepared safety team, organizing mock fire demonstrations, and using camera monitoring systems with fire detection are three key ways that college and university campuses can prevent and be ready to respond to fire, as those at Union College (N.Y.) (far left), Georgia Tech (middle), and Kansas City Kansas Community College (right) know. prevention, says Michael Halligan, associate director of environmental health and safety and fire marshal at the University of Utah. Talks there have covered subjects such as leaving rooms when an alarm sounds, not leaving a stove unattended, and keeping stairwells clear of debris. “Instead of telling them what they should and shouldn’t do, we use words to hopefully get them to see it from their perspective,” Halligan adds. “It’s important for them to take their own actions to prevent fires from happening.” Gettysburg College (Pa.) officials take what David Taylor, associate director of the Department of Public Safety, refers to as a “360degree fire prevention program.” Students see fire-related messages on pizza boxes, can win prizes by finding a hidden message in posters within residence halls, and are invited to a fire safety theme night. “We concentrate hard on first-year students,” says Taylor, noting that they tend to not be used to fire alarms and sprinkler systems or realize what’s expected of them in a residential setting. Detecting a Cause for Alarm On the facilities front, institutions are increasing coverage of sprinkler systems in residence halls and installing newer alarm systems capable of reporting specifically on which device has been activated. “Having the latest fire detection and alarm systems is vastly important to ensuring people are provided the best early notification universitybusiness.com and warning, thereby significantly improving their chances of escape and survival,” says Martin. NFPA code now requires that emergency communications systems that would be used in fires include mass notification. It provides standards for the design and installation of mass emergency communications systems incorporated for use with fire alarm systems in any type of occupied building. Union College (N.Y.) is in the process of putting into place a new campuswide fire/life safety system with a prerecorded voice direction system, which will help occupants safely exit in a fire or other emergency. The college’s prior system could not provide advanced detection or pinpoint the location of an alarm, says Life Safety Officer Michael Hilton. It also used copper wiring, which, after being exposed to lightning, caused system troubles, false alarms, and monetary damages. A 15-year plan to upgrade the fire safety systems in all residential, academic, and administrative buildings was launched in 1999. Hilton selected Honeywell’s Notifier, a networked system of fire alarm control panels supplied by Alarm & Suppression. “It gives us the ability to provide multiple detection points and advance warning systems for our students, staff, and visitors,” says Hilton. When an alarm sounds, the system notifies public safety, and officers can view a graphic that shows the room where the detection device was triggered and even which part of the device set off the alarm. November/December 2009 | 37 http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - November 2009

University Business - November 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Money Matters
Human Resources
35 Smart Building Ideas
Campus Fires: Prevent to Protect
Pushing ADA Beyond the Limits
Internet Technology
End Note

University Business - November 2009