Department of University Safety

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Fire Safety

• Department of University Safety Assurances
• www.safety.uwm.edu

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Topics of Discussion

• Fire Alarm Systems and Procedures
• Fire Preparedness
• Definitions Fire Triangle, Flashpoint,
  Flammable and Combustible
• Classes of Fires
• Fire Extinguishers Types and Use
• Fire Hazards
• Fire Inspections
• Whats Wrong In This Picture?

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Fire Alarms

• All university buildings are equipped with fire
  alarms that sound an audible tone.
• Some buildings have strobe flashers for the
  hearing impaired.
• Building fire alarms are tested on a regular
  schedule

Link to Fire Alarm Test Schedule http//www.uwm.e
du/Dept/EHSRM/FIRE/alarm.html
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In the Event of a Fire

• Alert persons in area of fire
• Close door(s) behind you.
• Activate fire alarm.
• Evacuate through nearest safe exit.

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UWM Fire Alarm Procedures

• Fire alarm means "EVACUATE!
• Alert persons in area Direct away from danger
• Close doors to confine.
• Activate the fire alarm.
• Call UNIVERSITY POLICE from safe location.
• Dial 9-911.
• Evacuate through nearest safe exit.
• Do not use elevators.
• Move away from building.
• Do not re-enter until Fire Department or
  University Police announce "All Clear."

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Instructions for Anyone Confined by Smoke or Fire

• If you notice an increase in room temperature or
  a strong smell of smoke in your area
• CAREFULLY FEEL THE DOOR USING THE BACK OF YOUR
  HAND. If the door is hot, do not attempt to open
  it. If you feel no heat, then
• PARTIALLY OPEN THE DOOR WHILE STANDING BEHIND IT
  FOR PROTECTION. Survey the existing conditions
  before exiting, if your passage is blocked, then
  
• Close the door and use any available material
  (towels, shirt, blouse, etc.) to seal threshold
  openings. If a water source is available, soak
  materials before packing them into place. If you
  are in an older building equipped with transoms
  above the doors, make certain that these are
  closed.
• Use the room phone to contact University Police
  (x9911) to let them know your exact location. If
  no telephone is available, signal your location
  by waving a cloth or similar material from the
  window.

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Instructions for Anyone Confined by Smoke or Fire
(continued)

• 5. ONLY IF SMOKE BEGINS TO ENTER YOUR AREA,
  should you partially open a window and stay near
  it, keeping low and breathing the fresher air
  from outside.
• 6. If you are in a building that does not have
  windows that can be opened and smoke begins to
  enter, it may become necessary to break a window
  to obtain needed oxygen. This must be done only
  as a last resort and with extreme care, by
  keeping out of the direct path formed between the
  window to be broken and the doorway or opening
  through which smoke is entering. The glass pane
  must be broken low, to provide easy access to
  outside air. This can be done by throwing a heavy
  object at the lower pane, while standing out of
  the direct path formed between the window and
  doorway or opening.

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Emergency Evacuation Floorplans

• Emergency Evacuation Floorplans are posted in all
  of the campus buildings.
• It is important that you familiarize yourself
  with the evacuation plans for the building in
  which you work and those buildings you frequent.

Link to Emergency Evacuation Floorplans
http//www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/EMERGENCY/Evacuation
_Floorplans.html
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Reporting Fire

• Dial 9-911 from campus phone or 229-9911 from
  cell phone or use one of the Emergency Safe
  phones to contact University Police
• Remain calm
• Let police ask the questions
• Give thorough explanations
• Let the police hang up first

• If calling from Great Lakes Water Institute, only
  dial 911.

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Emergency Safe Phones

• Outdoor emergency phones boxes are located across
  campus

• To use, open door to box and hold red button
  until call is answered. (This activates the 911
  system, which indicates phone's location at
  campus police station.) Release button and
  convey information to police dispatcher.

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Requesting Emergency Assistance from a Cell Phone

• Dial 229-9911
• You will be contacting the University Police who
  will summon other emergency responders as needed
• Provide specific location and nature of emergency

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Your Personal Safety Plan

• Identify Emergency Exits.
• All designated exits are clearly marked..

• Participate in fire drills. Fire drills are
  conducted to familiarize you with the sound of
  building's fire alarm, emergency exits not
  normally used, and procedures for calling UWM
  Police

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Fire Drills

• Fire drills ensure the efficient and safe use of
  the exit facilities available in the case of an
  emergency.
• Proper drills ensure orderly exit under control
  and prevent the panic that has been responsible
  for much of the loss of life in major fire
  disasters

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Definitions Fire Triangle

• To burn a fire needs fuel, an ignition source
  (like a spark) and oxygen.
• Remove any of these and the fire will go out

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Definition Flashpoint

• Flashpoint is the temperature at which a liquid
  gives off sufficient vapor to ignite if an
  ignition source is present.
• Typically the lower the flash point, the greater
  the fire hazard. Any substance with a flashpoint
  near or below room temperature should be handled
  as posing a real fire hazard.

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Definitions Flammable and Combustible

• Combustible liquids have flashpoints above 100
  degrees F.
• Flammable liquids have flashpoints below 100
  degrees F.

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Classes of Fires
Ordinary Combustibles paper, cloth, upholstery,
trash, most plastic, wood...
Flammable liquids, gases and greases kerosene,
oil, paint, cleaning fluids, cooking oil...
Energized electrical components appliances,
wiring...
Combustible metals potassium, magnesium...
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Do Not Attempt to Fight a Fire Unless

• You have had recent hands-on training with fire
  extinguishers fire is only in incipient stage
• You have the correct extinguisher for the type of
  fire
• You are absolutely sure you can put the fire out,
  AND
• You will not endanger yourself or others by not
  leaving

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PASS Method

• P Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with
  nozzle pointing away from you and release the
  locking mechanism
• A Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base
  of the fire
• S Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly
• S Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

(Other types require slightly different
techniques.)
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Fire Extinguisher Training

• Take fire extinguisher training sponsored by
  University Safety Assurances
• Never attempt to fight fire unless you have
  complete confidence you can put it out

Link to Registration for Fire Extinguisher
Training http//www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/FIRE/train
ing3.html
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Fire Hazards Electrical Abuse

• Electrical "octopuses" can overload circuits and
  result in fire.
• Never leave unattended hotplates, coffee
  makers, irons, space heaters, etc.
• Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture.

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Fire Hazards Electrical Abuse

• Use only 15 amp fused power strips.
• Replace damaged wires and outlets immediately
• Match appliance power requirements to circuit
  power.
• Size of extension cord should match appliance
  power cord to prevent overheating.

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Fire Hazards Electrical Abuse

• Extension cords are not intended for "permanent"
  installations -- appliances shall be connected to
  permanently wired receptacles.
• Storage of combustibles in mechanical/electrical
  service closets is prohibited.

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Fire Doors

• Never prop open fire doors with wedges or other
  objects.
• The purpose of these doors is to prevent smoke
  and heat from traveling up stairwells and along
  corridors.

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Fire Inspections

• Milwaukee Fire Department conducts annual
  inspections of each building on the UWM campus,
  making note of fire code violations

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Fire Hazards

• Blocked electrical panels are a frequent
  violation
• There should be a 3 clearance around all
  electrical panels

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Monthly Inspections

• Facility Services inspects fire extinguishers on
  a monthly basis
• If you come across an extinguisher that has not
  been checked recently, please notify the
  custodial supervisor in your building or Facility
  Services

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Blocked Fire Doors

• Storage is not permitted in hallways and in front
  of fire doors

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Storage in Stairwells

• Storage in stairwells and on stairwell landings
  is prohibited.

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Egress Issues

• Any obstruction, material or trash that could
  hamper easy exits from aisles, hallways and
  stairwells should be immediately removed

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Fire Inspections

• Common fire safety violations can be found at
• http//www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/FIRE/checklist.html