UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MARTIN
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT ON
STUDENT HOUSING FACILITIES FOR 2009

Overview

            The Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) became law in August, 2008, requiring all United States academic institutions to produce an annual fire safety report outlining fire safety practices, standards, and all reportable fire-related on-campus statistics. The following public disclosure report details all information required by this law as it relates to the University of Tennessee at Martin. UT Martin satellite campuses are not included in this report in that they provide no on-campus student housing facilities.

            For reporting purposes, the following definition applies:

            Fire: Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner.

On-Campus Housing Facilities Occupancy Rates as of Fall 2009

            Browning Hall -467
            Ellington Hall – 469
            Cooper Hall – 285
            University Village Phase I – 389
            University Village Phase II – 370
            Grove Apartments – 102
            University Courts – 194          

            Total on campus occupancy as of Fall 2009– 2,276

General Statement of University Owned/Controlled Student Housing Facilities

  The University Village on-campus residence facilities are equipped with wet and dry sprinkler systems that have flow and tamper switches and are monitored by a fire alarm panel and addressable fire alarm systems that are monitored by an alarm company. Ellington and Cooper Halls have no sprinkler systems, but have addressable fire alarm systems that are monitored by an alarm company. Browning Hall has a non-addressable fire-alarm system that is not monitored, only local alarm and no sprinkler system. University Courts and Grove Apartments have no fire alarm or sprinkler systems.

  There are fire extinguishers strategically located in all facilities on campus for immediate access if needed.

Fire Safety Plans

            If a fire is discovered in any University building, members of the University are encouraged to activate the fire alarm system and call 911.The fire alarm system is a continuous audible alarm. In case the fire alarm system is activated, each member should leave the building as quickly as possible, using available stairwells and the most direct escape route. Each member should leave their room and lock doors upon exiting. Members should walk quietly and quickly out of the building to the designated area which is far enough away from the building to be out of danger. Members are encouraged to verbally sound the alarm to anyone who may not be aware of the situation as they exit. Escape routes are posted throughout the facilities and members are made aware of them during training sessions and fire drills.

How to Report a Fire/Emergency Telephone Numbers

            Call 911 and/or 731-881-7777 (Campus Police)

            If a burning odor or smoke is present, call 911 immediately.  Report the exact location of the emergency and if known, what is involved. If there is a large amount of smoke and/or an actual fire, activate the building fire alarm system.

Fire Safety Procedures

The act of maliciously discharging/tampering with a fire extinguisher, lighting a fire, or misuse or tampering with the alarm/sprinkler/fire safety system endangers lives and will be considered a serious infraction that will subject the perpetrator to both criminal and/or University Administrative sanctions, up to and including arrest and/or dismissal from the University.

A. Actions to Take in the Event of a Fire

• Call 911 immediately
• If you can help control the fire without personal danger, take action with available firefighting equipment.  If not, leave the area immediately.
• If the building audible fire alarm has not been activated automatically, do so by using a pull station alarm.
• Never allow the fire to come between you and an exit.
• Remove all persons from the danger area.  If possible, close the door behind you as you exit to contain the fire.

B.  Response to Audible Fire Alarms

• Evacuate the building immediately.
• Do not use elevators.
• If requested, accompany and assist persons with disabilities who appear to need assistance, either by personally helping them or notifying responders of their location.
• Close and lock room doors as you exit to contain the fire.
• Exit the building by the most direct route and proceed far enough from the building to be out of danger and so as not to interfere with emergency responders.
• Return to the building only when instructed to do so by police or fire department officials.

UTM Housing policies on fire-related Items

Illegal Items

•  Illegal Multi-plugs/Extension Cords- All multi-plug units are required by Housing to have a surge protector.  No extension cords are allowed.
• Open Flames- Candles are allowed in the residential life facilities for decoration purposes only.  Wicks must be removed from all candles. 
•  Incense is not allowed.
• Open Coil Appliances- Hot plates, toaster ovens, and other appliances with an open coil burner are not allowed in Browning, Ellington, and Cooper Halls.  University Village A-E and F-H residents are allowed to have these items.
•  Halogen Lamps
•  Crock Pots (Allowed in University Village A-E / F-H)
•  Scented Plug-in air freshener (battery operated ones are ok)
• BBQ Grills - are not permitted inside any of the residence halls, on any balcony of University Village or inside the courtyard of Cooper Hall.
• Smoking- is not permitted in on campus housing facilities.  Smoking is only permitted outside and 25 feet away from the building and any entrances/exits from the building.
• Fireworks-Fireworks are not allowed on campus unless utilized during an approved and sanctioned University event.

Fire Safety Training

Fire Drills

            Approximately one week out of each month is designated “Fire Drill Week” for the Office of Housing. Ellington Hall, Browning Hall, Cooper Hall, and University Village Phase 2 participate in the fire drill week. Hall Directors will notify Public Safety prior to the Fire Drill to inform them that the following alarm is, in fact, a drill. Once the pull station has been activated the RA’s currently in the building will meet at the designated areas to retrieve building keys and begin an orderly evacuation of the building. Once all residents are safely outside of the building and a staff member is stationed at each exit, the Hall Director will silence the alarm and give the all clear for residents to return to their rooms.

            University Village Phase 1 conducts fire drills on a per semester basis. They are done according to the same policy as described above for the other residential facilities.

            There were 34 combined planned fire drills in the housing facilities in 2009.

Fire Training with Residence Life Staff

            Fall 2009 staff training was conducted in August, 2009.  During the fall training time we dedicate one full day to fire related training activities. Included in this training is:

• A review of all fire evacuation policies for each hall
• A review of each residence hall's fire alarm system operation
• A review of all illegal appliances on campus
• A review of how to utilize room checks to find life safety issues and how to respond to them
• Training time with Martin Fire Department that includes:
• A training seminar on fire causes and safety
• Real life training on extinguishing fires utilizing the PASS system with fire extinguishers
• Residence Hall fire simulation in which RA’s are placed in a residence hall and fake smoke is pumped into the building. All staff must learn how to safely exit a building and evacuate under these circumstances.

The residence life staff also meets for a campus wide-meeting every month to review training topics and to discuss events for the next month. We always set aside one of these meetings to recap fire safety protocols.

There is also an abbreviated training session in the spring semesters that conducts a review of all procedures including those related to fire safety.

Fire Education of Residents

All residents are required to meet with the hall staff by the first day of school. Among the topics discussed are fire evacuation procedures and a discussion of what items are not allowed in the residence halls.

In fall 2008 the Office of Housing had an issue with an increased amount of false alarms in University Village Phase 2 related to over cooking items in a microwave or other miscellaneous reasons. We conducted a mandatory meeting with all residents in which we discussed proper ways to cook, extinguish possible grease fires and taught the residents how to utilize the PASS system in extinguishing fires. Handouts were also given to all residents with useful fire safety information for the residence halls.

Room Checks

            Approximately once a month The Office of Housing conducts “Room Checks” for Ellington Hall, Browning Hall, Cooper Hall, University Village Phase 1, and University Village Phase 2. The Resident Assistants are to inspect each room in each hall and look for violations in safety and Housing guidelines. For safety purposes the RA’s look for illegal multi-plugs, candles with wicks, illegal appliances (those with an open glowing coil), and oil-based scented plug-ins. If found the residents are given 5 days to remove the items in question: otherwise they are confiscated by the Office of Housing and turned in to the Safety Office.   For University Courts and Grove Apartments, Maintenance Staff goes to each apartment once every six weeks and does a routine check while replacing air filters.

On-Campus Housing Facilities Fire Protection Systems

Future Fire Safety Plans

The University of Tennessee at Martin places great emphasis on the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. For instance, within the last few years, our campus-wide fire alarm system has been centralized to insure the most expedited notification to emergency services personnel and building occupants possible is made. UT Martin will continue to install and upgrade technological advances in fire safety detection and prevention equipment and will educate our campus members about them. UT Martin has in the past, is currently, and will in the future remain extremely proactive toward fire safety measures.