Fire & Life Safety:The entire UTD campus fire alarm system is being monitoring 24-7 via a SimplexGrinnell
Information management system. This IMS operates on a fiber optic loop connected to every
building fire panel on the Richardson campus. All 30 of UTD's buildings have primary reporting
to the University Police and secondary reporting to EHS and EMS. 24 of 30 buildings have a
Class A reporting loop for redundancy via SimplexGrinnell IMS fire system network. 6 of 33
buildings have Class B reporting via class B fiber optics or a Digital Alarm Communication
Transmitter (DACT), due to non-network hardware or distance constraints (South campus).
Fire and Life Safety oversees over 3000 alarm initiating devices, 3300 alarm indicating devices,
700 portable fire extinguishers, and 19 buildings with 26 sprinkler systems as well as
14 special hazard systems.
Fire & Life Safety:
Every year universities experience a growing number of fire related emergencies. There can be many causes for the fires, however most are due to a lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention. It is our mission through oversite, inspection, and education to help reduce these emergencies and prevent the loss of life and property at our university. What Can You Do to Reduce The Risk of a Fire? Fire risks of flammable and combustible liquid can be minimized by understanding the fire hazard presented by chemicals used in the laboratory. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) classifies most flammable and combustible chemicals according to the severity of the fire hazard with numbers 0 to 4 in order of increasing hazard visual presentation: 0 will not burn; 1 must be preheated to burn; 2 ignites when moderately heated; 3 ignites at normal temperature; 4 extremely flammable. Apply the following precautions to minimize fire risks:
Flammable and combustible liquids, including waste solvents in quantities greater than ten gallons, must be stored in approved flammable liquid storage cabinets. Cabinets must be placed where they will not obstruct egress. Safety CansSafety cans are constructed of stainless steel, or tin and come equipped with a flame arrestor and spring-loaded cap on both the filling and pouring spouts. The double-perforated metal surface of the flame-arrestor screen prevents flames from entering the container. Safety cans are available for both dispensing products and collecting waste. Safety cans shall not be modified. Refrigerator StorageCommercially-available, domestic refrigerators contain built-in ignition sources and shall not be used to store flammable liquids or explosive chemicals. Light bulbs, switches, temperature controls, standard plugs, motor-starting relays, thermal-overload devices, and heater strips (for frost control) are all ignition sources. All laboratory buildings are provided with egress systems (corridors, stairs, doors) to meet the requirements of the Uniform Building Code and NFPA Life Safety Code. This egress system provides building occupants with a safe way out of the building, as well as the Fire Department with a way into buildings, in the event of emergencies. To maintain the integrity of the egress system, the requirements below shall be observed:
Contact: If you have any questions, please contact EH&S us at x4111. College Dormitory Fire Safety: 
Building Inspections:
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has been given the responsibility of inspecting all campus buildings for conformance to fire safety and life safety codes. If any violations of the codes are found, Environmental Health and Safety notifies the responsible department for correction. Environmental Health and Safety along with the UTD Police Department are responsible for investigating all fires to determine the cause of the fire and what can be done to prevent such occurrences. University staff, students, and faculty can assist our office in these areas in the following ways:
Contact: If you have any questions, please contact EH&S us at x4111. Design Review:Introduction and Scope for Remodel and Construction University of Texas at Dallas academic, research, athletic and public events, ancillary support operations, and student organizations utilize various facilities throughout campus for normal and special operations which occasionally requires the facility to be reconstructed to accommodate the department or unit's operation. EH&S, Facilities Management, and each university department are responsible for ensuring each facility or area within a facility complies with applicable codes and regulations in regards to designing, constructing, or remodeling. UTD Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and Facilities Management are responsible for inspecting, reviewing plans, and corresponding with each university department and/or facility supervisor as well as regulators to facilitate a safe compliant facility. General Design Information
A facility is designed, constructed, and approved for a specific type of use. Although a facility will be classified and approved for use for a specific type of occupancy there are usually several areas of the facility that are approved for a different type of occupancy classification. An occupancy classification is important in the designing stage so that proper construction and life safety systems are installed to ensure a safe and code compliant facility. Life safety systems is a general term for fire separation walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and windows, as well as fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, fire dampers, illuminated exit signs, emergency lighting, emergency showers and eye washes, exit systems, smoke control systems, and other special safety systems. Anytime a facility or area within a facility is remodeled or utilized for an operation or occupancy different than it’s original intent, the department or facility supervisor must contact EH&S in the planning stage. In addition, Facilities Management and the contractor coordinate their projects with EH&S. Estimates Facilities Management (FM) provides estimates for remodel and construction projects. Each project is coordinated with EH&S to review the project scope for any life safety issues related to federal, state, or local codes and regulations Modifications When there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this guideline or any other applicable codes or standards— UTD Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), Facilities Management, may grant modifications for individual cases, as long as the intent and purpose of the code is maintained and stipulations are adhered to. Modifications cannot lessen any fire-protection requirements or structural integrity. Any variation to the code must be documented and maintained in the facility or project file of UTD Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and Facilities Management. Changes in use of a building must be approved by EH&S! Contact: If you have any questions, please contact EH&S us at x4111. Fire Alarm System:
Fire alarm and sprinkler systems are monitored 24 hours a day by the U.T. Dallas Police, and Environmental Health and Safety. Maintenance and repairs are performed as needed when an impairment occurs. Fire Alarm Systems The Department of Environmental Health and Safety maintains and tests fire alarm systems, initiating and indicating devices on a regular basis. Fire alarms are tested at least once a year to ensure they are working properly. No one is required to evacuate a building during a fire alarm test (You are required to exit a building during a fire drill). During a fire alarm test, all bells and horns are sounded first. This process takes approximately 3-5 minutes. Once the bells are silenced the rest of the system is tested. If a bell or horn does not work, it is turned over for maintenance to Environmental Health and Safety. If you notice that a nearby bell or horn does not sound, bring it to the attention of the EH&S personnel conducting the test. Contact: If you have any questions, please contact EH&S us at x4111. Sprinkler System:
Contact: Please report any leaking sprinkler equipment to our office at x4111. Fire Drills:Evacuation Assembly Areas|Fire and Evacuation Floorplans
Fire drills are conducted to familiarize the building occupants with the sound of the fire alarm, the emergency exits that are available, and the procedure for safely evacuating the building. It is important and mandatory that all occupants of any building on campus participate in scheduled fire drills. Occupants normally enter the elevator from the lobby, ride to a particular floor, and walk along known paths to their destination. They usually make no effort to discover other means of egress which could be used in a fire or other emergency situation. The fire drill creates the opportunity to plan ahead for such emergencies and decreases the chances of confusion and panic that can cause injuries or fatalities. All fire drills are announced in advance and your reaction to the fire alarm should be as though it was an actual fire. These exercises are conducted at least twice a year in all student housing, and once a year in campus buildings. Fire drills may seem a nuisance, but in many fires victims have panicked and reverted to foolish actions. In student housing, for instance, People have hidden in closets when a safe exit was very nearby. Victims have been found under beds and crouched in shower stalls. Many have jumped to their deaths from rooms where no fire had penetrated, and only seconds before a fire department ladder had reached the window. Perhaps if these people had been more familiar with escape routes, or had not delayed escape, they would have survived the toxic smoke and fire. All occupants must vacate the building whenever a fire alarm sounds. Contact: If you have any questions, please contact us at x4111. Fire Extinguisher Training:
When a fire breaks out, you have only a few seconds to react. In those few seconds you must reply quickly and efficiently. You must stay calm and know your options. Frequently, the best option will simply be to leave the area and call for help. Yet, there may be times when as situation warrants the use of a fire extinguisher. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety offers fire extinguisher training. This training session helps users identify the proper extinguishers for different situations, proper use of extinguishers, and how to evaluate appropriate situations to use extinguishers. We recommend watching the video tutorial on Fire Extinguishers at www.fireextinguisher.com. Contact: To schedule a training session, please contact us at x4111. |
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Sprinklers are an important part of the fire protection system in all U.T. Dallas buildings. Their purpose is to suppress a fire and keep it from spreading. Just like fire alarms, these systems are checked on a regular basis. Water flowing in the system triggers the fire alarm. Fire sprinklers are designed to be sensitive to rising temperatures and can easily be damaged if bumped. Likewise, hanging any objects or decorations from the sprinkler heads or pipes can cause damage. All repair costs, due to negligence, are charged to the department that caused the damage. Water from a sprinkler can leave oily stains on anything it contacts.
