Author: Scott Murray

WSU Fire Safety would like to remind all students, faculty and staff to keep egress corridors clear at all times.

The International Fire Code, the code adopted by the State of Kansas, requires that corridors/halls be clear and unobstructed for safe exiting during an emergency.

These areas are designated as “means of egress,” meaning they are a continuous and unobstructed path for occupants to exit a building during an emergency. Obstructions can impede evacuation, especially for individuals with disabilities, and can also hinder emergency responders.

Items commonly seen in corridors around campus include excess chairs from classrooms, unwanted furniture, backpacks, drinking cups, shoes, scooters, skateboards and many other items.

WSU Fire Safety and Myers Automatic Fire Protection will conduct required annual fire sprinkler inspection and testing throughout campus starting Monday, March 17.

Housing will not be included in these tests. Testing will last approximately two weeks but could be longer. Every attempt will be made to keep the testing as quiet as possible, however, some sounding of the fire alarm system will be required in some buildings. The alarm will only sound momentarily but may sound more than once. No evacuation is necessary during this testing.

There is no set day or time for when a particular building will be tested. If you have any special concerns or requests about these tests, email Scott Murray at scott.murray@wichita.edu. Remember these are required tests and they must be conducted.

Holiday safety is an issue that greatest from late November to mid-January when faculty, staff and students gather for holiday parties and decorate their offices or rooms. Decorating is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit, but fires and injuries caused by improper use of electrical decorations such as lights or the use of candles or other open flame items cause major injury for many people each year. Read below for precautions to ensure we all remain safe and injury-free throughout the season.

Decorations of all types shall be either non-combustible or adequately treated to render them fire resistant. Decorations are allowed 30 calendar days before the holiday or event. All decorations are expected to be removed no later than seven calendar days after the holiday or event. Artificial wrapped presents kept on the floor are limited to lobby areas. Keep wrapping paper or artwork to a minimum (i.e., less than 10% of the wall). The use of trees or wreaths shall be restricted to artificial types containing a UL or FM tag or seal indicating satisfactory fire resistance. No live or cut trees or wreaths are allowed. Do not use strings of lights on metal trees.

Streamers, garlands, lights and other decorations shall not run along or across halls, obstruct or restrict aisles, passageways or corridors; be hung from smoke detectors or sprinkler heads; or obstruct exits signs, fire extinguishers or other fire equipment. Holiday lighting strings must be double insulated or grounded and have an approval rating from either UL or FM. A maximum of three strands may be connected together. No extension cords shall be used to light strings of lights, only a circuit breaker protected power strip shall be used and cords shall not run under rugs or doors.

Decorations may not be attached to doors, walls or painted surfaces by any methods which would damage the surface or leave behind adhesive residue (i.e., low adhesive masking tape is preferred). Any costs associated with damage caused by installation or removal of decorative materials will be the responsibility of the department.

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Latex balloons, silly-string, bubbles, glitter, confetti, rice, birdseed
• Fireworks (including sparklers) or weapons of any kind
• Live animals (except for those assisting individuals with disabilities)
• Any item with an open flame such as candles or incense
• Decorative materials may not be placed on fire doors, smoke doors, light fixtures, electrical equipment, electrical outlets, circuit breaker panels, etc.
• Cut trees, tree branches, pinecones, wreaths, mistletoe and live potted plants. Artificial trees, wreaths and other seasonal decorations must be fire/flame-retardant.

It is the department’s responsibility to save packaging material as proof to the fire marshal that decorative materials have received flame-retardant treatment.

The following list of materials may not be used for decorations under any circumstances because they are inherently combustible or cannot be flame proofed:

• Bamboo
• Cedar trees or branches
• Corn stalks or shucks
• Cotton or sonfetti (loose, in large quantities)
• Dry moss or leaves
• Flammable powders or liquids
• Hay or straw (loose or baled)
• Paper streamers (serpentine)
• Plastic sheeting or pellets
• Sawdust
• Tumbleweeds
• Wood bark or shavings

Remember when you leave your office to turn off or unplug your decorative lights.

If you have questions, contact the WSU Fire & Safety Office at 316-978-5803 or 316-978-5531.

WSU Fire & Safety wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

As cooler temperatures are arriving at Wichita State, Environmental Health and Safety reminds you that space heater are prohibited on campus. Please refer to University policies 11.20 Space Heaters and 11.27 HVAC System Standards for more information.

WSU Fire Safety and its vendor will conduct required annual fire alarm inspections and testing starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. Testing will continue through the remainder of September or until all the fire alarm systems have been tested. Testing for most buildings will be done during the evening and overnight hours. There is no schedule of when a building will be tested.

Every effort will be made to not disrupt any business or classes however the fire alarm system could go off. Unless told otherwise by Fire Safety, follow your evacuation procedures and do not re-enter the building until you are told you can do so.

Any questions can be emailed to Scott Murray at scott.murray@wichita.edu and Dennis Moore at dennis.moore@wichita.edu.

WSU Fire Safety will be conducting annual Office of the State Fire Marshal inspections in the following buildings now through Dec. 31: Wallace Hall, Beggs Hall, Wilner Auditorium, Woodman Alumni Center, Marcus Welcome Center, Brennan Hall 2, Aviation Testing Lab, John Bardo Center, NIAR Atlas, NIAR AVET, Wilkins Stadium, WSU General Dentistry Practice, Ahlberg Hall and WSU Old Town.

These inspections are required to be conducted annually by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Other spot inspections can be conducted by WSU Fire Safety throughout the calendar year and inspections due to complaints may also be conducted at any time.

If you have any questions regarding fire inspections, contact the Fire Safety Office members Scott Murray (316-978-5803 or email scott.murray@wichita.edu) or Dennis Moore (316-978-5531or email dennis.moore@wichita.edu).

Wichita State Fire and Safety and Meyers Automatic Fire Protection will conduct annual testing on the fire sprinkler systems throughout the campus. The testing will begin the week of Monday, March 25 and continue until completed.

Annual fire sprinkler testing is required by state law and is vital in keeping WSU safe.

Interruptions to classes and daily business will try to be avoided but may occur. If an alarm is sounded, occupants should treat it as an actual alarm unless informed by Fire and Safety or the contractor that evacuation is not necessary.

Questions can be directed to WSU Fire Safety Inspectors Scott Murray at 316-978-5803 or Dennis Moore at 316-978-5531.

Wichita State Fire and Safety and Meyers Automatic Fire Protection will be conducting annual testing on the fire sprinkler systems throughout the campus. The testing will begin the week of Monday, March 27 and continue until completed.

Annual fire sprinkler testing is required by state law and is vital in keeping WSU safe.

Interruptions to classes and daily business will try to be avoided but may occur. If an alarm is sounded, occupants should treat it as an actual alarm unless informed by Fire and Safety or the contractor that evacuation is not necessary.

Questions can be directed to Fire and Safety Coordinators Scott Murray at 316-978-5803 or Dennis Moore at 316-978-5531.

The cooler weather is finally upon us, and with the drop in temperature comes the use of space heaters. Each year, about 1,700 fires, 80 deaths and 160 injuries are caused by portable space heaters, as estimated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Space heaters also use considerably more energy than other heating sources.

WSU Fire Safety would like to remind you that the use of space heaters is prohibited in campus buildings. Please remove all space heaters from campus buildings, whether they are in use or not. Please review WSU Policies 11.20 Space Heaters and 11.27 HVAC Systems Standards.

Wichita State’s Fire Safety and Sandifer Engineering will begin annual fire alarm testing during October. Testing for most facilities will be done between the hours of 11 p.m.-7 a.m. The tests should cause little to no interruption to any businesses or classes. For more information, contact Fire Safety at 316-978-5531 or 316-978-5803.