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The following regulations were established to maintain a safe living environment for students residing in Rutgers University housing, whether in dormitory, suite or apartment style residences. It is expected that all residents comply with these rules, which are provided for the safety of all occupants. University fire safety regulations are enforced by certified Fire Inspectors of Emergency Services. In addition to enforcing these regulations, University Fire Inspectors are also responsible for the inspection of all University buildings in accordance with the provisions of the New Jersey State Uniform Fire Code.
Students found to have violated any of the below items will be issued a documenting the offense. In addition, the student will be referred to the appropriate Residence Life Office for disciplinary action. Students will be issued a Fire Code Violation Follow-Up Form, which must be completed and returned to Residence Life verifying that the violation has been corrected. Failure to return forms will result in a consultation with the Residence Life staff. Students who violate the fire code violation a second time will be placed on probation and/or other appropriate sanction as determined by an Administrative Hearing/Conference. Students who are found to have violated the fire safety regulations a third time may be removed from residence.
When a Notice of Fire Safety Violation is issued, wherever possible, it is issued to the student responsible. When it is not apparent to the Fire Inspector which student is responsible, the Notice of Fire Safety Violation will be issued to all occupants of the room. While not all students may be responsible for creating the Fire Code Violation, all students have the responsibility to know and understand the policies regarding Fire Safety and insuring that items in the room do not pose a fire hazard. In these circumstances, all students are responsible for insuring the violation has been corrected and for the appropriate follow-up with Residence Life.
Students who believe their involvement has been inaccurately documented must submit an explanation in writing and return it to the Residence Life staff member within 10 days of the Notice of Fire Safety Violation issuance. This information will be reviewed in conjunction with information provided by the other roommates as well as the fire inspector. If a student is found to not be responsible for the violation, the roommate will assume the full responsibility for correcting the violation.
Residents must discontinue use of cited hazards immediately, but are allowed seven (7) working days to remove the prohibited item(s) from the residence hall.
In addition, residents are reminded that under the provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.13) they may be held financially liable for the actual costs of extinguishing a fire directly, or indirectly, caused by a violation which had been cited and remained unabated at the time of the fire and additional dedicated and compensatory penalties in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12A.
The following is a list of items or actions that are not permitted in Residence Halls in accordance with the University Fire Safety Regulations: |
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Bed or furniture reducing the required width of the exit |
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Items hanging from the sprinkler head or pipe, heat detector, smoke detector or alarm |
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Electrical wiring that is “homemade” or otherwise modified |
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Unattended cooking, burning candle, or other open flame |
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Bicycle chained to the exit way element |
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Presence of candles of any type or form, oil lamp, or incense |
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Tampering with building fire alarm system |
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Discharge of Fire Extinguisher |
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Failure to evacuate building during an actual fire alarm or evacuation drill |
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Gasoline powered motorbike within building |
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Presence or evidence of prohibited electrical appliances. Hot Pot/Plate, Toaster oven, Halogen Lamp, Microwave (Other than University Supplied) Wok, Rice Cooker |
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Excessive quantity of combustible materials on walls or ceilings. Posters, fish nets or tapestry |
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Overloading of electrical receptacles, “cube taps”, unfused power strip or surge protector |
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Accumulations of flammable liquids or materials. |
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Evidence of smoking |
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Electrical cords over 6 feet in length |
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Mandatory Evacuation of Residence Halls During Fire Alarm Activation |
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Residents are advised that pursuant to University and State fire safety regulations, upon the activation of the building fire alarm system all occupants are required to immediately evacuate the building and to remain outside until directed to return by the fire official in command at the scene. This regulation pertains to residents of dormitory buildings, suites, and University apartments, whether occupied by undergraduate or graduate students. |
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Fire Safety Equipment |
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University housing units are protected by complete fire suppression systems, fire detection and alarm systems consisting of manual pull stations, heat and smoke detectors in all common areas and storage spaces, local-sounding smoke detectors in all sleeping rooms, and audible evacuation alarms. All resident hall fire alarm systems are electronically monitored at the University Police Headquarters, providing immediate notification of an alarm condition and resulting in an expeditious response to the potential emergency.
Fire extinguishers are provided in all dormitory common areas and kitchenettes, and in the kitchen areas of all apartments. This equipment is critical to life safety and should be used only in emergency situations. |
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Prohibited Appliances and other Items |
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The following appliances and other items are prohibited in ALL apartments, suites, and dormitory rooms. These items are responsible for actual fire occurrences in college and university housing units throughout the United States. |
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Space heaters |
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Hot plates |
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Immersion coils |
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Hot pots not meeting University specification (listed below) |
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Candles of any type (The use of candles in university housing rooms, for religious purposes, is prohibited due to the fire hazard this practice creates. Alternative appliances, electrically powered, exist to permit the resident to observe religious holidays without creating a fire hazard.) |
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Oil lamps |
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Fireworks |
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Sparklers |
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Incense |
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Smoke bombs |
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Wall hangings made of burlap or any other flammable materials, tapestries, fish netting, flags, and wicker ornaments. Combustible materials of any type are prohibited when attached to room ceilings. Posters and decorations with combined coverage of more than one-third of the available wall space are not permitted |
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All flammable and combustible liquids. This includes art supplies such as thinners, etc |
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Gasoline-powered items such as motorcycles, mopeds, or their components. |
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Chemicals |
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Electrical wiring that is "home made" or otherwise modified or transformed which creates a shock or fire hazard. |
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Extension cords exceeding six (6) feet. All extension cords must be maintained exposed in plain view. Cords may not be run under rugs or closet doors, nor secured to building surfaces or furniture. |
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Devices that overload electrical receptacles (more than three appliances per outlet, or multiple plug adapters or power strips with more than two cords attached). Fused, multi-outlet surge protectors commonly used for protection of personal computers are permitted. However, multi-outlet surge protectors may not be plugged into an existing power strip (piggybacking), nor shall more than one (1) fused multi-outlet power strip be plugged into a building wall outlet. Surge protectors or power strips without built-in fuses are not permitted |
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Light dimmers, ceiling fans, or any other device that replaces, adds to, or interferes with any building fixture. |
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Combustible or plastic lampshades or light fixture covers. |
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Torchiere lamps with Halogen bulbs, including lamps with guards. Halogen desk lamps and styles other than torchiere floor lamps are permitted. |
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Traffic and road signs observed in university housing rooms will be reported to the campus University Police Department office. Misappropriation of traffic and road signs may result in motor vehicle accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. Students in possession of traffic and road signs are subject to prosecution |
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| The following appliances are prohibited in all dormitory rooms; and in the bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms of apartments: |
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Electric toaster ovens |
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Broilers |
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Skillets |
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Hot dog/hamburger cookers |
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Electric woks |
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Rice cookers |
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Microwave ovens not provided by the University |
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Cooking is not allowed in dormitory or suite rooms, nor in other than the kitchens of apartments. |
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Permitted Appliances for Use in Apartment Kitchens Only |
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The following appliances are APPROVED for use in the kitchens of university apartments ONLY. Approval is granted only if the appliance is Underwriters Lab (UL) listed and the unit is properly connected to the wall outlet. |
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Microwave ovens |
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Electric Woks |
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Rice Cookers |
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Permitted Appliances - All areas |
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The following appliances are APPROVED for use in ALL areas: |
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Popcorn Poppers |
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Automatic Coffee Makers, such as "Mr. Coffee" |
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Hot Pot Specification: Only hot pots meeting the following specification are permitted in university housing. Units purporting to be "automatic" have failed and caused fires here and at other colleges and universities. In order to be approved for use in resident halls, suites and apartments a hot pot or electric kettle must automatically shut itself off if the fluid boils off or if the pot is emptied. Usually, this type of pot does not contain a conventional heating element, but rather the water completes an electrical circuit between two conductors, which sustains the heating process. Further, approved hot pots must be capable of accepting only water. Units capable of heating soup, etc. are not approved. When in doubt, fire inspectors will conduct the following field test to determine compliance. The empty unit will be plugged in to a power source and turned "on". If the interior of the appliance heats up, the device fails the field test. When purchasing a hot pot for use in a university resident hall or apartment, first READ the precautionary messages. If the device or packaging states, "do not operate when empty”, the unit is unapproved. |
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Decoration Fire Safety Guidelines For Resident Halls and Apartments (Including Holiday Decorations) |
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| The following regulations have been established by the Rutgers University Department of Emergency Services and are applicable in all university-owned residential buildings |
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Live Evergreen Trees |
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Natural cut evergreen trees are only permitted in resident halls when placed in a non-sleeping area, which is protected by an automatic sprinkler system. |
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Cut evergreen trees must be placed in an appropriate tree stand. |
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The water level must be checked daily |
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Loose needles and other debris must be removed from the tree before it is displayed. |
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Should the fresh tree dry out, as evidenced by falling needles, it must be removed from the building immediately. |
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The tree may not obstruct any corridor, exit doorway, or other means of egress. |
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The tree may not be located near any heating vent or other heating device, which could cause the greenery to dry out prematurely. |
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Only non-combustible trimmings are permitted. |
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Prior to departure for winter recess, all evergreen trees and holiday decorations must be removed from the resident hall. |
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Only UL listed lighting sets may be used, and they shall not be decorated with paper or other combustible materials. |
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Decorative lights shall be turned off when occupants are not in the immediate area of the tree. |
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| Artificial Holiday Trees |
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Artificial holiday trees must bear Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) listing labels for fire resistance. Artificial trees meeting the above requirement are permitted in all areas, subject to the following safety guidelines |
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The artificial tree must be placed in a suitable stand to prevent it from falling. |
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The tree may not obstruct any corridor, exit doorway, or other means of egress. |
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No flammable decorations, combustible tree skirts or decorative gift packages may be placed on or under an artificial holiday tree except in an area protected by automatic sprinklers. |
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Only UL listed lighting sets may be used, and they shall not be decorated with paper or other combustible materials. |
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Only non-combustible trimmings are permitted |
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Prior to departure for Winter recess, all holiday decorations must be removed from the resident hall. |
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Decorative lights shall be turned off when occupants are not in the immediate area of the tree. |
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Holiday Lighting Sets |
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All holiday lighting sets must bear UL listing tags |
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Lighting sets are prohibited in corridors. |
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All lighting sets must be physically examined before use to detect frayed wiring and other conditions which might create a shock or fire hazard. Defective sets must be discarded; sets showing evidence of repair are not permitted in the resident hall. |
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Lighting sets may be utilized on artificial trees, or placed around room windows. |
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Lighting sets are prohibited around room doorways. |
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All lighting sets displayed in sleeping rooms must be turned off when the room is unoccupied. |
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Lighting sets displayed on artificial trees located in lounges must be turned off when the room is unoccupied during hours of darkness. |
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Lighting sets may not be in contact with draperies, paper, or combustible decorations. |
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Lighting sets may not be hung from ceilings. |
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All electric lighting sets must be removed from the resident hall when departing for Winter Recess. |
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General Decoration Regulations
In corridors, only aluminum foil is permitted on doors or walls to prevent a fire from obstructing a major exitway component.
Readily ignitable materials such as evergreen branches, boughs, etc. are prohibited in sleeping areas as well as in hallways, corridors, stairwells, or other means of egress. Combustible material such as wrapping paper, fabrics, etc. are prohibited when fastened to doors as well as when attached to walls or ceilings of corridors, stairways or other common areas designed as exitways.
Candles in any form are prohibited throughout all resident halls and apartments. Electric light Menorahs are permitted.
Combustible party decorations, gift wrappings, etc. must be disposed of promptly after use in the dumpsters provided outside of the residential buildings. |
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