FireFactor presents:FireFactor presents:AXP Self-Assessment Safety

Tool

Created by Brian Brauer

Program Director, Illinois Fire Service Institute

Go around your house or residence-Go around your house or residence-

Self-Assess your building…Self-Assess your building…

How safe is it? How safe are you?How safe is it? How safe are you?

Are you prepared for the unimaginable?Are you prepared for the unimaginable?

Does your residence have…

• Smoke Detectors?• Heat, Pnuematic, or ROR (Rate-of-Rise)

Detectors?• Internal Notification Systems (alarms,

sirens, strobes, vocal instruction)?• Fire Extinguishers?• Installed Systems (sprinklers, foam,

ANSUL)

How often is the previous inspected?

• Is there a monthly visual inspection by residence leaders?

• Is biannual battery Replacement conducted?

• Is annual cleaning and service conducted by professionals?

• Are smoke detectors replaced every 5 years?

• How often do professionals inspect all the previous?

• How often are the previous tested?

• Are all of these actions documented?

Do you have…

• Are there two ways out of EVERY sleeping room and assembly area?

• Are there posted evacuation routes?– How many doors are there to the primary and

secondary exits?– How many steps are there?– How many crawls?

Do you have…

• Simple Fire Drills twice a year (early in the semester)?

• Advanced Fire Drills annually?

Fire Drills should be unannounced to occupants, but the Fire Dept., 911, and/or the alarm company should be aware of drills.

• How do your brothers or neighbors respond to the fire alarm(s)?

• How often does your fire alarm activate?

How do you educate your residence about…

• What can/cannot be brought into the building?

• What can/cannot be stored in the building?

• What can/cannot be done in the building?

What happens to violators? What’s done to What happens to violators? What’s done to rectify the situation?rectify the situation?

• What high risk activities are conducted in the house/building?

What precautions are taken for…

• Smoking– In common areas?

– In brother’s areas?

– In rooms?

– Outside?

• Candles?• Incense?• Hot Plates?• In Room Cooking?• Alcohol?

How does your building mitigate dangerous items?

• Dangerous items such as…• Space Heaters

• Halogen Lamps

• Flammable Liquids

• Liquefied Gases

• Fire Places

• Charcoal Grills

• Ashes/Coals

Does the building practice…

• Extinguishing fires in the kitchen?• Operating fire extinguishers?• Determining when a fire is too big for an

extinguisher?• Closing doors behind them?• What to do if they find themselves trapped

in a room?Are records kept for each of these sessions?Are records kept for each of these sessions?

Self Assess these common spots Self Assess these common spots in the house…in the house…

Doors and Doorways

• Are they kept clear?

• Do the self-closers work?

• Are the self-closers being allowed to operate?

• Are there positive latching mechanisms?

• Is there a single motion on the egress doors?

Stairwells

• Are they isolated from other parts of the house?• Is it rated for fire stopping?

• Are there fire doors installed?

• Stairs should exit to the outside of the house• There should be NO storage in or below the stairs• Are the handrails tight and safe?• Are the boards of the stairs secure?

Other paths of egress…

• Are they kept clear?• Are the doors along the way able to be opened

with a single motion?• Is there appropriate lighting?• Is there emergency lighting?• Are there pull stations on the way out?• Are exit routes marked down low?• Is there a Plan B? Does everyone know Plan B?

General Maintenance

• Are the floors and walls clear of combustibles?

• Are window wells kept clear?

• No combustibles should be stored around the exterior.

• Trash cans/dumpsters should be at least 20 feet from the building.

Electrical

• Are all the fuses and breakers appropriate for their load?

• Are they labeled for quick ID at the panel?• Do any trip on a regular basis?• Are the causes of tripped breakers/blown

fuses identified and corrected?• How many amps are the rooms rated for?• How many amps are being drawn per room?

• How many extension cords/six packs are in use?– Are there breakers on them?

• Are they under 6 ft in length?• Are heavy duty cords being used for air

conditioners, washer/dryers?• Are grounding plugs used? Are the outlets in the

building grounded?• Are the outlets covered and properly anchored?• Are there trip hazards from the cords?• Are electric blankets left off during the day and

when not in use?

Kitchen

• Are your hood/ANSUL systems compatible with your extinguishers?– Carbon dioxide won’t work on deep fryers.

– Dry chemical extinguishers are not compatible with all foam systems.

• Check ducts, filters, and fans monthly for grease buildup.– Don’t forget where the vents exhaust.

Boiler Rooms/Furnace Rooms

• Are they in a fire resistant enclosure?• Is there a self-closing/self-latching door?• Is it free of all combustible and flammable

debris?• Where are the ABC Extinguisher(s)

located?– Inside?– Immediately adjacent?

Fireplaces

• Are they inspected annually?• Does the flue work correctly?• Is there a screen that seats securely?• It should NOT be used for garbage disposal.• You should burn only the appropriate wood

in the fireplace.• Also not the best place to dispose of

Christmas trees due to the Klauser Effect

Chemical Storage

• Any flammable or combustible liquid of one pint of more should be stored outside the house or in a secure steel locker.

• Paints, solvents, and oily rags should be inside metal containers or lockers.

How long can each of the following be out of service?

• Fire Extinguishers?• Single smoke detectors?• Single sprinkler heads?• The entire fire suppression/alarm system?

• Is your housing board notified of the above out of service?

• Whose job is it to refill/arrange for repairs?

Building Security

• How easy can a non-resident (including boyfriends and girlfriends) enter your building during the semester?– During breaks?– During weekends?

• Is there exterior lighting over all ground-level entries?

Party Safety

• Take refuse out that night immediately following the party.

• Dump ashtrays into an exterior metal container lined with sand or water – Do not dump in the trash!

• Check all common areas or accessible areas for unescorted guests and smoldering materials.

• Do not cover pull stations, detectors, or sprinklers.• Post and enforce the occupancy limit for rooms.

Phones

• Are emergency numbers posted at every house and room phone?

• Take time at meetings to go over emergency numbers, where they are posted, and programming them into cell phones.

• Have an emergency notification tree.

How will you get this information out?

• Invite a speaker from the fire department or fire prevention bureau to a weekly meeting.

• Designate an undergrad ‘fire marshal’ to assist the risk manager in this area.

• Have administration/boards support the risk manager or the fire mashal’s activities.

• Require reporting back to you about safety items on a specific interval.

If the fire alarm sounds…

• Move as soon as the alarm goes off!

• Get out of bed, wake others in the same room immediately.

• Dress quickly

• Grab cell phone and keys if nearby.

Before opening a door…

• Check the knob with the BACK of the hand.

• Check door with the BACK of the hand.

• Check the door edges for heat or smoke.

• Listen to the hallway.

If there are signs of fire in the hallway…

• Have a small plastic container in each room with the following:– Duct tape and rags to tape to the edges of the door to

help keep smoke out.

– White sheets to hang from the exterior window to signal the fire department.

• Unlock your door.• Only open windows if no smoke enters the room.

– Remove blinds et al to facilitate mounting a ladder.

• If you encounter smoke after opening the If you encounter smoke after opening the door, shut it immediately.door, shut it immediately.– You can’t chance that it will get better on the You can’t chance that it will get better on the

way out. way out.

If there are no signs of fire in the hallway…

• Close, but do NOT lock the door behind you.

• Take your cell phone and keys with you.

• Stay low, Stay right.

Stairwells

• Check doors before entering.

• Go down stairs feet first, on your behind.

• Check doors before exiting.

• If first floor is impassible, consider going to the basement and escaping through an egress window or door.

Meeting Place• Have a meeting place set at a place across

the street or parking lot.– Make sure…

• It is away from where firefighters are going to be working.

• That one member is designated to communicate with the fire department.

• The Risk manager/fire marshal have a house plan and master keys available for fire dept.

• There are removable in/out boards by the entryway to provide a means to account for residents.

• NO ONE EVER GOES BACK IN!

For more information, you can contact:

Alice Kinkelaar, Urbana Fire Rescue(217) 244-4309/ amkinkelaar@ci.urbana.il.us

Janet Maupin, Champaign Fire Department(217) 403-7209/ Janet.Maupin@ci.champaign.il.us

Brian Brauer, Illinois Fire Service Institute(217) 333-9027/ brbrauer@uiuc.edu

Clay Baier, City of Urbana Housing Inspector(217) 384-2436/ crbaier@city.urbana.il.us

Michael Lambert, City of Champaign Property Maintenance Inspector(217) 403-7070/ Michael.Lambert@ci.champaign.il.us