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Seton Hall University

Fire Safety

Purpose

As a University, we are committed to creating and maintaining the most fire-safe and emergency-ready environment for our students. This policy seeks to outline items that are prohibited in the residence halls that pose a risk of igniting and/or adding fuel load to a fire.

Scope

University Policy

Definitions

Residence Hall – all University owned and operated housing.

Policy

In order to maintain a fire-safe environment compliant with New Jersey State Law, the following items and actions are prohibited in the residence halls. Residence Life will conduct periodic Health and Safety Inspections of all residence hall rooms to ensure compliance with this policy. Failure to comply with this policy will result in referral for disciplinary review.

Prohibited Items –

  • Open flames/flammables
    • Candles/incense/other open flammables
    • Fireworks/explosives
    • All flammables/combustibles
  • Cooking in rooms and suites with cooking appliances other than a microwave
  • Use of the following cooking appliances in all residence halls including apartments with kitchens
    • Broilers/electric skillets/woks/hot-plates
    • Barbeques/grills
    • Deep-fryers
  • Room Furnishings
    • Space heaters (unless issued by the University Department of Facilities Engineering)
    • Upholstered furniture larger than 2’ x 2’ (gaming chairs are permitted)
      • All University provided furniture MUST remain in student rooms
      • The University reserves the right to limit the amount/number of personal furnishings a student possesses in a room due to the limited space available.
      • NOTE: All upholstered furniture MUST meet CAL TB117-2013 fire rating. Check label to confirm.
    • Curtains/shades/blinds or any window treatment
    • Bed risers
    • Halogen bulb lamps
    • Multiple bulb lambs with plastic shades
    • LED Strip lights/Holiday lights
    • Appliances with built-in power outlets
    • Lava lamps
    • Wall decorations (posters, banners, flags, tapestries) that cover more than 25% of any wall
  • Cords/Plug-Ins
    • Extension cords/Multi-plug outlets
    • Plug-in air fresheners
  • Decorations
    • Streamers/Holiday lights
    • Live Christmas trees/Wreaths/Garland
  • Lithium Battery chargers and/or operated transportation devices (i.e. scooters, e-bikes, hover boards, etc.)

Prohibited Actions including but not limited to:

  • Failure to maintain a 36-inch path of egress out of the room/suite
  • Blocking exits with furniture or other items or preventing the door from opening to a 90-degree angle
  • Propping a room/suite door open with any object or using the dead bolt to prevent a room door from closing
  • Hanging posters, banners, flags, or other items from the ceiling or across the room door/windows
  • Wrapping a room/suite door in wrapping paper
  • Running wires across the floor, in front of a door, across the ceiling, or under a carpet
  • Excessively disorderly room/suite/or bathroom
  • Leaving any item in the hallway outside of a room door
  • Hanging items on a sprinkler head or water pipe
  • Failure to maintain an 18-inch clearance from the ceiling and/or sprinkler heads throughout the room
  • Actions that create a greater risk of fire, including but not limited to:
    • Leaving cooking food unattended
    • Leaving hair care appliances with heating elements (flat irons, curling irons, etc.) unattended
    • Smoking of any kind (including e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and similar items) in any housing facility or within 25 feet of an entrance
  • Actions which may needlessly trigger fire suppression systems, including but not limited to:
    • Physical activities near fire suppression systems such as ball/frisbee throwing, hall sports, skateboarding, etc.
    • Throwing or spraying of water, shaving cream, silly string, and/or other liquids
    • Excessive use of aerosol products
  • Actions which are intended to disable fire suppression systems, including but not limited to:
    • Tampering with, or damaging fire extinguishers or sprinkler control valves
    • Breaking a sprinkler head
    • Removing smoke detectors or covers
    • Covering smoke detectors
    • Tampering with, or damaging fire exit lights, pull stations, notification devices, or obstructing/locking exit doors
  • Actions with disregard for the community at large, including but not limited to:
    • Failure to evacuate during a fire alarm in the allotted 3-minute time frame
    • Deliberately causing a false alarm
    • Use of fireworks/explosives

Related Policies

Health and Safety Inspections

Responsible Office

Department of  Residence Life

Approval

Monica Burnette, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Services

June 5, 2024