One or more fire extinguishers are located on each floor of a building. The specific locations of the fire extinguishers are denoted on Evacuation Plans posted throughout university buildings. Fire extinguishers may be found in wall mounted cabinets (recessed or protruding) or hanging on a wall mounted bracket.
FAQ Category: Fire Safety FAQs
Fire extinguishers are certified annually and maintained by the Fire Safety group within the Environmental Health and Safety Office. If you have specific concerns about a particular fire extinguisher or if you believe that one needs maintenance please call EHS at 703.993.8448 and provide EHS with the location of the extinguisher and your concern.
Fire Extinguisher Training is provided by the Fire Safety group within the Environmental Health and Safety Office. Training is offered routinely and takes about one hour. Training consists of a one-half-hour classroom training and one-half-hour hands-on practice with a fire extinguisher simulator. Please click here for a complete list of training sessions offered by EHS-Fire Safety.
Extension cords are only permitted to be used for temporary, portable appliances. They may not be utilized as a substitute for permanent wiring. Cords cannot be fastened or hung in a way that can damage the outer jacket or insulation. UL approved fused power strips can be used to extend power to permanent devices or appliances except for those listed in FAQ#5 in this section.
Multi-plug adaptors can be used if they contain the following:
- A power switch;
- A fuse;
- Are UL listed and have the appropriate markings; and
- Are not used in conjunction with any other multi-plug device(s).
Fused power strips are the only approved device that may be used to increase the number of outlets available from a single outlet. All power strips must be UL listed and in good working order. They must possess a power switch, and be equipped with a fuse.
Multiple power strips can be used provided that they are all plugged directly into the wall outlet and not plugged into an extension cord or into another power strip.
Some devices draw significant amounts of current, and should be plugged directly into the wall. Contact Environmental Health and Safety Office- Fire Safety if you have specific questions about how to power your devices/appliances. The Electrical Safety Guide can also provide information about the safe powering of devices. The following devices should always be plugged directly into the wall:
- Portable heaters (i.e., space heaters)
- Refrigerators
- Large fans
- Microwaves
- Power strips
- Coffee pots
- Any device that draws over 10 amperes
Events that are expected to have over 1,000 people (including event staff and performers) must have designated Crowd Managers. There must be at least one trained crowd manager for every 250 people at the event. The duties and responsibilities of the crowd manager can be found in the Crowd Manager Guide. For more information about university events please see University Policy 1103: Space Utilization and Scheduling.
All persons who are in a building when a fire alarm sounds must exit the building or go to the nearest Area of Assistance. Fire drills are conducted in accordance with the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. The frequency of fire drills depends on the occupancy use of the building. See the following table for more information.
| Group or Occupancy | Frequency | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly Buildings Group A | Quarterly | Eagle Bank Arena, Center for the Arts, Johnson Center |
| Education / Business Group B | Annually | Innovation Hall, Colgan Hall, Van Metre Hall |
| Adult and Child Care Group E | Monthly | Child Development Center |
| Residence Halls Group R-2 | Four Annually | Northern Neck, Potomac Heights, Whitetop Hall |