Fire Safety
(Content on this page was excerpted from Fire and Emergency Services website)
The University of Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Staff has an extensive professional and academic background in fire protection, fire prevention, safety, code management, fire investigation, building inspections, fire suppression, hazardous materials, and training.
Fire and Emergency Services monitors all University buildings for compliance with local, state and federal requirements pertaining to fire and occupational safety. This department conducts routine inspections of buildings and fire alarms; supervises mandatory fire drills; reviews all plans for construction and renovation; investigates work-related accidents, and provides fire and occupational safety training. Their number is: 215 573-7857.
The Fire and Emergency Services Department ensures a safe operational environment at the University for the students, faculty, staff along with the protection of University property by providing a contemporary fire and safety program that is continuously reviewed, updated and coordinated with students, employees, and contractors at the University. This concerted safety effort is a shared responsibility that addresses quality of life issues for the entire Penn community.
This department is responsible for fire, life and occupational safety issues that include the inspection and close monitoring of University buildings for compliance with local and state fire and building codes along with nationally recognized consensus standards that pertain to fire and occupational safety. These codes and standards provide the mandate for this staff to conduct fire and occupational safety audits, fire drills, along with ensuring fire protection system reliability through proper design, installation, and annually certified inspection testing and maintenance. Additionally, all newly designed and installed fire protection systems are thoroughly inspected and closely monitored throughout their life cycle to guarantee that these life safety systems are operational in accordance with applicable national fire codes and standards.
Other functions performed by Fire and Emergency Services include the monitoring of all campus elevators for safe operations, and the coordination of regular inspections of all elevator emergency phones. Fire and Emergency Services acts as the University liaison entity between the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, and other regulatory agencies that need to conduct inspections on the campus.
As part of the Division of Public Safety’s Off-Campus Safety Coalition, the department works closely with the University’s Office of Off-Campus Living, the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, and business and community leaders from the West Philadelphia community. This coalition is charged with providing safe living environments for students, faculty, and staff that chose to live off-campus. A portion of this service includes working with the service provider for University City Associates Residential Division by performing safety inspections, conducting emergency exit drills, and providing training to personnel responsible for maintaining these residential buildings .
Fire Protection
The University of Pennsylvania has embarked on an aggressive strengthening of the existing fire protection in all its residential buildings. Currently, “state of the art” quick response sprinkler systems are being installed in our residential buildings. This initiative also includes significant upgrades to our fire alarm systems.
Emergency Exit Drills
An important component of Penn’s Public Safety Delivery System is the conducting of reality based emergency evacuation procedures. Emergency exit drills are required by the Philadelphia Fire Prevention Code and are held in all residences twice a semester. These drills are supervised by the professional staff of the Department of Fire and Occupational Safety and include alarm activation to ensure fire protection, reliability, along with an orderly, disciplined evacuation, followed by a thorough inspection of the building to immediately rectify any code related issues. Finally, an on-site discussion is held with students to evaluate and improve, when necessary, the performance of the fire drills.
Building Inspections
Every year the Department of Fire and Emergency Services inspect all buildings to ensure that the University’s buildings and it’s fire protection systems are operating at a high level of safety and readiness.
Student Orientation
Immediately prior to New Students arriving on campus Residence Advisors (RA) and Graduate Assistance’s (GA) attend workshops and receive comprehensive fire safety training, which they in-turn, provide to the new students. Additionally, first year students are required to attend Orientation, which take place on Labor Day Weekend each year. Fire Safety is an intricate part of our overall safety program. Subjects that are covered include: emergency exit drills, overview of the University’s fire protection systems, how to report an emergency and how to conduct yourself during an emergency. Students are also educated regarding the consequences of tampering with fire protection equipment along with engaging of false alarms. Information is provided about the prohibition of fire works, candles and portable heaters.