{"id":125,"date":"2020-03-11T18:04:22","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T18:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilitiesoperations\/?page_id=125"},"modified":"2025-04-11T19:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T19:36:30","slug":"fire","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/safety\/fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Interim Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Inserted by Dropdownizer plugin. Forces video embeds contained in dropdowns to have a size --><style>.dropdownizer__dropdown iframe { width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; }<\/style>\n<p>In accordance with the requirements of the Fire Code of New York State Section 404 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, Vassar College must publish and post its Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan. The Director of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for the development, publication and revision process for this document.&nbsp; Note:&nbsp; This plan has interim status while the following are resolved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Areas of Refuge are identified and clearly marked in each building.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rescue Assistance procedures are finalized \u2013 Interim procedures are found in section 3.2.3 of the Vassar College policy on Emergency Resources and Information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evacuation maps are updated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This plan is completely aligned with the Vassar College policy on Emergency Resources and Information.&nbsp; In many ways the documents overlap<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fire Safety Maps<\/strong> are posted in all buildings and are available for view in the Facilities Operations administrative offices during normal business hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NYS FC 404.2.1: Fire Evacuation Plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Revised 4-10-2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.1) Unless identified as testing, all local and common space fire alarms require a complete evacuation of the building.&nbsp; Employees under section 1.9 of this plan, and individuals with accessibility assistance needs (see 1.2 below) are excepted from this requirement.&nbsp; All other occupants of the space including employees and students must completely evacuate and muster in the approved space noted on each building\u2019s floor plans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.2) The Director of Environmental Health &amp; Safety places a document in a building Knox box with the names and location of any resident who self-reports to the Vassar College <a href=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/accessibility-and-educational-opportunity\/\">Office of Accessibility and Educational Opportunity<\/a>&nbsp;that they might require evacuation assistance. These individuals are instructed to either stay in their room or proceed to an area of refuge (stair tower) and if possible, call for assistance to CRC or 9-1-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.3) The College will report to the Arlington Fire District Incident Commander any missing persons. The Arlington Fire District emergency responders will begin rescue operations to locate any missing persons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.4) No Vassar College employee is designated as responsible for rescue operations. All rescue operations will be conducted by trained emergency responders from the Arlington Fire District. Members of the Vassar College Health Services office and\/or the volunteer student EMT\u2019s may provide emergency medical aid as directed by the on-site incident commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.5) The primary method for notification of a fire or building emergency is the activation of the building alarm system consisting of horns and strobes. Several buildings are equipped with voice evacuation systems that are capable of other building notification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.6) All fire alarm systems communicate fire and trouble alarms to a third party monitoring firm that logs the alarm and communicates it on to Dutchess 911 and the CRC.&nbsp;&nbsp; Supervisory alarms only are reported directly to the CRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.7) An occupant in a Vassar College residence hall, athletic facility, or academic building who has knowledge of a fire-related emergency, including an activated smoke detector, shall immediately evacuate the building, activating a manual pull station on the way out. Once safely evacuated from the building, a backup call should be placed to Vassar College Campus Response Center at <a href=\"tel:+18454377333\"><a href=\"tel:+18454377333\">(845) 437-7333<\/a><\/a> or Dutchess County 911. Once out, stay out.&nbsp; In faculty housing where a local smoke alarm may have an identified non-fire cause, such as steam from a shower, full building evacuation is not necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.8) Any individual who needs more information on the contents of this plan should contact the Director of Environmental Health and Safety at <a href=\"tel:+18454375685\"><a href=\"tel:+18454375685\">(845) 437-5685<\/a><\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:EHS@vassar.edu\">EHS@vassar.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.9) Provided any fire is in a different fire control zone, employees in the Campus Response Center (1<sup>st<\/sup> floor of Main Building) will remain in place to operate critical equipment until the alternate location is activated.&nbsp; If the fire is in the Center 1<sup>st<\/sup> floor fire control zone, these employees are to evacuate and operate on handheld radios and cell phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NYSFC 404.2.2:&nbsp; Fire Safety Plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Revised 2-26-2025<\/em><br><br>2.1) An occupant who has knowledge of a fire-related emergency, including an activated smoke detector shall immediately evacuate the building, and, as needed, activate a manual pull station on the way out.&nbsp; Once safely evacuated from the building, a backup call should be placed to Vassar College Campus Response Center at&nbsp;<a href=\"tel:+18454377333\"><a href=\"tel:+18454377333\">(845) 437-7333<\/a><\/a>&nbsp;or Dutchess County 911.&nbsp; Once out, stay out.<br><br>2.2) The life safety strategy and procedures for notifying, relocating and evacuating occupants is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Notification<\/strong><br>Any activation of a building alarm system component (smoke detector, heat detector, pull station etc) requires an immediate and total evacuation of the building.&nbsp;This applies to both local alarms (some student rooms) and common area alarms which will cause horns and strobes to be activated throughout the building.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Remain in Place<\/strong><br>Employees in the Campus Response Center (CRC) remaining in place during a fire alarm in Main Building shall monitor the location of alarms or reported fires and evacuate as soon as the fire\/alarm is in the same fire control zone as the CRC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lockdown<\/strong><br>If a lockdown is in place when the building fire alarm activates, individuals sheltering in place shall make a personal judgement call to identify the greater threat and act accordingly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Evacuation<\/strong><br>Occupants must evacuate at least 50 feet from the affected structure.&nbsp; Occupants are directed to a nearby building if the evacuation is anticipated to be greater than 15 minutes, or weather conditions require immediate relocation of the occupants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Relocation<\/strong><br>If a hazardous condition is present in the building, or there is damage rendering the space unusable, the occupants will be relocated to available space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>2.3) The following information and Maps are maintained on a secure web site for emergency preparedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Building egress floor plans for each building.&nbsp;Exits, primary and secondary evacuation routes, muster points, pull stations and portable fire extinguishers are presented on the building floor plans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assembly and Muster locations are located on each buildings floor plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Normal routes of fire department vehicle access and marked fire lanes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fire hydrant locations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>2.4) The major fire hazards associated with the normal use and occupancy of the premises are specific to each area of the facility.<br>&nbsp;<br>The following buildings contain special hazards such as chemicals, equipment or fuels that will require the attention and knowledge of the local emergency responder. Arlington Fire District crews regularly tour Vassar\u2019s buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chemical Hazard information is available from the College\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3eonline.com\/EeeOnlinePortal\/DesktopDefault.aspx\">Safety Data Sheet (SDS) service on the web<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Facilities Operations Service Center\/Chiller Plant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Contains the trade shops (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, steamfitters, painting, masonry and mechanical garage. Each shop contains trade products used for that specific shops work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chiller Plant houses two AC units (1-2000 Ton and 1-1000 Ton) that produce chilled water for the campus.&nbsp; Both units are centrifugal chillers and each contains a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Skinner Greenhouse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Contains a variety of chemicals used in horticultural activities such as pesticides, herbicides and horticultural oils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Olmsted Hall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses&nbsp;the biology and psychology departments with teaching and research labs.&nbsp;The building contains storage of chemicals in many labs.&nbsp;Several research labs work with Biological Hazard Level 1 &amp; 2 (low hazard) organisms. One research labs uses radioactive isotopes in experimental studies.&nbsp; Animal populations for research are located in the Basement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bridge for Laboratory Science<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses the&nbsp;chemistry department and teaching and research labs The building contains chemical storerooms and miscellaneous storage of chemicals in most labs.&nbsp;The building also contains a central accumulation area for hazardous wastes in the basement.&nbsp; One lab utilizes radioactivity.&nbsp; The building houses specialized scientific equipment, such as NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) Spectrometers, Gas Chromatographs, X-Ray spectrometers and diffractometers which all require specialized knowledge of the equipment and unique hazards the equipment may present.&nbsp;The NMR contains a large magnet which presents a hazard to individuals with pacemakers within the 5 gauss line. No large ferromagnetic materials should be placed near the NMR, which is located near the southwest corner of the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Central Heating Plant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses the steam boilers and produces low-pressure steam for heating the College.&nbsp; Boiler feedwater treatment chemicals, fuel oil, natural gas and steam delivery system equipment are the hazards present inside the building. In addition, the facility stores approximately 20,000 gallons of #6 Fuel oil in steel tanks in a lined containment area on the eastern side of Casper\u2019s Kill located adjacent to the CHP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2500 New Hackensack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses&nbsp;the art department and provides various studios utilizing miscellaneous chemicals such as paints, paint thinners and solvents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Doubleday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses&nbsp;the art department and provides various studios utilizing miscellaneous chemicals such as paints, paint thinners and solvents and a wood shop with combustible supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ely Hall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses the art department and geology departments.&nbsp;The art department studios contain miscellaneous chemicals such as paints, paint thinners and solvents.&nbsp;The geology department houses research laboratories containing minimal chemical inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Walker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses&nbsp;the athletics department and the pool mechanical equipment such as filters, pumps and piping. In addition, the pool chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite solutions, sodium carbonate and bicarbonate dry chemicals and hydrochloric acid are stored in the pool equipment room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Skinner Barns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses large quantities of chairs, tables and other furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Collins Field Station<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses the biology field research labs. The building contains miscellaneous storage of chemicals in the labs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Building: Prentiss Fields<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Houses field maintenance equipment and pesticides\/herbicides used for field maintenance.<br><br>2.6) The following personnel are assigned to maintain life safety systems and equipment. <a href=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/contact\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"141\">Contact info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maxine Coleman<\/strong><br>Assistant Vice President for Facilities Operations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eric Lutz<\/strong><br>Manager Mechanical Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Scott Mallett<\/strong><br>Supervisor, Plumbing and Heating<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kevin Miller<\/strong><br>Supervisor, Electrical<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2.6) The following personnel are assigned for maintenance, housekeeping and controlling fuel hazard sources. <a href=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/contact\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"141\">Contact info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maxine Coleman<br><\/strong>Assistant Vice President for Facilities Operations<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eric Lutz<br><\/strong>Manager Mechanical Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mike Oliver<br><\/strong>Supervisor, Central Heating Plant<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In accordance with the requirements of the Fire Code of New York State Section 404 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, Vassar College must publish and post its Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan. The Director of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for the development, publication and revision process for this document.&nbsp; Note:&nbsp; This plan has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":112,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-125","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1470,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/125\/revisions\/1470"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/facilities-operations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}