Fire Emergency Guide and Fire Safety Guide

Fire Emergency Guide and Fire Safety Guide Revised 6-20-18

Satisfying IFC 403.10.2.2 and NY Educational Law Section 6438

This guide meets the requirements of the 2015 International Fire Code (IFC) 403.10.2.2 which requires Fire Emergency Guides to be reviewed and approved by the fire code official and distributed to each tenant prior to initial occupancy.

Each residential building is equipped with a fire alarm system. Each fire alarm system has pull stations, smoke and heat detectors distributed throughout the building.

Pull Stations—These devices allow occupants to trigger a building-wide alarm activation which will sound horns and strobes to alert occupants and initiate a complete evacuation of the building. Simultaneously, the fire department will respond and determine the nature of the alarm and respond accordingly.

Smoke and Heat Detectors and Alarms—These devices sense the products of combustion and if detected, will trigger a building-wide alarm activation which will sound horns and strobes to alert occupants and initiate a complete evacuation of the building. Simultaneously, the fire department will respond and determine the nature of the alarm and respond accordingly.

Some buildings, specifically: Raymond, Strong, Lathrop, Josselyn, and Cushing have two types of smoke detectors. There are system detectors that are connected to the fire alarm panel and single station stand-alone smoke detectors in some student rooms. These single station stand-alone devices are not connected to the fire alarm panel. If the smoke alarm in your room activates, you should immediately evacuate and pull the pull station on your way out of the building. This will activate the entire buildings’ fire alarm system.

Portable Fire Extinguishers—Each building is equipped with ABC-type portable fire extinguishers.

The extinguishers can be used by students, however, the most important requirement, is for students to safely evacuate.

If students choose to use the portable fire extinguishers, they should remember the PASS analogy:

P=Pull the pin
A=Aim the hose at the base of the fire
S=Squeeze the handle
S=Sweep at the base of the fire from side to side.

Emergency Evacuation diagrams are posted on the back of each room. Please familiarize yourself with the locations of exits and the number of doors between you and each exit.

In addition, to satisfy NY Educational Law, Section 6438, which requires a written fire safety notification to each student living in a college-owned housing facility, both on and off-campus. Each Vassar College residential house and apartment building is equipped with fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems that are regularly inspected by a certified fire alarm and sprinkler contractors as required by the International Fire Code.