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UMD Fire Violations

Home UMD Fire Violations

Daisy Chain Power Strips

NFPA 1 Chapter 11.1.4.2

When two or more power strips are plugged directly into one another it overrides its anti surging  Power strips are required to be plugged directly into a wall outlet so that the outlet and power strips do not become overloaded.  

Egress Door Blocked

NFPA 1 Chapter 11.1.4.2

This exit door is blocked making it difficult for people to escape this lab if there was a fire or chemical emergency. 

Egress Door Propped

NFPA 1 Chapter 12.4.6.3.3.3 

This fire door is propped open, preventing it from automatically closing in the event of an emergency Fire doors are a critical part of a building’s passive fire protection system. They are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke between different areas, giving occupants more time to evacuate.

Prolonged use of an extension cord is prohibited

NFPA 1 Chapter 11.1.5.6 

Prolonged use of an extension cord is prohibited, extension cords are designed to be used temporarily and will eventually fail, they pose a major fire risk, their use is not advised. If not enough outlets are present a work order.

Manual fire alarm boxes must be unobstructed and visible at all times

NFPA 1 Chapter 13.7.1.7.7

Manual fire alarm boxes must be unobstructed and visible at all times. This is important because it enables emergency responders to locate fire quicker and allows life safety to do maintenance on and diagnose the fire safety systems.

Life safety devices must be unobstructed

NFPA 1 Chapter 13.7.1.7.7 

In this case a Lab safety shower is obstructed by a large dewar. This safety shower cannot be used effectively and poses a risk to lab safety if the dewar remains in the same place safety showers are critical to preventing injury permanent or otherwise.

Unsecured Compressed Gas

NFPA 1 Chapter 63.3.1.9.5  

A compressed gas cylinder is left unsecured and pinned behind a desk. These cylinders can become projectiles if severely damaged. Compressed gas cylinders are required to be secured in order to remain code compliant

Burned out Candle

NFPA 1 Chapter 10.10.2 

The Campus Fire Marshal, the authority having jurisdiction prohibits uses of open flames on campus. Given the amount of fire emergencies that have occurred because of candles.

Lab Waste Not Stored Secondary Container

NFPA 45 Chapter 8.3.3.6 

A crate of waste chemicals remain out in the open when they should be stored safely in a cabinet or designated chemical waste device, designated storage is integral to preventing leaks and preventing further damage of something were to go wrong

Painted Sprinkler heads

NFPA 25 Chapter 5.4.1.7  

This sprinkler head is entirely painted over this prevents them from working as intended and significantly delays their activation, the code requires that sprinklers should be maintained as intended and should not be rusting or corroding.

Exit Lights not Illuminated

NFPA 101 Chapter 7.8.1.2  

This exit sign is not illuminated. All exit signs need to be illuminated to be seen through smoke as people make a quick and speedy egress out of the building in a fire emergency. The code requires that exit signs are illuminated and visible

Items Stored Under Stairs

NFPA 101, Chapter 7.2.2.5.3

Items can only be stored under stairs if they are stored separately from the stair enclosure, if a fire were to start under the stairway it would remove a critical pathway of egress if people were trying to evacuate trapping people on the upper floors.

Fire door Hardware Broken

NFPA 101, Chapter 8.3.3.3 

Fire door hardware or hinges compromised, prohibiting its automatic closing. Fire doors need to close automatically because our doors are fire resistant and help prevent the spread of smoke and fire. Compartmentalizing the fire makes it much easier to put out and allows people more time to evacuate

Items Stored Under Stairs

NFPA 101, Chapter 7.2.2.5.3

Items can only be stored under stairs if they are stored separately from the stair enclosure, if a fire were to start under the stairway it would remove a critical pathway of egress if people were trying to evacuate trapping people on the upper floors.

Chemical storage in Fume hood Intake

NFPA 45, Section 7.3.2

Chemicals should not be stored in the fume hood intake, fume hoods are designed to be placed in locations that limit the amount of chemicals they absorb, storing chemicals in a fume hood will damage its effectiveness and in some situations cause a fire emergency.

Egress hallway

NFPA 101 Chapter 72.2.5.3.1 

This egress hallway is filled with flammable materials that will hinder evacuation, fire code requires that Open space within an exit enclosure cannot be used for any purpose that could interfere with egress. In practical terms, the area must remain free of uses, storage, equipment, or other conditions that could obstruct, restrict, or otherwise compromise occupant movement through the exit enclosure.

Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk
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