"just to satisfy a desire to maintain safety" (?)   I'm sure you didn't mean
it that way Paul.

At Ontario College of Art & Design we do not have residences but have had at
least three smallish fires in our main academic building over the 10 years I
have been responsible for safety.  We hold a fire drill in each of the two
terms during the day and another during the evening for night students.  My
firm position is that when the fire bell rings EVERYBODY leaves the
building.  That includes faculty and administration up to and including the
President.  Anyone who refuses to leave gets a stiff letter of reprimand
from me with copies to his/her supervisor, and so far nobody has tried to
evade their responsibilities a second time.  We insist on complete
evacuation even if we know that it is a false alarm, because I feel that one
cannot practice enough, and artists are notoriously anti-establishment.
Frankly I try to hold fire drills just when the mid-morning or -afternoon
coffee breaks are about to begin in order to minimize disruption, but I
cannot accept that classes are more important than reacting to emergency
signals.  I fully realize that it is a problem - particularly for models who
are posing nude and have to hustle into their clothes and out to the
sidewalk in minus 20 degrees Celcius.  Too bad.  If everyone cooperates I
can empty the main building in just over four minutes, and if we find there
is no problem they can be back very quickly.

Ted Rickard

* * *

Ted J. Rickard, BA, MLS, MEd, CRSP
Manager of Health & Safety
Ontario College of Art & Design
Toronto,  Canada
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Sincaglia [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 8:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Benchmarking Survey


Just a thought from a lurker....

I agree that drills for dorms is a great idea since that is the likely to be
the area of greatest risk.  However, if I were a paying student(or parent),
I would be very annoyed if someone conducted a fire drill during classes
just to satisfy a desire to maintain safety.  These ADULTS are paying
hundreds of $$ an hour for instruction time  (its actually pretty scary if
you do the math).  Loss of 20 minutes or more to me is unacceptable.

I think it would be more effective to enact a stringent, very public policy
on fire alarms in classroom buildings that fined students for not evacuating
and even greater fines for profs who do not "lead" to the exits upon
recognizing a fire alarm.  As I am sure you have all seen more than once, if
your boss isn't up and leaving, you wont either.

Just my $.05

Paul E. Sincaglia, P.E.
Firesafety Solutions, Inc.
Chagrin Falls, OH
440.247.3770
[log in to unmask]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: International Association of Campus Fire Safety Officials
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Francis J Williams
> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 3:06 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Benchmarking Survey
>
>
> The University of Connecticut Fire Department conducts a fire drill every
> semester in dorms.
>
> Fire protection includes addressable fire alarm systems, and automatic
> sprinkler systems.  We expect to complete retrofitting all residential
> buildings by 2003, August.
>
> We are also very fortunate to have a fully staffed University
> Fire/EMS/Hazmat department on campus.  We are an integral part of the
> campus community.
>
>
>
> Date sent:              Mon, 8 Jan 2001 14:34:17 -0500
> Send reply to:          International Association of Campus Fire
> Safety Officials              <[log in to unmask]>
> From:                   Mark Cavanaugh <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject:                Re: Benchmarking Survey
> To:                     [log in to unmask]
>
> > The University of Rochester performs three fire drills per year per
> > academic building. One fire drill per year for administration
> > buildings.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: harrik7 [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 2:12 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Benchmarking Survey
> >
> >
> > Does your College or University perform fire drills in buildings with
> > classrooms.  If so how often are they conducted?
> >
> > What type of fire protection equipment does your institution have?
> >
> > Thank you for your assistance.
> >
> >
> > Kenneth Harrison, Fire Protection Engineer
> > Auburn University Office of safety & Environmental Health
> > 316 Leach Science Center
> > Auburn, AL 36849
>
>
> Deputy Chief Francis Williams
> UConn Fire Department
> 126 North Eagleville Road
> Storrs, Conn. 06269-3165
> 860-486-4925
> FAX 860-486-4179
>