The College maintains approximately 1,500 fire extinguishers across the campus. They can be used for fires blocking your means of egress or small controllable fires (in the incipient stage). The goal is for you to never need to use one. However, the following information may be helpful.
Using a Fire Extinguisher
First, if at all possible, activate the fire alarm using a Pull-Station (it will NOT automatically active the sprinklers). This will alert Campus Police, and other building occupants, of the fire and initiate response and evacuation.
- No formal training is required to use a fire extinguisher, use the “PASS” technique:
- P: Pull the pin
- A: Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- S: Squeeze the lever
- S: Sweep from side to side
Fire safety training for employees is provided via SafeColleges.
Inspections
- Every month, all fire extinguishers on campus must be inspected. The inspection is conducted by a vendor (Fire and Security Technologies).
- The vendor will access every building and location with a fire extinguisher. This includes (but is not limited to) hallways, classrooms, laboratories, offices, athletic areas, dining areas, and certain private spaces (listed below; additional information follows):
- Resident apartments (Hausdoerffer & Phelps Halls)
- Townhouses East, West, and South
- CA rooms with a stove (Travers & Wolfe Halls)
- Guest/Grad apartments (multiple residence halls)
- Certain laboratories and other specific spaces
- For the private spaces, the vendor will either be escorted or will knock and announce prior to entry
- The vendor will not interrupt classes, conferences, or similar
Fire Extinguisher Replacement
- If you think there might be an issue with a fire extinguisher (e.g. discharged, damaged, missing, loose bracket,
etc.), please submit a ticket using the Work Order system (https://facilities.tcnj.edu/work-order-system). - Please make sure to include the precise location. A picture can also be very helpful.
If you have any questions, please contact Brian Deitch, Occupational Safety Manager, at deitchb@tcnj.edu or 609-771-2881