Housing Regulations
Excerpts from The Key concerning Fire Safety

Fire Safety –Rules, Prohibited Equipment / Devices and Related Fines (p.71)
Fire extinguishers, heat and smoke detectors, pull stations, sprinkler heads and pipe, automatic door closers, evacuation signs, exit signs, smoke free building signs and emergency lights are all considered “life safety devices”. Tampering with, vandalizing, or misuse of any of these devices is a chargeable Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia and is considered a serious life safety offense by the College. This includes intentionally setting off a fire alarm (activating a pull station) when there is no fire, covering a smoke detector or sprinkler head, falsely reporting a fire, or the setting of a fire. The lighting of fireworks is considered hazardous and is strictly prohibited. Violation of any of these rules may result in immediate eviction from the residence hall for a period to be determined by the Dean of Students and the Chairman of the Student Court and the possibility of other serious disciplinary action.

1. There should be no storage of any personal belongings (including bicycles) or furniture in hallways, stairwells, entrances, exits, and vestibules of any residence hall, cottage, or fraternity house (student living areas).
2. All fire safety appliances are to be kept in operable condition.
3. No items should be hung from the ceiling or from sprinkler heads or sprinkler pipes.
4. Decorations including tapestries, curtains and drapes must be either non-combustible or flame resistant. Flame resistant decorations shall be limited to 10 percent of the aggregate area of the walls and ceilings. Decorations such as tapestries, burlap, fish netting, parachutes, posters and flags hanging from the ceiling is not permitted in student living areas.
5. No lumber, trash, or combustible materials may be stored in student living areas.
6. Installation of ceiling fans or dimmer switches, or altering the electrical circuitry is absolutely prohibited.
7. Only two items can be plugged directly into each wall outlet.
8. Surge protector/ power strip must be Fire Shield brand and must be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Fire Shield products are available in HSC Bookstore and other outlets. For more information please visit www.fireshield.com
9. Extension cords and cube adapters are not permitted in any student living area.
10. Fresh cut trees or greenery are not permitted in student living areas.
11. Electrical or kerosene heaters and / or kerosene lamps are not permitted in student living areas.
12. No privately owned individual room air conditioners are allowed in student living areas.
13. Life Safety devices are not to be unplugged or tampered with or obstructed in any way. These include smoke detectors, heat detectors, sprinkler systems, pull stations, exit and emergency lights, fire extinguishers and evacuation plans, which are found in both rooms and hallways of residences. They are for the safety of those within that room or building. Obstructing or tampering with these devices in any way is absolutely prohibited.
14. Incense is prohibited in any student living areas.
15. Candles are prohibited in any student living areas.
16. Open flames from any source are not permitted.
17. Storage of goods or placement of furniture must be at least 24 inches below the ceilings.
18. Halogen lamps are not permitted on campus.
19. Alterations of any kind to doors or windows in student living areas is strictly prohibited.
20. No College furniture is to be removed from any student living area. No lofts are permitted other than the College dorm furniture that is specifically designed to be lofted.
21. Chocking or propping doors in the open position is prohibited.
22. Charcoal grills are not allowed on combustible decks or balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction.
23. Propane grills are strictly prohibited.
24. Tobacco products are prohibited in student living areas.
25. Please see section on Appliances for cooking equipment not allowed.
26. Satellite dishes / antennas are prohibited in all student living areas.

Life safety violations generally carry a fine as well as any repair costs. The fine associated with most life safety violations is currently $250 per violation. These fines are minimal and can be increased by the Chairman of the Student Court and the Dean of Students at any time based upon the special circumstances surrounding a particular event.

Authorized College personnel have the right to conduct room inspections to ascertain safety conditions and room damages at all times. There will be two safety inspections of all student living areas each semester.

Fire Safety and Fire Drills (p.72)
The College places a high priority on residence hall, apartment, cottage, and fraternity house safety. Twice each semester fire drills are held and everyone is expected to cooperate with the RAs and house managers who act as fire marshals. As described above, serious penalties are assessed against those violating fire and safety regulations or who in any way create a danger for others. Violations include failure to leave a building when an alarm is sounded (smoke detector going off, or notice from a RA, or other responsible official), and / or failure to cooperate with officials during a fire or fire drill. Resident advisors are to establish a meeting place for their residents at least fifty feet from the building and determine who is not present, if it is suspected that a student may be inside the building this information shall be immediately shared with fire and rescue personnel. In addition to the fire drills a minimum of two safety inspections will be made at student living areas each semester. These inspections will be performed by College staff and penalties will be assessed by the Chairman of the Student Court and the Dean of Students if violations are discovered.

• Feel the door with the back of your hand. If your door is very hot, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. In this event, open your window and sit on the sill. Wait for help. If the
  door is cool to touch, open it and leave the building. Close the door behind you.
• Use primary fire exits (stairs and main doors) whenever possible.
• If your primary means of exit is blocked, use the secondary exit. Your RA will inform you of the primary and secondary exit routes for your part of the residence hall; you can also consult the evacuation plan mounted in your hall.
• Close your door when evacuating the building. This procedure can prevent the needless spread of fire within the building.
• Do not panic. Leave the building as quickly as possible, but without bolting or becoming a part of the problem.
• Do not linger. Never remain inside a building after a fire alarm has sounded. Treat all drills as fires. You will not likely be able to distinguish a drill from the real thing until it is too late! Again, get at least fifty feet from the building at the location designated by your RA and cooperate with firefighters and check in with your RA (when possible).
• Do not return to the building until told to do so by a fire official or someone in charge.
• Always report to your RA or house manager all dangerous and suspicious behavior that might contribute to a fire problem in your residence hall.

Smoking (p.73)
The use of tobacco products is not permitted in Residence Hall, Fraternity House, or College-Owned apartment or cottage, or Settle Hall, including the Tiger Inn.

Appliances (p.74)
You are not allowed to possess unauthorized cooking equipment, to include any kind of oven or toaster oven, hot plate or cooking unit, electric grill, skillet, fryer, or cooker, hot dog cookers, hamburger cookers or toasters. Sanctions include confiscation of equipment. No cooking is allowed on grills or other implements on fire escapes, windowsills, etc. Grills must be charocal grills and can only be used on concrete patios, parking areas, or lawns. Grills cannot be used on decks or porches.

The following appliances are permissible: one half-size refrigerator and one microwave oven per student room; coffee pots and coffee makers with thermostats; popcorn poppers;
and blenders.

from The Key 2008-09 posted 7-8-2008