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Apartment Handbook.

Section 5

 

V. FIRE PROTECTION AND PROCEDURES

  1. Fire Procedures
    1. If the smoke detector activates in your apartment:
    • Check the apartment for smoke or actual fire. Should no smoke or fire be present, contact the on-duty Community Aide or University Housing Services.
    • If there is an actual fire, or if smoke is present, evacuate all apartment occupants to the outside area, and out of the Fire Department's way (across the street or drive).
    • In case of an actual fire, warn the neighboring apartments that are along your path of evacuation.
    • From the nearest available phone, dial 911. State your name, apartment complex (Cardinal Court or 300 Shelbourne Drive), apartment number (A-1, E-59, or #46), and state that the smoke detector is sounding in your apartment.
    • Contact the on-duty Community Aide or University Housing Services.
    • Be available to the Normal Fire Department to direct them to your apartment or answer any questions.
    • Do NOT attempt to extinguish the fire.
    • All occupants should remain outside the building until the Normal Fire Department determines it is safe to re-enter the apartment building.
    1. If you hear a smoke detector alarm coming from another apartment:
    • Should the smoke detector sound in a vacant (unoccupied) apartment, dial 911. State your name, apartment complex (Cardinal Court or 300 Shelbourne Drive), apartment number (A-1, E-59, or #46) and the apartment number (A-1, E-59, or #46) where the smoke detector is sounding.
    • If the smoke detector is sounding in an occupied apartment, check the apartment by banging on the door or walls, by yelling, etc. to determine if the occupants are home or have evacuated the apartment. Then find the closest phone and dial 911. State your name, apartment complex (Cardinal Court or 300 Shelbourne Drive), and the apartment number (A-1, E-59, or #46) where the fire alarm is sounding.
    • Evacuate the building, warning the neighboring apartments that are along your path of evacuation. Move a safe distance away (across the street or drive), so you will not be in the way of the Fire Department.
    • Contact the on-duty Community Aide or University Housing Services.
    • Be available to the Normal Fire Department to direct them to the affected apartment and/or answer any questions.
    • All occupants should remain outside the building until the Normal Fire Department determines it is safe to re-enter the apartment building.
    (Prepared by the Illinois State University Office of Environmental Health & Safety)
  2. Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher
    1. To operate the fire extinguisher:
      1. Remove the fire extinguisher from the holding bracket.
      2. Pull the safety release pin near the top of the fire extinguisher. (This pin may be held in place with a breakable plastic strap.)
      3. Aim the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the base of the flames.
      4. Squeeze the handles together to discharge the dry powder.
      5. Sweep slowly back and forth across the fire with the dry powder stream.
    2. To check the fire extinguisher:
      1. Examine the circular pressure gauge located near the top of the fire extinguisher.
      2. If the indicator needle on this pressure gauge is in the center position or slightly to the overcharged position, the fire extinguisher should operate correctly.
      3. If the indicator needle on this pressure gauge is into the recharge position, the fire extinguisher may not function correctly.
      4. Contact University Housing Services Facilities, 438-8899, if the fire extinguisher pressure gauge indicator needle is into the recharge position or if the needle is well into the overcharge position.
  3. Smoke Detectors
    1. As of July 1, 1988, the Smoke Detector Act became law. Under this regulation, tampering with, removing, destroying, disconnecting, or removing the batteries from any installed smoke detector, except in the course of inspection, maintenance, or replacement of the detector, shall be a Class A misdemeanor in the case of a first conviction, and a Class 4 felony in the case of a second or subsequent conviction. All University-owned apartments are equipped with electrical smoke detectors and University Housing Services in the process of removing the existing battery powered ones.
    2. To test the detector:
      1. CHECK THE RED LIGHT - Check the red light which can be seen by looking directly into the clear round button on the face of the detector. The red light should be always on.
      2. PUSH THE TEST BUTTON - Push the clear round test button on the face of the detector and hold it for about 10 seconds. If the detector is working correctly, the horn should sound; it should stop shortly after you release the button.
      3. CONTACT UNIVERSITY HOUSING SERVICES FACILITIES - Contact University Housing Services Facilities if the detector is not functioning properly.