General Guidelines

• Predetermine two means of egress from your normal workplace. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR !
• Learn the location of the nearest fire alarm pull station and portable fire extinguisher.
• Learn how to use portable fire extinguishers.
• Smoking is not allowed in any public area, departmental office or laboratory on campus. Do not dispose of cigarettes, cigars or pipes by placing them directly into a trash can. Smoking stations and cigarette disposal receptacles are located outside of most Rice facilities .
• Avoid the use of space heaters of any type in your office. Oftentimes, these heaters are placed under desks or in closed quarters. The heat from these units can catch paper on fire or melt the insulation around electrical appliances.
• Fire extinguishers are located in the hallways, fire hose cabinets and laboratories in all Rice buildings. If you use an extinguisher, please contact the Environmental Health & Safety Department.

If your building is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system:

• Do not store any items with 18" of the bottom of the sprinkler head.
• Do not tie or hang any items from the sprinkler heads or piping.
• Report any sprinkler system leaks to the appropriate physical plant shop.
• Sprinkler heads will activate only in the area of the fire.

How to Report a Fire

If you discover a fire in a Rice University building, do the following:

If you discover a fire or see smoke:

1. Remove all personnel (students, visitors and employees) from the immediate danger area.
2. Activate the fire alarm system by pulling the nearest fire alarm.
3. Report the situation by dialing x6000 (Rice University Police) and report:
   • EXACT location of the fire (building, floor and room #);
   • Type of fire (electrical, flammable liquid, trash, etc.);
   • Extent of fire (severity of fire and/or amount of smoke);
   • Your name and telephone number.
4. If you feel comfortable with the situation, attempt to extinguish the fire using the proper fire extinguisher.
5. Confine the fire and smoke by closing all windows and doors.
6. DO NOT LOCK THE DOOR. LEAVE THE CORRIDOR AND ROOM LIGHTS ON.
7. If possible, shut off all non-essential oxygen, gas and electrical appliances in the area and remove any hazardous materials.
8. Evacuate the building using the nearest enclosed stairway or ground exit if fire and smoke cannot be controlled, or when advised by the Building Safety Officer, Building Director or if YOU think it is necessary.
9. Re-enter the building only after the all clear is signaled by repeated intermittent sounds on the building alarm system.

Building personnel should work as a team to accomplish the above procedures.