For more information about fire safety protocols, please visit the links below:

Fire Evacuation Procedures    |   Fire Safety Inspections

Housing Services are truly committed to your safety. With so many students living in such close proximity within our residence halls, each and every resident plays an important role in fire prevention. The following policies are designed to aid in fire prevention and protect the safety of all residents. If you have questions related to fire safety, please contact Housing Services at (757) 823-8407 or email us at housing@nsu.edu.

Smoke Free Residence Areas:

All residence areas have been designated as smoke-free facilities. Smoking is not allowed within any part of these facilities or within 15 feet of the buildings, including exterior balconies, stairways, steps and entranceways.

Electrical Appliances:

Power strips must have a built-in circuit breaker and carry the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) approval. Power Strips are required because THE USE OF EXTENSION CORDS VIOLATES FIRE CODE AND IS PROHIBITED. You cannot plug power strips into other power strips in a series, so bring one with a long cord. Cords/cables may not run under, through or around a door, and must be taped securely to the floor so they do not pose a tripping hazard. Electrical cables may not pass under any carpeting.

Each room may have one small refrigerator not exceeding 5.0 cubic feet capacity (or two refrigerators that are each 4.0 cubic feet capacity) No cooking or heating appliances are permitted

The following appliances are approved for use in residence halls:

	television sets
	hair dryers
	electrical curling irons/heating curlers with enclosed heating coil
	computer equipment
	sound system entertainment
	lamps (except halogen lamps)

The following items are not permitted:

	Extension cords
	Multi-plug adapters
	Candles with wicks and incense
	Electrical appliances with exposed heating elements including:  hot plates, ovens, toasters, grills, soldering irons, hot pots, tea kettles and heaters
	Microwave oven
	Space heaters

Decorations Policy

Furnishings/Decorations

All rooms are furnished with beds, closets, desks and chairs. Students are permitted to bring a radio, television, (earphones are recommended), clock, computer, desk lamps (a necessity) and small rugs. ADDITIONAL FURNITURE IS NOT PERMITTED.

Mattresses are to be used on the bed frames provided and not on the floor. Students must provide their own bed linens (sheets, pillow cases, blankets) and mattress covers.

Residents living in suites must provide their own shower curtains, cleaning supplies, deodorizers/cleaners (for bathrooms) and cleaning equipment (brooms, mops, mini vacuum cleaners, etc). The University will supply trash bags and bathroom tissue.

Students housed in suites must remove their shower curtains and curtain rods before check-out.

All decorations must be nonflammable materials. Wire, rope, or string may be strung across the room; no tacks, pins, nails, paste or glue is to be on the walls or wood works.

Door decorations: message pads, etc. are limited to two pieces not larger than 8 ˝” x 14” each. No offensive alcohol/drug related posters or paraphernalia are permitted.

No glow-in-the-dark stars, etc. are permitted on the ceilings or walls.

Postings

Posting of fliers or other information in common areas will be restricted to areas approved and identified by the Residence Hall Coordinator in each hall. Any unauthorized documents will be removed and disposed of immediately by Housing staff.

All residents and tenants are subject to the same "Decorations Policy". Failure to comply will result in administrative review and possible sanctions appropriate to the infraction, to include removal from University residency.

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Fire Safety Regulations

 

1. All residents and guests must evacuate at the sounding of building fire alarm systems.
2. It is a violation to block an exit for any purpose.
3. No occupant or visitor will be permitted to collect and/or assemble material, which would constitute a fire hazard anywhere within the residence area.
4. No occupant or visitor will be allowed to kindle any type of fire within the residence area.
5. Burning candles and incense is prohibited in the residence halls.
6. Fire drills will be conducted during the year. The State Fire Marshal inspects each residential area during the year for fire code violations. Upon re-inspection, any resident still in violation of code or housing regulations will receive an Administrative Hearing. If you have questions related to fire safety, please contact the Facilities office.
7. For your safety and protection, remember, in case of fire, get out as quickly as possible and leave the fire fighting to the professionals.

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State Fire Marshal Inspections

 

Purpose: To define the operational process to be followed when dealing with the annual State Fire Marshal's Office Inspection of residential facilities at Norfolk State University.

Definition: Annually, soon after Opening, an inspector from the State Fire Marshal's Office begins the inspection of residence facilities. These inspections occur periodically throughout the academic year and encompass all residential facilities on campus.

Day of Inspection: On the day of the first and subsequent re-inspections, Housing provides keys/staff members to accompany the State Fire Marshal during the inspection process. For each space inspected, a "notice" is issued by Housing Services, indicating any discrepancy found or states that the room was inspected and there are no violations. All reports, notifications and inspections are handled in the same manner unless otherwise stipulated within this policy.

After the Inspection: At the conclusion of each scheduled visit, the State Fire Marshal compiles reports for each area inspected. The Residential Housing Manager and the University Safety Officer will be responsible for forwarding all violations to their staff members. The Residence Hall Coordinator and building staff is responsible for the immediate correction of all discrepancies within their capability. Each resident, tenant or staff member responsible for assigned areas are contacted by e-mail, emphasizing the need for immediate correction of each violation.

The Residence Hall Coordinator will verbally speak with all residents who are in violation to ensure that violations are corrected by the date specified on the report.

The Residential Housing Manager and Residence Hall Coordinators will ensure correction of discrepancies in areas under their purview within the allotted time frame, and report these corrections.

Sanctions: The following sanctions apply to residents found in violation during the inspections:

When the fire alarm sounds you must evacuate the facility. Never assume it is a drill or false alarm; treat each alarm as the real thing.

	Wear shoes; if possible, carry wet towels.
	Close all doors behind you to retard the spread of smoke.
	If you are in another part of the building, do not return to your room.
	Go to the nearest exit or stairway. NEVER USE AN ELEVATOR. If the nearest exit is blocked, use an alternate route. If all exits are blocked, go back to your room and follow the procedures described above.
	Never re-enter the building until staff indicates it is safe to do so.

	If possible, open the window at the top and the bottom to let out smoke and let in fresh air.
	DO NOT BREAK THE GLASS. Smoke and fumes may be drawn in through the windows. You must be able to close the window if necessary.
	Shout for help. Seal cracks around the door with towels or bed linen to keep out smoke. Stay near the floor when possible.
	Hang a sheet, jacket, shirt or other object in or outside the window to attract attention.

If you discover a fire, do not endanger yourself:

1. PULL THE NEAREST ALARM BOX
2. SHOUT A WARNING - REPEAT IT
3. CALL 911, even if a small fire has been quickly extinguished.
4. Close all doors - especially those on stairwells, which should NEVER be open.
5. Leave the building, move at least 200 feet away from the building. Keep clear of driveways, sidewalks, and access pathways.

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