The Daily Reveille reported this week that many University academic buildings lacked sufficient sprinkler coverage or needed new fire alarms, but campus facilities have passed their most recent fire marshall inspections.
The fire marshall performs two inspections per year, the most recent on March 21. That inspection found only minor compliance issues with the University’s fire extinguishers, said Patrick West, manager of Safety & Environmental Training.
One item on the list showed the sprinkler was 10 feet below the ceiling, providing incomplete coverage. Many buildings weren’t cited for any problems.
West said the University’s fire safety program offers many fail-safes.
“If one part fails, there’s something to back it up,” West said.
He said the first level of fire detection is students, who should report fires if they see them. If students aren’t present, West said an alarm goes off that sends a signal to a 24-hour manned police station. The signal is then relayed to a 24-hour monitored Facility Services office.
Any time a fire alarm goes off and the Fire Department is called, three trucks arrive on the scene within minutes, West said.
Because many of the University’s facilities are old and in need of repair, Executive Director of Facility Services Tony Lombardo said he often wonders what would happen if a hurricane or other disaster were to destroy a building.
The limited number of buildings on campus would make the absence of one building strongly impact students’ learning and the University’s daily operations, Lombardo said.
But West said he can’t recall of any major fires that have occurred in University buildings, only minor fires resulting from unattended cigarettes among other issues.
A major fire would not likely occur in a University building because the facilities don’t have any ignition systems, and open flames inside the buildings are prohibited, West said.
West said a building service crew inspects buildings and makes note of any problems, including any fire safety issues. Finally, he mentioned each individual facility has a building coordinator who performs quarterly inspections of the buildings.
“The biggest hazard is off campus,” West said.
He said when students go out to bars, they usually only notice the doors where they enter.
“People naturally try to go out the same way they came in,” West said, noting if a fire were to occur at a bar, the entrances would be a major hazard.
He advised students to be mindful of multiple exits anywhere they go.
On campus, West said most exits are visible from anywhere inside a building.
“Overall, the fire protection, emergency detection systems are very well inspected,” West said. “They’re not neglected.”
 
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Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at [email protected]