Keep safety first during the holidays

There are numerous fire hazards that can be created by holiday decorations. Policies concerning holiday decorations vary dependent upon the type of building construction, occupancy and fire detection, and suppression equipment utilized. The following are a number of holiday decoration guidelines for River Campus facilities:

• Use of artificial greenery labeled as fire resistant or flame retardant and UL listed or classified is permitted. The use of natural greenery is prohibited except as approved by the Fire Marshal.

• Holiday greenery and related electrical decorations are not permitted in corridors, aisles, stairways, or passageways and are not allowed to obstruct the usual view of exit signs.

• Combustible materials are prohibited for use in holiday decorations. Foil decorations such as satin balls or holiday ribbon are recommended.

• All electric light sets and extension cords used must bear the (UL) or (FM) label and be identified for indoor use. All lights should be carefully checked to ensure there are no loose sockets and that wires are not frayed or damaged and should be turned off before leaving the area.

• Holiday lights should not come into contact with paper, cloth, or other combustible items and should be attached to walls or molding with electrical tape or cup-type hooks.

• No more than three sets of holiday lights per extension cord is allowed. Overload electrical outlets can be dangerous.

• The use of candles, lanterns, oil lamps, or any type of other open flames in prohibited.

• Posting of flyers and other combustible material is permitted only on general purpose bulletin boards and authorized posting areas.

For additional information, contact the Fire Marshal's Office at x5-3243.

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