EH&S Home

BioSafety

Environmental Affairs

Fire Safety & Prevention

Loss Prevention & Training

MacroTechnology

Occupational Health & Safety

Radiation Safety

Facility Compliance Guidelines

INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

Arizona State University's (ASU) academic, research, athletic and public events, and ancillary support operations, e.g., administrative services departments and student organizations utilize various facilities throughout campus for normal and special operations and events.  ASU and each university department are responsible for ensuring each facility and any special events within a facility are compliant with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.  ASU Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is responsible for inspecting, reviewing plans, and corresponding with each university department and/or facility supervisor as well as regulators to facilitate a safe compliant facility.

REQUIREMENTS

General Safety
A facility is designed, constructed, and approved for a specific type of use.   Although a facility will be classified and approved for use for a specific type of occupancy there are usually several areas of the facility that are approved for a different type of occupancy classification.  An occupancy classification is important in the designing stage so that proper construction and life safety systems are installed to ensure a safe and code compliant facility.  Life safety systems is a general term for fire separation walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and windows, as well as fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, fire dampers, illuminated exit signs, emergency lighting, emergency showers and eye washes, exit systems, smoke control systems, and other special safety systems.  Anytime a facility or area within a facility is remodeled or utilized for an operation or occupancy different than it's original intent, the department or facility supervisor must contact EH&S in the planning stage.

Exit Systems
The most important life safety issue that can be monitored and maintained administratively by the occupants or users in a facility is the exit system.  Exit systems are facility components to assist an occupant in exiting a facility from any occupied area in a facility while maintaining designed minimum fire separations to minimize spread and exposure of any hazards, fire, or smoke.  Each department, unit, and occupant can ensure a safe exit system by observing the following basic rules:

1. Ensure corridors, hallways, stairways, stairway landings, areas of refuge, exit doors, and access to any of these areas are maintained free of obstruction, free of combustible material, chemicals, compressed cylinders, or storage.

2. Maintain the minimum required width and height in all exit ways and access to exit ways.   See the university fire prevention and safety plan and exit systems compliance guidelines for more detail.

3. Ensure that all automatic door closures and fire doors are operational and no obstructions or devices prevent them from performing as designed, e.g., doorstops or other items to prevent the door from closing and latching automatically.

4. Any damage, penetrations, or equipment operation deficiency relating to walls, floors, ceilings, exit lights, fire protection equipment, lighting, door operation, or ventilation should be reported immediately to University Servicest Work Control Center at (480) 965-3633 or by e-mail FACMAN@asu.edu.

5. Whenever utilizing the facility for a special event contact EH&S by calling (480) 965-1823 or by e-mail EHS@asu.edu in order to determine if the facility is capable of accommodating the event and the exit system is adequate.

Chemicals and Hazardous Materials
Each department, unit, and organizations must maintain compliance with applicable state and federal codes and regulations.  The use and storage of any chemicals and hazardous materials must be inventoried and monitored by the department or unit.  The complete inventory of the building must be submitted to EH&S in order to ensure that the facility maintains a safe facility and does not exceed the exempt amount of hazardous materials within the facility.  The uniform fire code defines the chemical hazard category and the maximum amount of chemicals for any particular category that can be used and stored in a facility.  In order for the facility to be utilized as a "B" type occupancy, the accumulative amounts of each chemical hazard category cannot exceed the exempt amounts as stated in the fire code.  For further information related to this section, please contact the university fire marshal at (480) 965-1823 or e-mail at EHS@asu.edu.

Material Storage
Material storage may be temporary, permanent record storage, chemical storage, combustible storage, or flammable storage.  No matter what type of storage,  it must be organized and stored in accordance with applicable codes and regulations.  It is the department, unit, and organization's responsibility to ensure that all materials used and stored are safely stored and compliant with applicable codes.  The following are general guidelines for any type of storage:

1. If the area of the storage is not protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system, then the highest point of the storage cannot be closer than 24 inches from the ceiling.

2. If the area of the storage is protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system, then the highest point of the storage cannot be closer than 18 inches from the bottom of the lowest point of the fire sprinkler head.

3. Flammable materials in one area that accumulate to 10 gallons or more must be stored in flammable cabinets.

4. Storage of any type cannot obstruct an exit system or cause the exit system to be unsafe.

5. Never store incompatible materials in the same area without appropriate separations.

It is important to know the material you are storing and other materials that are stored in the same area to ensure proper separation from incompatibles as well as knowing any specific limitations for use and storage of any given material.  If you are not sure of special code requirements for use and storage of materials, contact EH&S at (480) 965-1823 or e-mail at EHS@asu.edu.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

29 CFR Part 1910
Arizona Administrative Code R4-36-201 et seq

UNIVERSITY DOCUMENTATION AND MANUALS

Arizona State University Fire Prevention and Safety Plan

This guideline is provided as a general guideline for ASU facilities and does not cover all code compliance issues. If you have any questions or concerns, or need additional information, contact the ASU Fire Marshal and EH&S insurance coordinator at (480) 965-1823 or e-mail at EHS@asu.edu.

Mailing Address: PO Box 873804, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3804
Contact Email: EHS@asu.edu
Phone: (480) 965-1823
FAX:  (480) 965-0736