Facilities & Services

Fire Safety

Written by Logan Trimble, Director of Operations
Reviewed by the UConn Fire Department and Student Affairs Risk Manager, Denielle Burl

A recent Associated Press articles notes an increase in residence hall fires across the nation. The purpose of this memo is to inform the University community about our institutional policies and protocols designed to prevent such fires.

In addition to fire-safety conscious staff at the University of Connecticut, we have some of the most sophisticated fire equipment available. All residence halls, Hilltop Apartments, Charter Oak Apartments, and Husky Village have sprinkler systems and fire/smoke detectors that are wired directly to the on-campus Fire Department. Mansfield Apartments and Northwood Apartments also have fire and smoke detectors that are wired directly to the on-campus Fire Department, with sprinkler system installations scheduled for the 2007-08 school year. Throughout campus, fire horns, strobe lights, followed by ear-piercing announcements assist us in notifying residents at all hours of building emergencies. As a safety measure, the Fire Department conducts fire drills in the residence halls during the academic year, recording response times, building evacuation times, and other relevant safety data.

To help promote a fire-safe campus and ensure the safety of all residence, the University lists various items which students may or may not maintain in their residence hall. The following items are always prohibited in residence halls: open flame appliances, hot plates, halogen lights, and open element heating devices such as toaster ovens, household electric grills/grilling equipment, toasters, electric frying pans, etc. Students are permitted to maintain certain UL approved appliances in their dorm, limited to UL approved coffee makers, UL approved popcorn poppers, and microwave ovens of 700 watts or less. Finally, certain food-preparation items are permitted within the kitchen area of our apartments only, limited to UL approved appliances such as coffee makers, popcorn poppers, toasters, toaster oven, hot plates, electric grills/skillets, microwave ovens, crock-pots, rice cookers, vegetable steamers, and etc. Along with candles, smoking is banned from all residence halls and apartments.