TCNJ

22 THE COLLEGE'S ANNUAL SECURITY AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT 2021 Fire safety systems protect all college-managed on-campus student housing facilities, and each system consists of fire alarms, smoke detection, and sprinkler protection. Strobe lights are equipped in certain rooms based on occupant need and required codes. Additionally, all on-campus student housing facilities and attached parking garages are equipped with fire extinguishers. Fire safety systems in college-managed residence halls are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by the Office of CPS. In college houses the sprinkler system is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a contracted central station monitoring company that notifies the Office of CPS in the event of an alarm. Fire safety education for college-managed on-campus student housing facilities is prepared by the Office of Occupational Safety and Environmental Services for the Department of Residential Education and Housing, to provide information to all occupants of these facilities. Fire safety education topics include, but are not limited to, fire prevention, safe evacuation techniques, and fire extinguishers. TCNJ maintains a mandatory evacuation policy in all college- managed on-campus student housing facilities. In accordance with this policy, in the event of a fire or upon activation of any fire alarm, all building occupants are required to evacuate the building. Evacuees are then required to retreat to a safe location at least 50 feet from the building. Any person who fails to evacuate during a fire alarm activation is subject to criminal complaints by the Office of CPS and/or disciplinary action through the Student Conduct process. Each on-campus student housing facility has a fire safety and evacuation plan. During the 2019–20 academic year, at the direction of the Office of Occupational Safety and Environmental Services and the Office of CPS, the Department of Residential Education and Housing performed a total of 48 fire drills. ese fire drills werecompleted, at each of the 16 college-managed on-campus student housing facilities, in the following manner: two (2) fire drills were conducted during the fall 2019 semester and one (1) fire drill was conducted during the spring 2020 semester. During each semester the first drill was conducted within 10 days of the beginning of classes. During the fall semester we conducted one (1) drill between sunset and sunrise. Due to the New Jersey Public Health Emergency declared on March 9, 2020 (Executive Order 103) in response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the New Jersey State Division of Fire Safety waived the requirement to conduct fire drills. As such, no fire drills were conducted during the 2020–21 academic year. In lieu of fire drills, in accordance with New Jersey Division of Fire Safety direction, the college enacted mandatory online fire safety training prepared by the Office of Occupational Safety and Environmental Services for all residents of on-campus housing facilities. e Public Health Emergency, declared in Executive Order 103, was terminated on June 4, 2021 (Executive Order 244). As such, during the 2021–22 academic year at the direction of the Office of Occupational Safety and Environmental Services and the Office of Campus Police Services, the Department of Residential Education and Housing plans to perform four (4) fire drills at each of the 16 college-managed residence halls, for a total of 64 fire drills. Two (2) drills will be performed during the fall semester, and two (2) drills will be performed during the spring semester. During each semester, the first drill will be conducted within 10 days of the beginning of classes and at least one (1) drill will be performed between sunset and sunrise. is drill schedule is implemented each academic year and is in compliance with the International Fire Code New Jersey edition 2015. During fire drills of the college-managed on-campus student housing facilities, the Department of Residential Education and Housing visual checks each room to confirm all residents have evacuated from the building. Additionally, the Department of Residential Education and Housing performs visual inspections of each resident's room in on-campus student housing facilities to confirm fire safety compliance. Residents found in violation of college policy are subject to disciplinary action through the Student Conduct process. In adherence to the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition 2015, the following is strictly prohibited in all college-managed on-campus student housing facilities: tampering or misuse of all fire safety equipment (which includes, but is not limited to, fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, sprinkler heads, smoke detectors, heat sensors, "Exit" signs, emergency lighting, elevator phones, fire doors, and call boxes); blocking doorways; hanging objects from windows; hanging objects on/from fire safety equipment or the ceiling; and initiating false alarms. TCNJ and the state of New Jersey treat false alarms very seriously. Individuals who initiate false alarms are subject to local, state, or federal legal processes and/or disciplinary action through the Student Conduct process. Due to their extreme potential fire hazards the following items are strictly prohibited in college-managed on-campus student housing facilities: candles (even for decorative purposes); incense; halogen lamps; fireworks; smoke/fog machines; flame-producing devices; personal furniture containing or constructed of urethane; and appliances with exposed heating elements, including but not limited to broiler or toaster ovens, heating devices, hotplates, toasters, and space heaters (in emergencies, space heaters may be issued by the Department of Residential Education and Housing staff). e use of appliances with enclosed heating elements for cooking purposes is only permitted in the common areas (i.e., kitchens and lounges); this includes rice cookers, slow cookers, and similar items. Electronic devices, including but not limited to protected power strips, must be tested by an independent testing organization (e.g., UL, ETL, CE, etc.). Extension cords, unprotected power strips, "multiplug adapters," and similar are prohibited from use in college-managed on-campus student housing facilities, as is the act of "Daisy- chaining" power strips (i.e., connecting multiple power strips together). According to New Jersey state law, smoking of any tobacco product or use of any electronic smoking devices in any indoor public place or workplace is prohibited. In order to maintain the highest levels of health and safety possible, TCNJ prohibits smoking of any tobacco product or use of any electronic smoking devices in all residential buildings. Residents and occupants of facilities in which evidence of use of such a product is found are subject to action through the Student Conduct process and/or fines from the state of New Jersey. All fire safety violations are considered very serious and may result in removal from residence. A fire log is maintained at the Office of CPS. To review this log, please visit the dispatch window located in the college's Administrative Services Building. All fires are required to be reported to the Office of CPS.

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