ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 1 | Page ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 2 | P a g e BACKGROUND Enacted in August 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act requires institutions with oncampus housing to publish an Annual Fire Safety Report detailing campus fire statistics, practices, and standards. This report fulfills those legal requirements for Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and complies with both the Clery Act and the Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act. FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING In the event of a fire, immediately notify Public Safety and Police Services by calling their emergency line (610-683-4001) or (911). All extinguished fires should also be reported to Public Safety via the non-emergency line (610683-4002). Fires can be reported to any individual officially associated with the university. All university employees (including, but not limited to Residence Life staff, custodians, maintenance, grounds, facilities, staff, and faculty) should report all fires and evidence of fires to Public Safety and Police Services as soon as they are discovered. In addition, Residence Life staff shall follow up with notifications to the following: • Executive Director of Residence Life, Housing & Dining 610-683-4026 • Director of Environmental, Health & Safety 610-683-4842 FIRE SAFETY Kutztown University is dedicated to maintaining a fire-safe environment for all students, staff, and faculty living and working in university residences. To support this mission, the Office of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) establishes and implements comprehensive policies and programs focused on fire protection, prevention, inspections, and life-safety education. FIRE PREVENTION To ensure a fire-safe environment in our residence halls and apartments, the following items and actions are prohibited: • Open Flames: Any type of open flame, including candles and incense. Smoking & Vaping: Smoking or vaping inside all university buildings, student rooms, and courtyards. This includes carrying a lighted pipe, cigarette, or cigar. Unapproved Electronics: All electrical equipment and appliances that are not UL approved, including decorative string lights.
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 3 | P a g e • Cooking (Traditional/Suites): Cooking appliances are entirely prohibited in traditional and suite-style residence halls. • Exposed Elements: Appliances with exposed heating elements (such as space heaters and hot plates) are banned in all residence halls and apartments. • High-Heat Lighting: Auxiliary lights such as halogen lamps and other heat-producing light fixtures. • Hazardous Materials: The storage of combustible, flammable, or explosive materials, including propane tanks, lighter fluid, gasoline, paint solvents, and compressed gas/air cylinders. • Apartment Cooking Exceptions: Cooking appliances with sealed heating elements are permitted only in apartments. Allowed items include crockpots, air fryers, toasters, electric frying pans, popcorn poppers, automatic-shutoff coffee makers, and microwaves. ITEMS PERMITTED WITH RESTRICTIONS Extension cords must meet the following safety guidelines: • Wire Gauge: Use minimum 14-gauge, 3-wire grounded cords (or a heavier rating if required by the appliance). • No Daisy Chaining: Never plug extension cords into one another. • One per Outlet: Plug only one extension cord per outlet and connect only one item per cord. • Safe Placement: Never secure cords with nails or tacks and never run them under rugs or floor coverings. • Approved Strips: Use only surge-protected power strips for multiple electrical devices. Multi-plug cube adapters are strictly prohibited. Additional information is available in The Key-Student Handbook. The Residence Hall Fire Safety Policy can be found at the following location: https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/residence-life-housing-anddiningservices/community-living/policies/fire-safety-policy.html
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 4 | P a g e FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS FIRE ALARMS SYSTEMS All campus residence halls and apartments are protected by automatic, addressable fire alarm systems featuring voice notifications. These systems are monitored 24/7 via a direct connection to the Kutztown University Public Safety and Police Services Dispatch Center. The campus fire infrastructure includes comprehensive smoke and heat detection, manual pull stations, and ADA-compliant visual strobe lights that flash upon activation. The building-wide alarm system is triggered automatically by smoke, heat, or sprinkler activation, or manually via pull stations. Automatic Detection & Suppression Systems: Systems designed to operate and initiate evacuation notifications independently, without human interaction. Addressable Fire Detection Systems: Systems that pinpoint the exact location of an activated device (its "address") and report it directly to the fire alarm panel and the Dispatch Center, allowing first responders to locate the incident instantly. Voice Notification Systems: Audible systems that alert occupants to an emergency and provide explicit instructions to evacuate and gather at assigned outdoor assembly points. Campus fire alarms systems meet or exceed The National Fire Alarm Code, NFPA 72. The systems and components are inspected annually, by a NICET certified technician, per NFPA requirements.
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 5 | P a g e Fire Safety Systems in KU Buildings Facility Fire Alarm Monitoring on Site (PS) Full Sprinkler System Smoke & Heat Detection Strobe Lights Fire Extinguishers Evacuation Plans Number of Fire Drills per Calendar Year Beck Hall X X X X X X 2 Berks Hall X X X X X X 2 Bonner Hall X X X X X X 2 Deatrick Hall X X X X X X 2 Dixon Hall X X X X X X 2 GBVS #10 X X X X X X 2 GBVS #20 X X X X X X 2 GBVS #30 X X X X X X 2 GBVS #40 X X X X X X 2 GBVS #50 X X X X X X 2 GBVS #60 X X X X X X 2 GBVS #70 X X X X X X 2 GBVS #80 X X X X X X 2 GBW X X X X X X 2 Honors Bldg. X X X X X X 2 Johnson Hall X X X X X X 2 Lehigh Hall X X X X X X 2 Rothermel Hall X X X X X X 2 Schuylkill Hall X X X X X X 2 University Place X X X X X X 2 SPRINKLER SYSTEMS All campus residence halls and apartments are protected by automatic, water-based fire sprinkler systems, including both wet and dry-pipe configurations. Some high-rise facilities also feature stairway fire hose connections and dedicated fire pumps to maintain code-compliant water pressure and flow. Every sprinkler system is integrated with the building’s fire alarm panel, instantly triggering a building-wide alarm upon activation. To ensure continuous reliability, all systems comply with NFPA 13 and 25 guidelines and undergo semiannual inspections by NICET-certified technicians.
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 6 | P a g e Full Sprinkler System: Provides complete coverage across all building areas, including living spaces, corridors, lobbies, lounges, mechanical rooms, and storage spaces. Wet-Pipe System: Maintains water in the pipes at all times, making it constantly primed for immediate deployment. Dry-Pipe System: Installed in areas vulnerable to freezing temperatures; pipes remain filled with pressurized air or nitrogen until a fire triggers water delivery. Heat-Activated Heads: Sprinkler heads respond exclusively to high heat, not smoke. Each head operates independently, activating only when the ambient air temperature reaches a predetermined threshold. Water Flow & Control: An activated sprinkler head typically discharges 30 gallons of water per minute. Once the fire is suppressed, the water flow must be shut off manually by emergency personnel. PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Portable fire extinguishers are strategically placed throughout residence hall corridors, common areas, and mechanical spaces. Depending on the specific hazards of the location, the university provides multi-purpose dry chemical (ABC), pressurized water, or carbon dioxide (COଶ) extinguishers. In compliance with NFPA 10 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157 standards, all fire extinguishers undergo rigorous maintenance. The Kutztown University Office of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) conducts routine checks, while a NICET-certified fire suppression technician performs comprehensive annual inspections. Per federal guidelines, all units receive a specialized six-year maintenance teardown and undergo hydrostatic pressure testing every 5 or 12 years based on equipment type. Understanding Fire Classifications: Fire extinguishers are rated based on the specific fuel source of the fire. Multi-class (ABC) units are capable of extinguishing multiple types of hazards: Class A: Ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, and trash. Class B: Flammable and combustible liquids or gases, including gasoline, kerosene, propane, and butane. Class C: Energized electrical circuits, wiring, and appliances.
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 7 | P a g e FIRE/EVACUATION DRILLS In compliance with Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations and university policy, fire and evacuation drills are conducted every semester, starting at the beginning of the fall term. All occupants must immediately evacuate whenever a fire alarm is activated in a campus housing facility. The Office of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) evaluates drill performance and shares feedback with Residence Life to integrate lessons learned into future training. EVACUATION PROCEDURES Immediate Actions: If You Smell Smoke or See Fire: 1. Alert Others & Activate the System • Shout "FIRE" to immediately warn everyone in the immediate area. • Pull the nearest manual alarm station on your way out if the building sirens are not already sounding. 2. Evacuate Safely • Exit immediately through the nearest safe exit in a quick, orderly fashion. • Close windows and doors behind you to help contain the fire (only if time permits). • Use the stairs only. Never use the elevator during a fire emergency. • If you cannot evacuate independently: Proceed to the nearest Area of Rescue and call Public Safety at 610-683-4001 for assistance. 3. Once Outside • Report directly to your building's designated outdoor assembly location. • Stay outside and never re-enter the building until emergency personnel officially give the "All Clear." Safety Tip: Take time now to locate your primary exit and a secondary backup exit in your residence hall. FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY TRAINING The Office of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) partners with Residence Life to provide annual fire and life safety training for Residence Directors (RDs) and Community Assistants (CAs). EHS equips CAs with standardized talking points to ensure a consistent, campus-wide message during mandatory hall meetings. Student safety meetings are conducted by CAs at the start of the fall semester.
ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY REPORT – 2026 8 | P a g e The training curriculum covers: • The physics of fire: Understanding fire behavior and hazards. • Campus safety infrastructure: How the fire alarm and sprinkler systems operate. • Building structural safety: Navigating localized fire barriers and emergency components. • Emergency tools: Proper identification and use of fire extinguishers. • Evacuation protocols: Safe, efficient building egress procedures. Risk mitigation: Proactive life safety habits and fire prevention strategies. FIRE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS The Office of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) collaborates with fire safety vendors, like Johnson Controls, to continually improve the university's fire alarm infrastructure. As a component of annual safety inspections, the university evaluates technical feedback and work to implement recommendations from Johnson Controls and other specialized vendors. In tandem with these hardware evaluations, Kutztown University routinely reviews and updates its internal safety policies to ensure alignment with evolving best practices. FIRE LOG A comprehensive fire log of all reported incidents is maintained by the Office of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) at the Kutztown University Facilities Building. This log records the building name, specific location, date, time, and nature of each fire. EHS prepares this annual publication in strict compliance with Section 485(i) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, formally known as the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act. The complete document is available digitally on the Kutztown University EHS Portal. Physical copies of the Annual Fire Safety Report may also be requested by contacting the Kutztown University Work Control Center (610-683-1594).
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