Beginning Feb. 4 and continuing through March 8, the New York state fire inspector from the Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) will inspect all campus facilities.
OFPC inspects every building on the SUNY Oswego campus annually. All rooms are subject to inspection, though as a practical matter not all will be.
The inspector looks for common violations, which include extension cord use, plug extenders, tapestries/flags, excessive wall coverings, string lights that cross the ceiling or transom of a door, candles, illegal appliances, storage of combustible rubbish and other items that are against state law.
The office's top 10 cited violations:
- Improper use of extension cords; for example, refrigerators must be plugged directly into the wall and not an extension cord
- Swinging fire doors do not close and latch
- Obstructed means of egress, including during snow and ice season
- Excessive and unsafe accumulation of combustible storage
- General electrical hazards: frayed cords, damaged outlets, etc.
- Extinguishers improperly installed and maintained
- Propped-open fire doors
- Fire-resistance rating not maintained; for example, making holes in a fire-rated wall
- Excess combustible storage in offices and mechanical rooms
- Illegal power taps to electrical outlets
The OFPC inspects about 25,000 buildings statewide. The office was originally established shortly after World War II as the Division of Safety in the state Office for Local Government. In 2010, the office merged into the newly created state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. This merger brought together several state offices, all of which provide public protection services.
Collectively, these offices work on collaboration and coordination aimed at benefiting emergency services, citizens and businesses throughout New York state. While not all-inclusive, the OFPC's duties include ensuring that classrooms, offices and residents' rooms are free of violations.
Failure to remedy a violation by a date specified can result in fines ranging from $50 to $500 per violation, per day.
If college employees see something wrong in regard to fire safety, they should write a work order to get it fixed. Students should make written notification to their residence hall director.
If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming OFPC inspection please feel free to contact SUNY Oswego Fire Marshal Ken Ayhens at 315-312-3156 or kenneth.ayhens@oswego.edu.