| Title: | Open Flames, Hot Work, and other Heat Producing Activities, Policy on |
|---|---|
| Policy Owner: | Division of Public Safety |
| Applies to: | All members of the Storrs campus, Regional campuses, the Law School, the School of Social Work and UConn Health. |
| Campus Applicability: | Storrs campus, UConn Health, Regional campuses, the Law School and the School of Social Work. |
| Effective Date: | 4/24/2018 |
| For More Information, Contact | The Office of the Fire Marshall and Building Inspector |
| Contact Information: | firemarshal@uconn.edu (860) 486-4878 |
| Official Website: | http://publicsafety.uconn.edu/fmbio/ |
Purpose
The University of Connecticut is committed to promoting a safe and secure environment for the University community. As part of this commitment, the University recognizes that there are inherent public safety and fire safety risks and concerns with the use of open flame, pyrotechnic devices, fireworks, and hot work sources, especially so within the confines of a public assembly. The purpose of this policy is to outline acceptable and unacceptable uses of open flames, pyrotechnic devices, fireworks, and hot work on all University property.
Applicability / Source of Authority
The University Fire Marshal derives statutory authority to regulate, permit, limit, or terminate the use of open flames, pyrotechnic devices, fireworks, and hot work on University property and require parameters under which these activities may occur on University property through Connecticut General Statutes section 29-291, Connecticut General Statutes section 29-306, and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Connecticut Department of Construction Services. Concurrent with this authority, the University designates the University Fire Marshal as the Authority Having Jurisdiction to administer and enforce this policy, as well as serving as the designated point of contact between the University and the State Department of Construction Services (State Fire Marshal’s Office).
Definitions
“Hot Work” means the construction, maintenance or repair process utilizing a source of ignition and/or flammable material, including but not limited to cutting, soldering/brazing, grinding, welding, torch heating, and heat treatments.
POLICY STATEMENT
Given the risks associated with the use of open flame, pyrotechnic devices, fireworks, and hot work sources, alternative methods should be utilized when possible or practical.
Within the University’s jurisdiction, there are three generally accepted reasons for the regulated use of open flames and heat producing effects:
- To support ongoing construction, maintenance and repair “hot work.” These are controlled uses of flames/heat and are currently regulated by Division of Environmental Health and Safety policy, Factory Mutual (FM) Hot Work permitting processes, and/or unit specific procedures within Facilities Operations, all of which are approved by the University Fire Marshal.
- For academic research purposes such as heat treating, gas flame heating, and combustion research, which are regulated by the Division of Environmental Health and Safety, Connecticut General Statutes, and applicable national standards.
- For celebratory, student recreation, or food cooking purposes. These include fireworks, pyrotechnics, woodland camp fires, torch lighting ceremonies, and gas fueled heating appliances, which are regulated by Connecticut General Statutes and applicable national standards and all of which must be directly approved by the University Fire Marshal
To support the aforementioned acceptable uses, local department procedures may be created, provided that any such procedure regarding flames or hot work must be created in consultation with, and approved by the University Fire Marshal prior to implementation.
Any use of open flames, hot work, pyrotechnic or flammable gas flame displays not covered within a local department procedure shall be requested through, and approved by, the University Fire Marshal and administered though the Office of the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector on a case by case basis. Such authorization to approve can be delegated to a designee within the UConn Fire Department or Division of Public Safety as needed.
The University Fire Marshal has administrative and statutory authority to order flames to be extinguished or for hot work to be discontinued when these activities represent a danger to public safety or that are not in administrative compliance with this policy. Such authorization to order extinguishment and/or discontinuance can be delegated to a designee within the UConn Fire Department or Division of Public Safety as needed.
When a request for the use of open flames, pyrotechnic devices, fireworks, and hot work is received that exceeds the scope of the statutory authority for University Fire Marshal approval, the University Fire Marshal will be the point of contact with the State of Connecticut Fire Marshal, who must authorize the request.
ENFORCEMENT
Violations of this policy may result in criminal prosecution and/or appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and Responsibilities of Community Life: The Student Code.
RELATED POLICY
See also:
POLICY HISTORY
Policy created: 04/24/2018 (Approved by President’s Cabinet)