Fire Response System

This document describes key pieces of information regarding the UM’s fire response system.

On 2024-05-10 Richard Bana (Safety Specialist, Environmental Health Safety & Risk Management) and Gerald Ortiz (Fire Inspector) performed a fire inspection of Kent Hall. This involved reporting on a “Fire Protection Systems Checklist” (\(n\)=13) and “Fire/Life Safety Violations Checklist” (\(n\)=21) that involved more than 34 total items. The inspection found 20 deficiencies which will need to be corrected. Craig filed the inspection completed on 2024-05-10 in the Museum SharePoint at SP-HOME\Facility\fire_inspections\ and the file is named Activity Report - CEI-gort-23-0163.pdf.

Despite the fact that Mr. Bana and Ortiz reported that fire inspections of Kent Hall are an annual affair, Craig could find no prior fire inspection reports in either paper or digital form. There is now a place on the SharePoint where annual fire inspections can be stored. If this location is not to be used, some other container for housing these documents should be created.

During the 2024-05-10 inspection, several key points were raised:

• Fire extinguishers must be inspected monthly.
  • Richard Bana indicated that moving forward extinguisher inspections are the responsibility of UM staff.
  • Bana gave Craig a brief demonstration illustrating how to inspect an extinguisher.
  • On 2024-05-21 Craig requested official documentation on how to inspect fire extinguishers. Bana responded that for liability issues, NMSU will hire and train undergraduates to perform the work. It now seems like UM staff will not be required to inspect fire extinguishers.
• Drapes to the kitchen were not NFPA 701 Test Method 1 or 2 compliant.
  • Craig took these down. Drapes to the kitchen must have a fire compliance label.
• 3’ clearance must be maintained around all fire panels, alarms, and extinguishers (Figure 1).

(a) Map of Kent Hall first floor showing the location of fire alarm panel, alarms and extinguishers.

(b) Map of Kent Hall second floor showing the location of fire alarms and extinguishers

(c) Map of Kent Hall basement showing the location of fire alarms and extinguishers

Figure 1: Maps showing the location of fire panels, alarms, and extinguishers throughout Kent Hall. Note click image for larger version of the map. All maps created by Craig using official NMSU architectural plans.

(a) Photograph of fire alarm in KH 200 adjacent to East doorway.

(b) Photograph of fire extinguisher in KH 2nd floor outside of KH 207.

(c) Photograph of fire extinguisher in KH 209.

(d) Photograph of fire alarm in KH 210B.

(e) Photograph of fire extinguisher in KH 210C.

Figure 2: Photographs showing the location of fire alarms and extinguishers on KH 2nd Floor.

(a) Photograph of fire alarm and extinguisher in KH Basement 001. Note the thumb controlled deadbolt lock that was newly installed to provide an emergency exit if the elevator fails.

(b) Photograph of fire extinguisher near entrance door to KH Basement 002.

(c) Photograph of fire alarm at northeast corner of KH Basement 002. Note that objects stacked up around the fire alarm need to be moved. 3’ of clearance must be maintained around fire response equipment.

Figure 3: Photographs showing the location of fire alarms and extinguishers in KH Basement.

Figure 1 (a): Map of Kent Hall first floor showing the location of fire alarm panel, alarms and extinguishers. Figure 1 (b): Map of Kent Hall second floor showing the location of fire alarms and extinguishers Figure 1 (c): Map of Kent Hall basement showing the location of fire alarms and extinguishers Figure 2 (a): Photograph of fire alarm in KH 200 adjacent to East doorway. Figure 2 (b): Photograph of fire extinguisher in KH 2nd floor outside of KH 207. Figure 2 (c): Photograph of fire extinguisher in KH 209. Figure 2 (d): Photograph of fire alarm in KH 210B. Figure 2 (e): Photograph of fire extinguisher in KH 210C. Figure 3 (a): Photograph of fire alarm and extinguisher in KH Basement 001. Note the thumb controlled deadbolt lock that was newly installed to provide an emergency exit if the elevator fails. Figure 3 (b): Photograph of fire extinguisher near entrance door to KH Basement 002. Figure 3 (c): Photograph of fire alarm at northeast corner of KH Basement 002. Note that objects stacked up around the fire alarm need to be moved. 3’ of clearance must be maintained around fire response equipment.