Security First with the University of Minnesota Police Department

University of Minnesota Police Department works to make the Twin Cities Campus a safe environment. These police officers patrol campus on mountain bikes, enabling officers to reach areas on campus not accessible to patrol cars. The U of M Escort Service 624-WALK (http://www1.umn.edu/police/escort.html) is also offered through the campus police department. This program provides escorts for students walking on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses as well as limited surrounding areas. Blue Lights are strategically placed throughout the Twin Cities Campus, providing a lighted walkway and emergency access to the police. By pressing the call button on the pole, a blue light is activated providing a beacon signal while immediately connecting the caller to the police 9-1-1 dispatch centers. http://www1.umn.edu/dcs/codebluephones.html

University of Minnesota Police Department
Safety Tips and Prevention

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Health and Safety on Campus

Fire Safety in University Housing

All Residence Halls and undergrad student apartments are full sprinklered and have "state of the art" addressable fire alarm systems.

 

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM FEATURES

The addressable fire alarm systems installed in most University housing buildings utilize state of the art technology. This type of alarm has several special features:

• Zoned alarms: alarms are automatically sounded in the portion (zone) of the building affected; in case of a fully engulfed fire in the building, alarms would sound in all zones to ensure all residents are appropriately notified.
• Addressable: this type of system has speakers that allow messages to be broadcast throughout the building or in selected zones of the building. In the fully sprinklered buildings, the fire pull station locations have been minimized (per National Fire Protection code) to reduce false alarm opportunities. In halls where sprinkler systems were installed after new fire alarms systems, pull stations were covered by pre-alarm squawk boxes to help minimize false alarm opportunities.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM FEATURES

• Automatic sprinkler systems installed in most University housing buildings consist of the networking of piping, water supply, sprinkler heads, and alarm and detection devices that sense the heat from the fire and automatically distribute water to completely extinguish the fire or control its growth.
• These systems are particularly effective for life safety as they give warning of the existence of fire and at the same time apply water to the burning area. While the downward force of the water may lower the smoke level in a room where the fire is burning, the sprinklers also serve to cool the room and reduce the immediate threat to people.

EQUIPMENT TESTING

• All fire alarm and sprinklering systems that are installed in University of Minnesota Residence Halls are tested regularly by Facilities Management personnel in accordance with the National Fire Protection Codes.
• Smoke detectors in sleeping areas in the residence halls/apartments are tested by residence hall maintenance staff three times each year to ensure that they work and are properly connected. Detectors found to be nonfunctioning or disconnected are replaced/reconnected.
• Fire extinguishers are tested yearly and recharged as needed. Hall maintenance staff does monthly visual checks to ensure all extinguishers are in their proper locations and are fully charged.
• One planned fire drill is scheduled each semester.
• Exit lights are checked weekly by maintenance staff.

TRAINING & PROGRAMMING

• All University housing buildings have an Emergency Action Plan. This plan contains information about evacuation from the facility, including who is in charge of the evacuation. The plan also includes primary and secondary escape routes and outlines the responsibility of Emergency Action Leaders.
• Residence Directors, Assistant Residence Directors, and Administrative Assistants are instructed in fire safety and procedures.
• Community Advisors are trained in fire safety policies and procedures.
• Office Assistants are trained by Residence Directors on fire safety policies and procedures, fire alarm system panel board monitoring and reset procedures.
• The Community Advisor on Duty and a Security Monitor (police trained) complete nightly building rounds.
• Community floor meetings with residents to review Housing & Residential Life's fire safety policies and procedures, including fire evacuation procedures and fire extinguisher use.
• Staff members responding to any instance of sounded fire alarms are required to fill out an incident statement. This documentation is required whether false alarm, fire drill or actual fire.
• A fire evacuation map is installed on the inside of every residence hall room.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

• University Police Department and Minneapolis Fire Department respond to all alarms EXCEPT pre-planned fire drills when pre-notified.
• All addressable fire alarm systems are connected to the Building Systems Automation Center (BSAC) who are automatically notified if an alarm is activated. BSAC notifies 9-1-1 dispatchers. Residence hall Community Advisors (CA's) still call 9-1-1 to give specific information.
• Knox boxes, or locked key boxes, contain all necessary building keys and are located at the main building entry areas giving emergency response teams access to them at all times.