Fire Safety
Fire Safety
Summary
How to follow fire safety requirements and manage permits.
Who is this for?
All students, faculty, and staff.
⚠ If you discover a fire or smoke
If you discover a fire or smoke in a building, follow the R.A.C.E. acronym:
- Relocate: If you can safely do so, relocate people in immediate danger. Be aware of people who may need help evacuating.
- Alarm: Pull the building fire alarm to alert others as you exit. Move to a safe location. Call 911 immediately and then call the Operations Center to report the exact location of the fire.
- Confine: If you can safely do so, close all doors to confine the fire as you exit.
- Evacuate: Do not use elevators when evacuating.
Fire permits
You must receive a permit before you:
- Maintain, store, or handle materials, install equipment, or perform work that creates hazardous conditions for life or property.
- Perform any cutting, welding, or hot work activities.
Fire safety systems and equipment
Keep automatic fire detection, extinguishing, and suppression systems fully operational.
Regularly maintain and test these systems to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Fire safety at Harvard
Everyone is responsible for fire safety and prevention. Preventing fires requires vigilance and care. Understanding and following everyday fire safety and prevention measures is critical for keeping Harvard safe.
Building and operations management must meet fire permit and compliance requirements. Local fire departments issue permits and conduct inspections.
EHS support
Contact EHS for more information about fire safety, including:
- Barbeques and grills.
- Carbon monoxide detectors in residential buildings.
- Christmas trees.
- Commercial cooking exhaust duct inspections.
- Corridors, hallways, and means of egress.
- Fire control areas, fire doors, fire extinguishers, and sprinklers.
- Flammable and combustible materials, including flammable storage permits and licenses.
- Flammable liquids, including refrigerating and freezing flammable liquids.
- Hydrogen gas and oxygen storage.
- Life safety inspections.
- Soldering.
Contact lab_safety@harvard.edu or your Lab Safety Advisor (LSA) for more information about fire safety in labs.