Fire Safety and Prevention
Commercial Fire Alarm and Suppression Systems
All Babson College buildings are equipped with commercial fire alarm systems, including emergency lighting. When activated, occupants shall evacuate the building immediately via the predesignated evacuation diagram that is located on each floor of all Babson buildings.
In addition to the commercial fire alarm system, local smoke alarms are installed within each residence hall suite and are monitored by Public Safety 24/7.
Fire suppression systems in residence halls consist of both wet and dry sprinkler systems that are tied to the radio master box and building fire alarm panel.
Fire Safety Drills
Fire drills are conducted once a year in residential buildings and every other year in administrative buildings. These fire drills are conducted in coordination with the Wellesley Fire Department.
Health and safety inspections are conducted twice an academic year by the Office of Residential Education.
Other Fire Safety Equipment
Wet chemical fire extinguishers are located within each kitchen area and dry-powder fire extinguishers are located within all egress hallways.
Babson College students are authorized to possess an all-purpose (Class A,B,C) dry powder fire extinguisher within their dormitory or residence hall room. A dry-powder fire extinguisher is the only type of fire extinguisher permitted within dormitories or residence halls.
What’s Not Allowed
Any willful or malicious burning of property (such as a building) especially with criminal or fraudulent intent is illegal. and prohibited on campus.
Due to the increased risk of injury and fire hazard, the following items located within "Residence Life Policies, Health and Safety Inspections" section are prohibited within dormitories and residence halls:
https://studentportal.babson.edu/content/residence-life-policies
To help promote a safe, healthy, and comfortable living and learning environment for all community members, smoking and vaping is prohibited.
Fire Safety Reminders
Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes (pl.)- Understand that your "normal" egress pathway may be blocked by fire and/or smoke. You must seek an alternate route out of the building.
Be cognizant of your closest manual pull station "red box on wall". Early alert and detection will save lives and hopefully limit property damage.
DON'T block or prop open fire exit doors. We understand that space can be limited within your dorm room but placing items like bicycles, furniture, or boxes within the means of egress can create panic, injury, and help the spread of fire and smoke to the upper floors.
Familiarize yourself with the operation of a fire extinguisher prior to a real fire.
Don't be "That Person"- Activating a building's fire alarm without a true emergency is not only dangerous but a nuisance for all. If an activated pull station or fire alarm system is determined to be malicious, disciplinary action may be taken; including revocation of campus housing privileges, suspension, or expulsion from Babson College. Violators will be reported to the Wellesley or Needham Fire Departments for possible criminal prosecution.
- Please remember that members of our surrounding fire and police departments are also responding to these alarms, if any one of them or a bystander is injured or killed while responding to a malicious alarm at Babson College, you could face criminal prosecution.
Tampering with fire extinguishers, fire protection equipment, or fire exit components are a criminal offense. The covering of smoke alarms or detectors is prohibited.
- Students found responsible for doing so may be subject to criminal prosecution and College disciplinary action if malicious damage is done to fire equipment, including but not limited to pull boxes, hoses, smoke alarms, heat sensors, and fire extinguishers.
Always report damaged fire detection, life safety, or suppression equipment to the appropriate staff within your residence hall or building. This includes fire extinguishers, exit signs, fire doors, smoke detectors/alarms, manual pull stations, sprinkler piping, etc.
- Do not hang drapery or other items from sprinkler piping or sprinkler heads
Electrical Safety Reminders
Always use Underwriter Laboratories (UL) or other recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program listed products.
Power strips should be plugged into a grounded wall outlet. Do not plug a power strip into an existing surge protector, power strip or extension cord.
Only use power strips for low-voltage electronics. Overloading a power strip can create a fire hazard.
If a power strip is hot to the touch, unplug and remove it immediately.
Do not use extension cords as a means for temporary wiring.
Annual Fire Safety Report
https://www.babson.edu/media/babson/assets/public-safety/Babson-Annual-Security-and-Fire-Report.pdf