TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE

STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE

FIFTH REPORT ON STATE UNIVERSITY FIRE SAFETY PROJECTS

APRIL 2001 ADDENDUM

TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

As required by House Bill 1 Article III Section 39
January - March 2001

The State Fire Marshal's Office is pleased to update the Fifth Report on the progress of its State University Fire Safety Projects. This report begins with an overview of three recent university fires and provides highlights of inspections and university progress since the last report on this project issued in January 2001.

Recent University Fire Incidents

University of Texas - Arlington experienced a fire in an academic building while evening classes were being conducted. The fire started in the electrical system of a TV/VCR Unit in a vacant classroom. The fire damage was limited to the TV/VCR with collateral damage to the room from smoke, water and fire-fighting procedures. The building was not equipped with a fire alarm system, therefore students had to be alerted to the presence of the fire by verbal commands to evacuate. Two students suffered minor smoke inhalation injuries requiring medical treatment. The absence of a fire alarm system unnecessarily placed those students providing the evacuation alert in a dangerous situation.

Lamar University - Beaumont experienced a major fire in a new dormitory construction project. The fire, intentionally set by a construction worker, destroyed two residential buildings and one service building. Two adjacent, occupied dormitories had to be evacuated because they were in danger of exposure damage. The occupied dormitories suffered glass breakage from the heat. No injuries were reported.

Mary Hardin Baylor College - Belton experienced an intentionally set fire in an academic building. The fire occurred at night while the building was not in use. The fire caused extensive damage to one floor of the building. Mary Hardin Baylor, a privately owned university, has subsequently requested a fire safety inspection of all buildings on their campus from the State Fire Marshal's Office. This will be completed in cooperation of the local fire officials.

Campus Project Updates

The following Universities have reported substantial progress or have been reinspected since the 5th report publication:

Lamar University - Beaumont: Experienced difficulty maintaining the battery-operated smoke detectors.

• The university now has an regular inspection and maintenance plan in place.
• The next reinspection is scheduled for early April 2001.

Southwest Texas State University - San Marcos: A reinspection was conducted after publication of the 5th report. Southwest Texas State University is progressing on schedule.

• The high-rise buildings are under renovation or are scheduled for construction.
• The low-rise dormitory deficiencies are being corrected with both in-house construction and contract work.
• Replacement of the temporary, battery-operated smoke detectors with hard-wired detectors in the sleeping rooms remains outstanding.
• The battery-operated detectors are acceptable on a temporary basis as long as an inspection and maintenance program is rigidly enforced to assure operation.

Tarleton State University - Stephenville: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on March 23, 2001.

• All sleeping room doors that open into the corridors have been retrofitted with closing devices.
• All transoms have been sealed.
• An inspection program has been implemented to document smoke detector performance.
• Emergency lighting has been installed in the dormitories.
• Extension cords have been addressed and removed.
• All windows used as a secondary means of egress have been unobstructed.
• Panic hardware has been installed on exit doors, all missing striker plates have been replaced.
• Kick-down style hold-open devices have been removed from exit doors.
• The fire pump has been serviced and repaired.
• New fire alarm systems will be installed within the next two years.
• The university anticipates installing automatic fire sprinklers systems in the dorms as funds become available.

Texas A&M University - College Station: A Reinspection was conducted the week of March 20th. The university is on schedule for the repair of their buildings.

• They have committed to installing automatic sprinkler systems in all residential dormitories and the hotel by 2005.
• The sprinkler contract and other repairs of Cain Hall are scheduled for bid in mid April 2001.
• All other deficiencies are being addresses on schedule and timely.

Texas A&M University - Commerce: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on March 13, 2001. The university is progressing on correcting violations in all of the buildings.

• Spring-loaded hinges have been installed on the sleeping room doors in Hubbell and Smith Hall. At the time of this inspection, no timetable had been established for installation of hinges on the remaining doors.
• Emergency lighting, and stairwell doors in Hubbell and Smith dormitories have been installed and/or repaired.
• The university is anticipating installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in the dormitories when funding becomes available.
• Battery-powered smoke detectors are inspected on a monthly basis to ensure proper operation.
• No timetable for installation of hard-wired detectors has been established at this time.

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on March 21, 2001.

• New fire alarm systems are in the process of being installed, anticipated completion date April 15, 2001.
• Smoke detector issues will also be addressed by April 15, 2001.

Texas A&M University - Galveston: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on March 7, 2001. The university is progressing in a timely manner to correct all violations.

• Corridor wall separations in buildings A and B have been repaired.
• Self-closing devices have been installed on all sleeping room doors.
• Exit signs have been installed.
• Smoke detector tampering is now under control.
• Laundry room doors are on order and should be installed in the summer of 2001.
• Replacement doors for the stairwells are ordered and should be installed prior to summer 2001.
• Installation of emergency lighting in Building C should be completed by April, 1, 2001.
• No timetable for door props to be discontinued, university will increase monitoring to ensure the doors remain closed.

Texas A&M University - Kingsville: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on March 21, 2001.

• Candles have been removed from the dorm rooms.
• The secondary means of egress is now clear in all rooms.
• Self-closing devices have been installed on the approximately 50% of the sleeping room doors.
• Remaining door closures are ordered and should be installed by the end of summer 2001.
• Excess paper has been removed from the exit corridor walls.
• Vending machines have been relocated.
• Positive latching fire doors have been installed in the exit stairs where required.
• Storm louvers in the apartments have been removed.
• The university anticipates installing automatic fire sprinkler systems in all dormitories within the next two years, pending funding.

Texas Southern University - Houston: No progress was being made in correcting problems as of the November 2000 reinspection.

• Pursuant to the reinspection, the university has made considerable progress in repairing deficiencies.
• Door hardware has been repaired or replaced where needed.
• Emergency lighting units have been repaired.
• Door closures have been installed on room and stairway doors.
• The next reinspection is scheduled for mid-April 2001.

Texas State Technical College - Waco: No progress was being made in correcting problems as of the November 2000 reinspection.

• They have made progress in repairing deficiencies since December 2000.
• The exits have been repaired in the three-story building.
• A smoke detector maintenance program has been implemented.
• Electrical services are being repaired.
• The next reinspection is scheduled for early April 2001.

Texas Tech University - Lubbock: The University has retained an engineering firm to survey all residential buildings on campus and will have their report completed by April 15, 2001. The university will review the findings and prepare a remediation plan for submission to the State Fire Marshal's Office. The plan will most likely consist of installing sprinkler systems in all of the buildings addressed in the report over the next six to seven years.

• Installation of a fire sprinkler system in Stangle/Murdal hall will begin in May 2001.
• A new fire alarm system installation project will also begin at the same time, completion date estimated to be August 2001.
• Emergency lighting has been installed in all dorms.
• Hard-wired smoke detectors have been installed in all dormitories where absent.
• Installation of closing mechanisms on all sleeping room doors is scheduled for completion by August 31, 2001.
• Stairwell doors are monitored on a monthly basis to ensure they are not propped open and the door closures operate as designed.
• Routine inspections are conducted on all fire doors to ensure they are not propped open.
• Installation of emergency lighting in several buildings will be completed my August 31, 2001.

University of North Texas - Denton: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on January 25, 2001.

• Spring-loaded hinges have been installed on the sleeping room doors in West Hall, Maple and McConnell Halls.
• Remaining dormitories are scheduled for installation of door closures in the summer of 2001 and summer of 2002.
• All vent-a-hood systems have been serviced and repairs are scheduled in the near future.
• Installation of latching hardware on the stairwell doors is scheduled in the halls by the summer of 2001.
• Paint has been removed from the fire doors to determine fire rating.
• Stairwell signage is ordered and will be installed upon delivery.
• Hard-wired smoke detectors are scheduled for summer of 2001, at present time inspections are conducted and documented to ensure proper operation of battery-powered detectors.
• All stairwells have been equipped with smoke detectors.
• The dead-end corridor in Crumley Hall has been reduced to 50 feet.
• Kick-down hold-open devices on fire and smoke doors will be removed in March 2001.
• Installation of a secondary exit from the music practice area in the basement of Bruce Hall is scheduled.

University of Texas - Arlington: A fire safety inspection of nine university academic buildings was conducted on February 6, 2001.

• The buildings are not equipped with fire alarm systems. Response from the university all buildings will have fire alarm systems installed by September 2001.
• Carlisle Hall, is a fully sprinkled building with full fire alarm system and has only one exit stair. Design on the second stair is to begin April 2001. Interim measures have been implemented to ensure the building has a safe environment until the second exit stair is in place.
• An engineering firm has been retained to conduct Life Safety Code inspections in 85 campus buildings to include apartments and resident halls. Inspections to begin March 2001 and scheduled for completion by September 2001.
• An inspection of 17 apartment complexes was also conducted. None of the apartment buildings were equipped with fire alarm systems. The university will install fire alarm systems in all buildings by September 2001.
• Several violations were noted in Arlington Hall, new residential dormitory, fire wall breeches, door closure problems, emergency lighting issues, and fire door chocked in the open position.
• The university has corrected all violations in Arlington Hall.
• A fire safety reinspection will be conducted in the near future.

University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on March 8, 2001.

• All previously noted violations in ten of the original thirteen buildings have been corrected.
• Fire alarm systems in the remaining buildings are scheduled for completion prior to May 31, 2001.

University of Texas - Brownsville: A fire safety reinspection was conduced on February 14, 2001, all violations were corrected. Inspection closed.

University of Texas - Permian Basin: A fire safety reinspection was conducted on January 17, 2001 all violations corrected. Inspection closed.

Other Significant Developments

The State Fire Marshal's Office has developed a program to verify inspection of off-campus residential properties (fraternity and sorority houses) by local fire authorities. The universities are encouraged to sanction the nonparticipating organizations by denying rush privileges or use of university facilities. The University of Texas at Austin has agreed to participate in the program. The program is being presented to other universities with a goal of having as many universities participating as possible by the start of the fall 2001 semester.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board continues to be very supportive of the State Fire Marshal Inspection Program by closely monitoring university requests for building projects and deferred maintenance schedules.

The State Fire Marshal's Office has met with the A&M System Risk Management Office regarding increased communications with the individual system campuses. Improved communications will result in a more comprehensive plan for rehabilitation of the A&M System Buildings. The A&M System reported that several requests for funding have been submitted to the Legislature to fund fire safety upgrades to buildings on several campuses based on the Fire Marshal's Office's reports.

Universities are beginning to request advice and consultation for new construction and rehabilitation of existing buildings from the State Fire Marshal. Most recently, the University of Texas at Austin requested our assistance on Life Safety upgrades to the Erwin Special Events Center. We have also assisted the University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston on fire safety requirements for a stage 4 biological hazard laboratory and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas on acquisition questions concerning St. Paul's Hospital. The University of Texas at Arlington requested our assistance with fire alarm system requirements of their academic buildings. The University of Houston sought assistance in upgrade requirements for the Hoffeinz Pavilion.

The State Fire Marshal's Office will begin the next phase of the University Fire Safety Inspection Project this summer. This phase will consist of two parts - continuation of the monitoring of fire safety project progress in residential buildings and begin inspection of all other university buildings as resources permit. This phase will be long range, as the State Fire Marshal will be inspecting every building owned by the State on University Campuses and at auxiliary locations. The scope of this phase is significant. The State Fire Marshal's Office estimates in excess of 5,000 buildings will require inspections. The completion goal for this phase is August 2003.

Summary

All of the inspected universities are making progress complying with the State Fire Marshal Inspection findings. Several Universities have made requests for funding to the Legislature and the speed of repair may depend on the results of the funding allocations.

The oversight of the Legislature, through the rider to the Appropriations Act, has provided direction and emphasis to the fire safety programs of the state-owned universities. This Legislative oversight assists the State Fire Marshal's Office enforcement efforts.

While much has been done, much work yet remains. Remediation of all current findings, especially those related to architectural issues, will take time to complete. Universities must maintain their commitment to fire safety throughout the campus and the campus community. Private universities were not included in this project as they are generally subject to local fire code enforcement efforts. The State Fire Marshal's Office resources are available to assist local fire safety officials with this important task.

The State Fire Marshal's Office is much encouraged by the emerging proactive fire safety initiatives being undertaken by state-owned universities. These will enable the State Fire Marshal's Office to more effectively and efficiently complete the non-resident building inspections that will comprise the upcoming phase of the project.

Throughout this project, the State Fire Marshal's Office has witnessed a significant intensification of the importance of fire safety throughout the university community. The State Fire Marshal's Office commends state university officials for their support in ensuring the success of this project.

For more information contact: Fire.Marshal@tdi.state.tx.us