The New York City Fire Department Fire Prevention Directive 9-64 requires that each residential unit is provided a copy of the building fire safety plan. The fire safety plan for 81 East Third Street was prepared by the staff of Quality Fire-Protection Consultants, Inc. This plan provides information about the building construction type and instructions about how to respond should a fire occur. The plan highlights what steps to follow should a fire occur in the unit or a common area. Those students who reside in the residence are advised to periodically review the contents of the fire safety plan. Should you misplace the plan, you can obtain a replacement copy from staff in the Office of Security & Safety.
Knowing how to respond following the sound of the fire alarm will help assure an orderly and safe evacuation of the buildings.
A. Evacuation Drill
The New York City Fire Department Fire Prevention Directive 9-64 requires that colleges and universities that have student residences conduct three drills during the academic year. The evacuation drills must be conducted once during each fall, spring, and summer semesters after sunset (approximately 7:00 P.M.).
Noted below is abbreviated text from the fire safety plan section entitled Emergency Fire Safety and Evacuation Instructions. It describes how to respond should an emergency arise within a residential unit:
1) Do not panic- remain calm.
2) Close all doors especially the entry unit door.
3) Alert other residents on your floor of the fire by knocking on their unit door.
4) Then proceed to the nearest stair and exit the floor. Do not run and do not use the elevators as a means to exit the floor!
5) At the lobby activate the pull station (which is located just opposite the elevator near the security post). Also, describe the condition to the security officer on duty.
6) Go to the Assembly Area
Exit the building and walk east to the end of the sidewalk along Third Street toward First Avenue. This location is called the Assembly Area. This is the one location where all residents can meet and obtain additional safety information or instructions. Do not stand in front of the building, do not cross or stand in the street because you will be in the path of fire department personnel and/or you could be injured by falling debris. Please follow the instructions of fire department and building personnel.
7) You will be notified by fire department or building personnel when you may return to the building.
Review the information posted on the back of your unit main entry door periodically so that you are familiar with the emergency response guidelines. Your cooperation is important because each drill is a test of the evacuation program. Please forward all comments or questions following each drill by electronic mail to the Assistant Vice President of Security & Safety at ghayes@nyls.edu
B. Disabled persons’ evacuation assistance
Do not attempt to exit the floor by the stairs during an evacuation drill. If there were an actual fire and you were unable to use the stairs, you should call 9-1-1 and tell the operator your address, floor, apartment number, and the number of persons in your unit who require assistance. Should the situation require, fire department personnel will assist with your evacuation. Follow other guidelines noted on the posted information on the back of your unit main entry door.
C. Alarm System & Related Information
The residence is a non-combustible, fully sprinkled, residential building. If a fire were to occur, it would be contained within the unit or space in which it starts and less likely to spread to other units or floors. It is also likely to be extinguished by the water which would be released from the sprinkler heads.
The building has an interior fire alarm system. In the event of a fire, a signal would be transmitted to the central monitoring station (who would in turn notify the Fire Department of the City of New York) following the activation of the sprinklers or the pull station. The pull station is the small red device with a white diagonal line on its cover and a black horizontal lever. It is located at the main lobby near the security post. To activate the station, pull the black lever down. This lever must only be pulled if a serious smoke or fire condition exists. A direct wired combination smoke and carbon-monoxide detector is installed in each residential unit and common space.
The New York Law School Housing Policy Handbook, under the section entitled Fundamental House Rules, states that smoking is prohibited as well as the use of candles, incense, and other open flame items in all occupant units, common internal public spaces, on balconies, and common outdoor spaces. (Halogen lighting is also prohibited.) New York State Act 420b. would amend the public health law by prohibiting smoking in dormitories, residence halls, and other group residential facilities in New York.
D. Know all available exits
Posted on the wall at the elevator is an egress sign. The sign denotes your present location [a red circle with the words- You are here- written in white letters]. Every stair and the elevator (noted by the letter X enclosed in a square) is identified by a letter of the alphabet. A sign which notes the alphabet designation is mounted on the floor and stair side face of the stair door. (A sign which notes the floor is also mounted on the stair side face of this same stair door.) The stair is also identified by an illuminated sign above it with the word Exit in red letters. Please study this map while you are waiting for the elevator. During an evacuation you should use all available stairs- not only the one you commonly use.
There are two stairs labeled A and B which connect the cellar floor to the roof. There is one stair labeled C that connects from the cellar to the sidewalk. Stair C is equipped with panic alarm hardware and must not be used to exit the building except during an emergency evacuation.
E. Reporting and Preventing Dangerous Conditions
You are advised to read the section entitled Basic Fire Prevention & Fire Preparedness Measures in the fire safety plan to learn some common tips about how to prevent a fire condition. Never attempt to extinguish a fire yourself! Fire and smoke can quickly fill an area. Use this time to alert others of this emergency. The elevators must never be used to exit a floor. The fire department personnel will need to use the elevators to evacuate disabled persons and for other fire fighting duties. Unless otherwise directed by fire department personnel, you must only exit a floor by use of the stairs! Never prop open or block the doors that lead to these stairs.
