11. Fire Codes in Schools and Classrooms

11. Fire Code: Make Sure Your Classroom Complies

This We Believe (NMSA, 2010).

·      *The school environment is inviting, safe, inclusive, and supportive of all. School Environment

I am a “nester” (one who likes the environment to be warm, colorful, and welcoming).  I decorate doors, walls, and hang curtains. I have a little nightlight of a lighthouse on top of a shelf, a croton in a little pot near the window with a grow light bulb in a lamp near it. This week the fire marshal came to our school to inspect our rooms. The Assistant Principal sent us the following list of safety reminders.

Reminders:

1)   Do not place items hanging from the ceiling at all.

2)   Make sure your classroom list of items that have been sprayed*, and the escape route/fire drill/tornado plans, are posted on or near your classroom door.

3)   Do not have the fire escape window blocked in your room with anything (chair, table, file cabinet, etc.)

4)   If you have storage in your room or area, nothing can be within two feet of the ceiling (That means within two feet of a drop ceiling also.).

5)   Do not use extension cords.

6)   Restrict the use of the following: lamps or air fresheners plugged in…. I would just not have those. Few, if any, meet the strict codes required by fire inspection. This also includes the little space heaters, etc. that are common in offices.

7)   Remove all door stops/blocks/props.

8)   Make sure at least one window in your room (if applicable) is marked with a sign listed for escape.

9)   The custodians need to check all the fire extinguishers to make sure the inspection date is current.

10) Classroom entry-doors MUST be free of décor/paint/signs. NOTHING should be attached to the exterior of the door. Only emergency information, escape routes, etc. may be attached to the interior.

11)  Do NOT have a surge protector plugged into another surge protector (a.k.a. ‘piggy backing’).

*A few weeks ago the custodian came in and sprayed a fire retardant on my bookshelf and materials in the room. I remember asking what it was, and thought, hmmmm, that is interesting.

At the end of the inspection, teachers were given a list of problems. Mine was that I need to bring my nylon curtains down from the windows. (Note: Nylon is highly flammable; so while I am sad, I do understand.) Other non-compliances in our building included the following: holes in the ceiling; obstruction of windows for exiting the building; desks or seating in the hallway.