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UTSA sets decorating guidelines for holiday season

(Dec. 5, 2003)--The following fire-safety guidelines have been established by the UTSA Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management. The guidelines are applicable to all university locations including residence halls and UTSA-owned or -leased apartments and buildings.

Members of the UTSA community are urged to review the guidelines before installing decorations.

For more information, contact UTSA Fire Marshall Bill Simmons at 210-458-5250.

1. Live Trees

Natural trees are only permitted with tEnvironmental Health, Safety and Risk Management approval.

2. Artificial Trees

  • Artificial trees meeting the above requirement are permitted in all areas, subject to the following safety guidelines.
  • The artificial tree must be placed in a suitable stand to prevent it from falling. The tree may not obstruct any corridor, exit or other means of egress.
  • No flammable decorations, combustible tree skirts or decorative gift packages may be placed on or under an artificial holiday tree except in an area protected by automatic sprinklers.
  • Only Underwriters' Laboratory-listed (UL) light sets may be used, and they shall not be decorated with paper or other combustible materials.
  • Only non-combustible trimmings are permitted.
  • Prior to departure for winter break, all holiday decorations must be removed from the residence hall.
  • Artificial trees must bear UL labels for fire resistance.

3. General Decorations

  • All holiday lighting sets must bear UL listing tags.
  • Lighting sets are prohibited in corridors.
  • All lighting sets should be physically examined before use to detect frayed wiring and other conditions which might create a shock or fire hazard.
  • Lighting sets may be utilized on artificial trees or placed around windows.
  • Lighting sets are prohibited around doorways.
  • All lighting sets displayed in sleeping rooms must be turned off when the room is unoccupied.
  • Lighting sets displayed on artificial trees located in lounges must be turned off when the room is unoccupied during hours of darkness.
  • Lighting sets may not be in contact with draperies, paper or combustible decorations.
  • Lighting sets may not be hung from ceilings.
  • All lighting sets must be removed from residence halls when departing for winter break.
  • In corridors, only aluminum foil is permitted on doors or walls to prevent a fire from obstructing a major exit way component.
  • Readily ignitable materials such as evergreen branches or boughs are prohibited in corridors, stairwells or other areas of egress.
  • Combustible material such as wrapping paper and fabrics may not be attached to doors, walls or ceiling corridors, stairways or other common areas designed as exitways.
  • Candles or any open flames are prohibited. No decoration or tree may block a smoke detector, alarm system component, sprinkler, alarm pull station, exit sign, emergency lighting or building fire equipment at any time.
  • Combustible party decorations and gift wrappings must be disposed of promptly after use.

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