After the Chicago Loop fire killed six Oct. 17, the city is in the process of mandating sprinkler systems in older buildings. Some of Eastern’s buildings are lacking sprinklers as well.

Building sprinklers are inspected every 12 months, said Gary Hanebrink, safety officer with the Physical Plant.

About half of University Court and Pemberton Hall, Greek Court (eight houses), Booth Library, Student Recreation Center, Lumpkin, Old Main and parts of Buzzard Hall contain systems.

Next summer, the other half of University Apartments will have sprinklers installed.

The university is required to have fire drills every six months, he said. Eastern usually holds drills in all residence halls in September of the fall semester and January of the spring semester. For academic and residence halls combined, an average of 45 drills per year are performed.

Drills are organized and performed by Hanebrink and building coordination.

The library will have a fire drill Nov. 4.

Hanebrink said the state fire marshall uses the National Fire Protection Association code to check on building occupancy and services.

Hanebrink monitors the contractors, and makes sure they do what they are paid for.

He estimates there are about 9,000 fire extinguishers on campus. All are inspected annually by a university-contracted service.

Carol Strode, director of Facilities Planning and Management, said Eastern is required by the state to follow several new construction codes.

The codes for construction or renovation projects include the 1999 BOCA National Building Code, 1998 Illinois Plumbing Code, 2002 National Electric Code and 2000 Life Safety Code.

“All fire extinguishers are inspected and serviced as needed annually,” Strode said. “Those that have been used throughout the year are serviced individually as needed.”

Strode said the alarm system and procedures are reviewed and checked.

“The Electric Shop has the responsibility to maintain, repair and service our fire alarm systems throughout campus,” she said. “These systems are monitored daily and are repaired as needed. They are tested routinely and serviced as devices are found not working properly. In an alarm condition, there is a direct line to the Coles County 911.”

Strode said the state also checks the procedures.

“The State Fire Marshall does visit campus routinely and coordinates through the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

“There are … costs to Eastern to maintain extinguishers and alarms as well as to have them inspected,” she said.

“Annually, the cost to inspect and service fire extinguishers varies. In FY 03, the cost was $16,000 (or up). In addition, approximately $2,400 was spent on individual extinguishers throughout the year. These costs are for the recharging of fire extinguishers when they are used such as during fire drills and training, etc.

“There are various requirements on the different types of extinguishers on campus. Some requirements are at different intervals of time causing some years to be more expensive than others,” Strode said. “FY 04 costs were under $10,000 for the inspection and servicing of fire extinguishers and we have spent less than $1000 so far this fiscal year to recharge individual fire extinguishers.”

Strode said the costs for the procedures are determined through a bidding process.

“Contracts such as these are bid through our Purchasing Department to assure the best service and pricing.”

Campus Editor Jennifer Chiariello can be reached at [email protected]