Fire Safety Report

The BGSU Police Department maintains a fire log that records any fire that has occurred in an on-campus student housing facility. This log contains the date the fire was reported, the nature of the fire, the date and time of the fire and the general location of the fire. Entries are made to the log within two business days of receiving information regarding a fire in an on-campus student housing facility. The fire log for the most recent 60 days is open to public inspection upon request during normal business hours. Portions of the log that are older than 60 days are open to public inspection upon request within two business days of the request.

Requests for the fire log can be made to the BGSU Police Department at (419) 372-2346.

Fire drills are scheduled periodically during normal working hours in University residences in compliance with state regulations. Every time the fire alarm sounds it must be treated as a real fire and you must evacuate immediately. All persons must vacate the residence any time the fire alarm is sounded or an emergency situation arises that requires the evacuation of the building. All individuals in the building must follow the directions of the staff and other emergency personnel and may not re-enter the building until the supervisor of the residence gives permission. University, state or city officials may enter rooms to verify evacuation of residents.

Fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and fire alarm systems are there for the protection of residents and should be treated with the well-being of all residents in mind. All fire safety equipment (e.g., pull stations, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors) should be used for emergency purposes only. Smoke detectors in student rooms are not to be disconnected or covered under any circumstances. Tampering with fire safety equipment is a crime and will result in University conduct action, and possible criminal action.

The University reserves the right to eliminate all potential fire hazards in any residence if deemed necessary or appropriate by a University official or by other authorities that have jurisdiction.

Safety concerns restrict access by students to roofs, ledges and sundecks of University residences. Access to roofs, ledges and sundecks is prohibited outside of their use as fire evacuation routes. In addition, radio and television antennae, satellite dishes or similar devices are not permitted on the roofs, ledges or any building exterior without University approval.

You may make your room feel more like home by putting posters and pictures on the wall. White adhesive putty is the recommended way to do this. Avoid the use of two-sided tape, colored putty, or nails as these items create residue that must be removed or holes that must be filled. No more than 20 percent of the surface area may be covered.

Bowling Green City Fire Department regulations prohibit haunted houses and similar amusement or educational events in which building occupants or the general public are conducted through a fixed or restricted course. This also applies to creating or building these types of structures on residence hall floors or in common areas.

Homemade or rented lofts of any kind are not permitted in any residence hall or small group living unit, as the furniture provided is already “loftable.”

1. Placing beds in the bunked/lofted position is entirely optional on the part of the resident. Should a resident wish to bunk/loft a bed, assistance may be requested from the staff at the front desk of the residence hall or the house staff of a small group living unit.
2. Should beds be lofted, bed frames must be securely supported on both sides by University bed ends.
3. A guardrail is provided with every University bed which should be utilized when the bed is in the bunked/lofted position. Should residents utilize their bunked/lofted bed without using the guardrail, they do so at their own risk.
4. All University furniture must remain in the room in which it is originally located. The Office of Residence Life does not provide storage facilities for furniture.
5. All furnishings must be returned to the original position in the room before the student checks out of the room. You may be asked to deloft your bed at the end of the academic year regardless of the position of the furnishings at move-in.

1. Upholstered furniture used in the University residences must meet strict fire-retardant codes (fabrics must meet the class I requirements of U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Standard 191-53, California Flammability Bulletin 117, class A-ASTM-E84) or Upholstered Furniture Section Council [UFAC] [Gold tag]). Only furniture that meets this fire-retardant code will be permitted in University residences.
2. Other prohibited furniture includes:
   • Vinyl furniture.
   • Inflatable furniture.
   • Bean bag chairs or bean bag-like chairs.
   • Any upholstered furniture that is not classified as fire-retardant or does not meet the above fire-retardant standards.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that any furniture brought into the building meets these standards. Possession of or bringing of furniture into University residences, which is in violation of these requirements subjects the student to disciplinary action as well as the cost of the removal and disposal of the furniture.

Candles of any kind, incense-burning candles or sticks, candle or wax warmers, lanterns or similar “open flame” receptacles are not permitted in student rooms/suites/apartments at any time, for any reason, with no exceptions.

Approved combination microwave/refrigerator units for food preparation are permitted in all University residences. Individual microwave units of no more than 900 watts are permitted in student rooms. Refrigerators no larger than 5.0 cubic feet, 36 inches in height and 1.5 amps are also allowed. For fire safety considerations, however, hot plates, toasters, toaster ovens, “George Foreman Grills”, waffle irons/makers, and similar devices are not permitted in student rooms/suites.

Bowling Green State University recognizes the need to create and maintain an environment that sustains and enhances the general health of its faculty, staff, students and visitors. Therefore, by resolution of the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees, effective January 1, 2014, and by Ohio state law, smoking is prohibited in all facilities owned or leased by Bowling Green State University and on the grounds of any property owned or leased by the University except in designated areas. Smoking is defined as inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking device for burning tobacco or any other plant, per section 3794.01 of the ORC. This includes all buildings owned or controlled by Bowling Green State University, shelters, indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, indoor and outdoor theatres, walkways, sidewalks, residence halls, and parking lots (unless otherwise designated). Smoking is prohibited on sidewalks that adjoin University property. Smoking is also prohibited in any vehicle or equipment owned, leased or operated by Bowling Green State University. Application of this policy to university owned detached single-family residences shall be determined by University Facilities at the time any such lease is executed. Cigarette butts and ashes must be disposed of in the appropriate receptacles located in designated smoking areas. The use of e-cigarettes, or personal vaporizers, in Residence Halls is strictly prohibited.