FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS
Fire & Life Safety
The Fire & Life Safety Officer ensures Hofstra University complies with New York State Building Standards and Codes, promoting a safe environment for the entire campus community.
Key responsibilities include:
- Annual Fire Inspection – Coordinating the annual inspection with the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control in accordance with Section (807.b) of the NYS Education Law.
- Code Enforcement – Serving as a certified NYS Code Enforcement Official to uphold the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
- Campus Safety Systems – Managing inspections, violation abatements, and compliance with the Nassau County Fire Prevention Ordinance, including:
- Emergency lighting
- Automatic sprinkler systems and standpipe systems
- Fire alarm
- Alternative automatic fire extinguishing systems
Through these efforts, Hofstra maintains the highest standards of fire and life safety across all facilities.
Fire Safety Guidelines
All Hofstra community members are advised to follow the Fire Safety Guidelines and the Code of Community Standards to provide a safe environment for themselves and fellow students.
Hazardous Material Spills
A hazardous material spill is defined as any spill of a hazardous material or a spill of unknown origin that cannot be identified. To report a spill or related problem, contact the Department of Public Safety at 516-463-6789, and the Fire and Life Safety Officer Jim McNulty at 516-463-6619. Hofstra has a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC), and departmental staff are trained and equipped in proper response. The oil SPCC coordinator is Tom Masciale, Assistant Director of Central Utilities- Eng/Maint Trades; alternate SPCC coordinator is Kevin Pembroke- Administrative Chief Engineer Central Power Plant; and the primary SPCC campus contact is Jim McNulty, fire and life safety officer.
Disabling of Doors on Campus
A reminder that the use of any device, door chock, garbage pail, wedges, etc., to disable doors is strictly prohibited and in direct violation of the Fire Code of NY. Specifically, Section 705.2: Inspection and Maintenance, which mandates that fire doors and smoke and draft control doors shall not be blocked, obstructed, or otherwise made inoperable.
Although it may cause some inconvenience, fire doors must never be propped open, as doing so compromises their critical safety function as a fire and smoke protective barrier. It also causes damage to the door, frame, and mechanisms which incurs costs to the University to make repairs or a full replacement of the door.
In addition to the fire and life safety aspect, propping open doors grants unauthorized access to areas which are meant to be secure. This compromises the safety and security of everyone at Hofstra University.
If you need fire doors to remain open while a room is in use, you must submit a work order to request an inspection by the Plant Department. Each case will be evaluated individually, as not all doors can be accommodated due to the specific requirements and safety regulations of each building.
If your work order is approved, please note that the associated costs will be charged to your department’s budget. According to the New York State Fire Code, fire doors must remain closed, so any decision to request a variance is at the discretion of you and your department.
If your request to keep doors open stems from temperature concerns, please submit a separate work order to address that issue.
Please take the time now to inspect your area, office, classrooms, etc. and remove any device which is being used to prop open your door. This was our number one violation for last year’s NYS inspection.
Your cooperation is appreciated.
Most Common Fire Code Violations on Campus
- Blocked or impeded egress (exit)
- Blocked electric panels
- Storage within 18” ceiling where covered by automatic sprinklers
- Storage of combustible material under stairs
- Fire doors propped open
- Blocked fire extinguishers
- Missing ceiling tiles or penetrations in wall/ceiling
- Improper use of extension cords
- Compressed gas cylinders not secured
- Covered smoke detectors
- Open flames (Candles)
- Exceeding posted occupancy limit (Overcrowding)
