Fire Alarms and Prevention

Fire alarms and overhead sprinklers should be checked regularly to ensure proper operation. Sprinklers should be at least 18 inches away from stored materials. Decorative items (e.g., mobiles or other artwork) should never be hung from sprinkler heads. 

All labs should be equipped with fire extinguishers. These should be clearly identified and wall-mounted near exits. Multipurpose extinguishers (ABC type) are generally utilized because these are effective against the most common types of fires. Minimally, extinguishers should be inspected annually. In addition to fire extinguishers, sand and other adsorbents are also a fast and easy way of stopping small fires and should be easily accessible. 

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