HEA: Fire Safety Reporting
HEA Title IV, Part G, Section 485(i)
Quick Take:
The new law requires any institution maintaining on-campus student housing to issue an annual fire safety report. The report must include statistics regarding the number/causes of fires, number of fire injuries and deaths, and value of property damage. It also must include information on each on-campus student housing fire safety system, the number of regular mandatory fire drills, fire safety policies and education programs, and plans for any needed fire safety improvements. The statistics also must be submitted to the Secretary of Education. Every institution must maintain a log that records all fires in on-campus housing facilities, and make an annual report to the campus community on these fires.
When Will This Take Effect?
This provision went into effect when the bill was signed into law on August 14, 2008. It is subject to negotiated rulemaking, so specific regulatory guidance may be provided in the future. In the meantime, institutions must make a "good faith" effort to comply with the law.
Who on Campus May Need to Be Involved?
Student housing; physical plant office; public information office; campus internal communications; those who will maintain the fire log and submit fire statistics to the Department of Education.
Additional Resources
HEA101 Web Keyword for More Information: FireSafety