Fire Safety

Providing inspections, plan review, and code consultation; serving as a fire protection and life safety resource for all UC Berkeley-owned and occupied buildings.

Lab Fire Caused By Hotplate Heating Oil Bath That Injured Researcher

March 31, 2013
Office of Environment, Health, and Safety
What Happened?

A chemistry researcher was using an older model hot plate to heat an oil bath to 120-150°F. He borrowed the hotplate from someone else and was not familiar with the temperature controls. On this particular hot plate the temperature dial could go around from “LO” to “OFF” and back to “HI” heat. The researcher thought he had turned the hotplate “OFF” but it was still in the “ON” position and 30 minutes later the mineral oil bath ignited.

Fortunately, the oil bath was in a fume hood which kept the flames and fire inside the hood, it was reasonably clean and no other...

Need an open flame/cooking or special event permit?

1. A fire permit is required for events with the following conditions:

50 or more people attending Use of space on campus in capacity other than its normal use Use of tents or canopies Tents: Cumulative area greater than 400 sq. feet Canopies: Cumulative area greater than 400 sq. feet Location includes a roadway, pathway or plaza used for access by emergency vehicles Use of any kind of open flame (candles, torches, cooking devices, pyrotechnics, sternos) Use of compressed gas cylinders in vendor booths, cooking devices or any other function

2....

Fire Extinguishers

Fact Sheets Fire Safety for Field Work Fire Safety for Animal Behavior Field Stations Additional Resources Fire Prevention ans Safety Using the Right Type of Fire Extinguisher?...

Get fire extinguisher training

Live Fire Extinguisher Training

The Office of Environment, Health & Safety is pleased to provide live fire extinguisher training to UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty at no cost.

Register for our scheduled trainings

Our regularly scheduled trainings are held at 10:00 am on the first Thursday of each month at the...

Using the Right Type of Fire Extinguisher

Table showing the different types of fire extinguishers and their approved uses.

Class A Fires consist of ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, and cloth. The recommended extinguishers for these are pressurized water, a fire hose, or multi-purpose ABC extinguisher.

Class B Fires consist of flammable liquids, such as gasoline, alcohol, paint, and oil. The recommended...

Katherine McCain-Orozco

Campus Fire Marshal, Director of Fire Prevention, Lead DCFM
Fire & Life Safety
Event Safety
New Construction
Building Plan Review
Building Fire Inspections

Will Klyver

Plans Examiner (Construction Inspector), Deputy Fire Marshal-DCFM
Fire Prevention
Construction Inspection
Building Plan Review

Training

The EH&S training team creates, delivers, and tracks health, safety, and environmental training for all faculty, staff, and students.

Fire Prevention Division Construction Services Recharge Authorization

Office of Environment, Health & Safety

Directions for completion:

Complete all of the information on the form. A copy of your responses will be sent to the email address you provide.

Questions about this form or your recharge account?

If you have any questions, please contact the Recharge Administrator at 510-642-3073 or ehsrecharge@berkeley.edu.

Interdepartmental Procedure: Construction Inspection Coordination

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2015

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