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.

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. Fire Safety How Do I:

Sterno® Chafing Fuel Guidelines

The use of Sterno/chafing fuel is prohibited* unless approved and permitted by the Fire Marshal’s office. The use of Sterno/chafing fuel shall be limited to the individual event covered by request/permit and shall not be construed as establishing any precedent for any future requests or events.

Sterno® is not permitted for use in private office spaces, amphitheaters, sleeping areas, and certain other non-public areas.

These guidelines address both the information needed in the application to successfully apply for a permit and for the safe operating...

Red Flag Warning Guidelines on Game Days

Red Flag Warnings are directed by the National Weather Service when weather conditions are favorable to the rapid spread of wildfires. This warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are occurring or expected to occur shortly. This condition could be due to low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels, or any combination thereof.

The following open flame heat sources are prohibited during Red Flag Warnings:

Open flame cooking devices, charcoal, or other flame...

Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) Project

The California Fire Code establishes requirements for Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of hazardous materials, which ensures amounts used and stored within buildings do not pose fire and life risks. Following the management of hazardous chemicals guidelines issued by the University of California Office of President in 2023, EH&S is implementing the directives outlined in...

Labs and Research

Providing support, in the form of risk assessment, review, consultation(link sends e-mail), training, and the necessary resources and guidance for research at UC Berkeley.

Red Flag Warning Guidelines

Purpose:

This guideline aims to ensure the safety of our campus community by prohibiting the use of any outdoor open flame devices during Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

Red Flag Warnings are directed by the National Weather Service when weather conditions are favorable to the rapid spread of wildfires. This warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are occurring or expected to occur shortly. This condition could be due to low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels, or any...

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....

Training

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

Amy Chen

Lead Campus Fire Marshal, DCFM; Director of Fire Prevention
Fire Prevention
Construction Inspection
Building Plan Review

Fire Safety & Lab Doors: Propping Open Doors

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2025

Many people prop doors open for ease of access or to increase airflow. However, not all doors are allowed to be propped open. Laboratory doors and any door opening into a corridor should never be propped open.

Access to many campus labs is restricted to approved personnel due to the presence of hazardous materials and equipment, including lasers, radiation sources, as well as biological and chemical agents. These areas require specific safety training and personal protective equipment (PPE) before entry is permitted. Any lab that handles...