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.

Training

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

Flammable & Combustible Liquids Storage In Campus Laboratories

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2006

California Fire Code (CFC) regulations limit the quantity of flammable and combustible liquids that can be stored in research and teaching laboratories. This fact sheet provides a simplification of the complicated CFC regulations, and establishes standard practice at University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). For questions not covered in this fact sheet, or for assistance with more complicated issues, please contact the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) for situation-specific guidance.

Space Heaters

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2002

Space Heaters in University Buildings Fact Sheet

The Fire Prevention Division of the Office of Environment, Health & Safety discourages University employees from using space heaters in their workplaces because of fire risks.

Fire Safety for Field Work

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2008

Fire hazard is especially high in California during the summer due to the long, dry season. Those who work at off-site research stations, do field work, or are simply enjoying time outside should observe the following simple measures for preventing and reacting to fires.

Zach Mckeithan

Plans Examiner (Construction Inspector)
Fire Prevention
Construction Inspection
Building Plan Review

Extension Cords and Surge Protectors

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2004

Extension Cords and Surge Protectors Fact Sheet

Extension cords are very useful in many applications on campus and in the field, but they do have limitations. Misused and damaged extension cords (see photos 1-6 below) have caused painful injuries, fires, equipment damage, and regulatory citations and penalties. Take the time to choose the proper extension cord for the equipment being used.

Brandon Taylor

Fire Prevention Specialist
Fire Prevention
Building Fire Inspections
Event Permit
Fire Drills
Fire Extinguisher Training

Freezer

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2003

Storing Flammable Liquids in Refrigerators and Freezers

Flammable material refrigerators and freezers are designed to prevent ignition of flammable vapors inside the storage compartment and should be purchased whenever a refrigerator is needed to store flammable liquid. A flammable liquid is defined by the fire code as having a flash point of less than 100 ˚F (38˚C).

Storing Flammable Liquids in Refrigerators and Freezers, Fact Sheet

UC Berkeley Toxic, Corrosive and Pyrophoric (TCP) Gas Program Document

Office of Environment, Health & Safety
2021

UC Berkeley has a Toxic, Corrosive and Pyrophoric (TCP) Gas Program that specifies minimum requirements for safe storage, use, and handling of Toxic, Corrosive and Pyrophoric (TCP) gases on campus. The Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) coordinates this program by performing evaluations of toxic, corrosive and pyrophoric gas usage and offering technical advice on the requirements of the program.