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.

Campus Laboratory Safety Policies

The University of California, Berkeley is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for the campus community. Faculty, students, and other personnel in laboratories and other academic settings may work with hazardous materials, equipment, and processes. With regard to safety and environmental protection, this teaching, and research work is governed by state and federal regulations and University policies.

New UC Systemwide Laboratory Safety Policies...

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Fact Sheets

Fact Sheets

EH&S Fact Sheets serve as campus-wide Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

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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.

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EH&S' Facilities/Equipment Decontamination Clearance Certification

2007

Facilities/Equipment Decontamination Clearance Certification

The Principal Investigator (PI)/Supervisor is responsible for the indicated area or items, has assessed this location or equipment and determined that it can be released for reuse with no restrictions. This does not provide clearance for facilities or equipment containing lead paint or asbestos components.

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Design Drawings Checklists

Design Drawings Checklists - Fire and Life

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Fire/Life Safety Submittal Checklist

Read more about Fire/Life Safety Submittal Checklist

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...