ResRules Categories – Fire Safety

What are the ResRules related to fire safety?

With so many people living in such tight quarters, fire safety is extremely important in residences. Fire safety ResRules are designed to do two things: keep residents safe and ensure that Kingston Fire Department Resources are used only when needed.

  • Pulling a fire alarm when no fire is present is a serious offence, because Kingston Fire and Rescue will leave any other location (even a real fire) to come to a Queen’s Residence building, even for a false alarm.  This puts lives in danger.
  • Failing to evacuate during a fire alarm puts both residents and Kingston Fire and Rescue at risk, because in the case of a real fire the Fire Department would have to enter the building to try to get to people who have failed to evacuate.
  • Both burning anything (including smoking legal or illegal drugs) in residences and tampering with smoke detectors increase the chance of a serious fire, and are thus prohibited in residence.

The ResRules related to Fire Safety are:

1.4 Smoking

Smoking of any legal substance within 9 meters from any residence building.

 

2.4a Fire Alarm Evacuation and Re-entry

Failure to promptly evacuate a residence in the event of a fire alarm or re-entering a residence

building after evacuation without authorization from Residence staff, Campus Security, or

Kingston Fire Rescue.

2.4b Fire Hazards

Operating any flame or burning of any substance (e.g., potpourri burners, incense, candles and

smoking of any legal substance); using hazardous materials or non-CSA-approved electrical

appliances in residence. Obstructing residence hallways, stairwells, doorways or exits, common

rooms, or other areas constituting a fire hazard. Exceeding the capacity of any room.

2.6 Illegal Substances

Possessing or using any narcotics or controlled substances (misuse of prescription medication)

in or around residences. Including possession of drug paraphernalia.

3.4 Fire Equipment or Fire Alarms

Tampering with, damaging, discharging and/or operating fire prevention equipment

or detection equipment for any purpose other than the control of fire. This includes,

but is not limited to, hanging materials from sprinklers or detectors; covering or disarming

smoke detectors.