Prevention of fires and assuring that all campus facilities are constructed and operated in accordance with the current Life Safety Codes is a critical mission of the Building & Fire Safety team.
Life Safety System Permits
Activities or projects that involve any of the following require a permit and supporting documentation.
- Fire Sprinkler Systems
- Fire Alarm Systems
- Underground Sprinkler Piping
- Underground Storage Tanks
- Above Ground Storage Tanks
- Emergency Generators
All associated plans are to be submitted to and approved by University of Nebraska Building & Fire Safety, not the State Fire Marshal, the City of Kearney, City of Lincoln, or City of Omaha.
These systems require periodic inspection. Please see the Periodic Tests & Inspections section for more details and email
buildsafe@nebraska.edu to request an inspection.
Periodic Tests & Inspections
While much of our Building & Fire Safety's work is focused on new and remodeled construction, the team also assesses existing buildings, including classrooms, laboratories, and industrial spaces. Efforts include verifying that the Life Safety systems in all buildings are maintained, tested and operated as required by the Codes and conducting Fire Safety inspections, including Licensure Referrals and investigation of complaints.
Required Periodic Tests and Inspections
The owner, operator, occupant, or any person in control of a building or premises shall keep records of all maintenance, inspections, and testing of fire protection systems, fire alarm systems, smoke control systems, emergency evacuation and relocation drills, emergency action plans, emergency power, elevators, and other equipment as required by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (NU B&S).
Please note: Documentation and records of all required inspections and tests shall be kept current and made available to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (NU B&S) upon request.
- Means of egress from all parts of the building shall be maintained free and unobstructed. This would include all corridors leading to any exits. Means of egress shall be accessible to the extent necessary to ensure reasonable safety for occupants having impaired mobility
- No lock or fastening device shall be permitted that prevents free escape from the inside of the building
- Snow, ice and any other material shall be removed from all egress paths outside of the building to a public way
- Each means of egress shall be inspected to ensure they are maintained free of obstructions, and correct any deficiencies found, prior to each opening of the building to the public
- The designated building representative shall be responsible for inspection, testing and maintenance of the buildings fire sprinkler system
- The fire sprinkler system shall be inspected at least annually by a Nebraska licensed fire sprinkler company
- The following items shall be visually inspected quarterly: water flow devices, valve supervisory signal devices, supervisory signal devices, and gauges
- Mechanical water flow alarm devices shall be tested quarterly
- Vane and pressure switch-type devices shall be tested semi-annually
- The dry pipe system gauges shall be inspected weekly
- Prior to any testing, the designated representative for the facility shall notify the alarm-receiving facility (UNL-PD-472-1198)
- The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ - University of Nebraska Building and Fire Safety), Local Fire & Rescue Groups and Local Police Departments shall be notified prior to shutting down the fire sprinkler system for any reason
- The AHJ, (University of Nebraska Building and Fire Safety), Local Fire & Rescue Groups and Local Police Departments shall be notified when the system is back in service
- Any time the fire sprinkler system is down for more than a 4 hour period, a fire watch shall be conducted which includes a dedicated person walking the entire building every 30 minutes who has the ability to initiate
- a response to an emergency and to be able to immediately notify emergency responders
- Records shall be made and kept for all inspections, tests and maintenance of the fire sprinkler system and its components. The records shall indicate the following:
- The procedure/activity performed
- The organization that performed the activity
- The required frequency of the activity
- The results and date of the activity
- The name and contact information of the qualified contractor or owner, including the lead person for the activity
- The designated building representative shall be responsible for inspection, testing and maintenance of the buildings fire alarm system
- The fire alarm system shall be inspected and tested per requirements as noted in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 – National Fire Alarm Code at least annually by a Nebraska licensed fire alarm inspector
- The following items shall be visually inspected weekly by the building representative to verify a normal condition: Fuses, Interfaced equipment, Lamps and LEDs, Primary power supply, Trouble signals. Any non-normal condition shall be reported to the licensed fire alarm inspector hired by the facility
- The following items shall be visually inspected semi-annually by the building representative to verify a normal condition: Remote Annunciator, In-building fire emergency voice/alarm communications equipment, duct detectors, smoke detectors
- Records shall be retained until the next test and for 1 year therafter
- The designated representative for the facility shall notify the alarm-receiving facility prior to any testing
- The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ - University of Nebraska Building & Fire Safety), Local Fire & Rescue Groups and Local Police Departments shall be notified prior to shutting down the fire alarm system for any reason
- The AHJ, Local Fire & Rescue Groups and Local Police Departments shall be notified when the system is back in service
- Any time the fire alarm system is down for more than a 4 hour period, a fire watch shall be conducted which includes a dedicated person walking the entire building every 30 minutes who has the ability to initiate a response to an emergency and to be able to immediately notify emergency responders
The ammonia detection system shall be tested as required by the manufacturer of the system.
- The designated building representative shall be responsible for inspection, testing and maintenance of the buildings emergency lighting system
- Functional testing shall be conducted monthly for not less than 30 seconds
- Functional testing shall be conducted annually for a minimum of 1 ½ hours
- The emergency lighting equipment shall be fully operational for the duration of the tests
- Written records of visual inspections and tests shall be kept by the management
- The designated building representative shall be responsible for inspection, testing and maintenance of the buildings fire extinguishers
- The fire extinguishers shall be inspected and maintained by a qualified fire extinguisher technician at least annually as required by NFPA 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers
- The fire extinguishers shall be inspected at intervals not exceeding 31 days for the following:
- Location in designated space
- No obstruction to access or visibility
- Pressure gauge reading or indicator in the operable range or position
- Fullness determined by weighing or hefting
- Verify that operating instructions on nameplates are legible and face outward
- Check for broken or missing safety seals and tamper indicators
- Examine for obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle
- When an inspection of any fire extinguisher reveals a deficiency in any of these conditions, immediate corrective action shall be taken
- Documentation of the monthly inspections shall be maintained on the back of the tag or label of each fire extinguisher
- Exit signs shall be visually inspected for operation of the illumination sources at intervals not to exceed 30 days
- The exit signs shall be tested the same means and duration as the emergency lighting
- Employees or attendants shall be trained and drilled in the duties they are to perform in case of fire, panic, or other emergency to effect orderly exiting
- Employees or attendants shall be instructed in the proper use of portable fire extinguishers
A trained crowd manager shall be provided at a ratio of one crowd manager for every 250 occupants. The crowd manager shall receive approved training in crowd management techniques.
Crowd management training shall include:
- Understanding crowd manager roles and responsibilities
- Understanding safety and security hazards that can endanger public assembly
- Understanding crowd management techniques
- Introduction to fire safety and fire safety equipment
- Understanding methods of evacuation and movement
- Understanding procedures for reporting emergencies
- Understanding crowd management emergency response procedures
- Understanding the paths of travel and exits, facility evacuation and emergency response procedures and, where provided, facility shelter-in-place procedures
- Familiarization with the venue and guest services training
Other specific event-warranted training:
- Understanding crowd manager supervisor roles and responsibilities
- Understanding incident management procedures
- Understanding the facility evacuation plan
- Understanding the facility command structure
System Impairments
Impairments are situations whereby Fire & Life Safety Systems need to be taken off-line.
Impairments are caused by equipment failures, maintenance, tie-ins and accidents or installation of new equipment or parts. When a system is impaired, immediate corrective action shall be taken, or an approved plan of action shall be set in place.
Notifications communicate the nature of the impairment, the expected duration, and actions to mitigate risk. The following campus units are to be notified of impairments and the systems’ return to normal service:
- University of Nebraska Building & Fire Safety
- Local Police Department
- Campus Maintenance Groups
- Campus Operator
Notice is given immediately upon discovery of an unplanned impairment. Whereas, a planned impairment and its action plan are submitted to buildsafe@nebraska.edu for prior approval.
Planned impairments affecting a building system for longer than four hours or for an unknown period of time require a Fire Watch.
The person responsible for performing the Fire Watch maintains a log. A copy of the log is submitted to buildsafe@nebraska.edu upon completion of the Fire Watch.