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Adopted by President's Cabinet 6/27/23

I. Purpose

East Georgia State College (EGSC) is committed to the safety of its faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To continue this commitment and ensure occupants of EGSC buildings are equipped for a fire emergency evacuation, fire drills shall be conducted in accordance with Georgia law. Drills are conducted to prepare building occupants for an organized evacuation in case of a fire or other emergency.

II. Policy Statement

Georgia law and regulations require fire drills be conducted at intervals as described in the International Fire Code and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code based on building occupancy classification. The Jeanne Clery Act mandates quarterly fire drills for campus residence halls.

All building occupants are required to participate in fire drill exercises. Occupants will exit buildings in an orderly fashion in accordance with the College’s Emergency Action Plan. No one will be allowed to re-enter a building until the “ALL CLEAR” signal is given.

III. Definitions

Public Assembly Occupancy - An occupancy used for a gathering of 50 or more persons for deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, awaiting transportation, or similar uses; or an occupancy used as a special amusement building, regardless of occupant load.

Building Representative – Person(s) designated in the EGSC Emergency Action Plan to receive training on preparedness, awareness, leading evacuations, shelter in place, assisting individuals with disabilities in evacuation and shelter in place procedures, and essential communications in potentially threatening situations.

Business Occupancy - An occupancy used for the transaction of business other than mercantile.

Day-Care Occupancy - An occupancy in which four or more clients receive care, maintenance, and supervision, by someone other than their relatives or legal guardians, for less than 24 hours per day.

Drill Officer - Person designated by the EGSC Director of Public Safety to coordinate fire drills and evaluate response capabilities.

Factory/Industrial Occupancy - An occupancy in which products are manufactured or in which processing, assembling, mixing, packaging, finishing, decorating, or repair operations are conducted.

Fire Drill - A simulation to practice emergency procedures that should be used in the event of a fire.

Mercantile Occupancy - An occupancy used for the display and sale of merchandise.

IV. Frequency of Drills

Fire drills must be conducted in accordance with this table per the International Fire Code and NFPA 101.

Occupancy Classification Frequency of Drills
Public Assembly Occupancy Quarterly
Business Occupancy Annually
Day-Care Occupancy Monthly
Factory/Industrial Occupancy Annually
Mercantile Occupancy Annually

Each building located on the Swainsboro Campus has been assigned a building occupancy classification by the Office of the Georgia Fire Safety Commissioner. Apart from this, the Jeanne Clery Act mandates quarterly fire drills for student housing facilities.

The following minimum fire drill frequency schedule is established for EGSC Swainsboro Campus buildings based upon Clery Act requirements and / or building occupancy classifications assigned by the State of Georgia:

Campus Building Occupancy Classification Frequency of Drills
Bobcat Villas South (Residence Hall) Business Occupancy/ Clery Act Quarterly
Bobcat Villas West (Residence Hall)  Business Occupancy/ Clery Act Quarterly
Gambrell Building Business Occupancy Annual
Physical Education Building Public Assembly Occupancy Quarterly
JAM Student Activities Center Business Occupancy Annual
Fulford Community Learning Center Public Assembly Occupancy Quarterly
Academic Building Business Occupancy Annual
George L. Smith Building Business Occupancy Annual
Police Department Business Occupancy Annual
Plant Operations Business Occupancy Annual
Shot & Jean Strange Clubhouse Public Assembly Occupancy Quarterly

V. Procedures

    1. General Information
      1. The Director of Public Safety shall appoint a drill officer responsible for scheduling, coordinating, and evaluating fire drills.
      2. The drill officer shall notify the Director of Plant Operations and appropriate local authorities in advance of scheduled drills.
      3. The drill officer is responsible for the training and coordination of building representatives as it pertains to building evacuations in the event of fire.
      4. Fire drill exercises may be announced or The drill officer shall determine whether advanced notice of a fire drill will be given.
    2. Announced Drills
      1. Announced fire drills provide opportunities for building representatives to engage in advanced preparation. These drills are intended to familiarize participants with expectations and individual responsibilities through practical exercises.
      2. Notice will be given no less than (3) days prior to an announced fire drill.
      3. Signage giving notice of the drill will be posted in the effected building in visible areas (i.e. entrances, lobbies, elevators, etc.).
    3. Unannounced Drills
      Unannounced fire drills are intended to simulate response to an actual fire emergency. These drills will be used to test the College community’s response capabilities.

    4. Alarm Activation
      1. The drill officer is responsible for activating the fire alarm during a drill.
      2. The alarm should remain activated until evacuation of the building has been confirmed.
    5. Building Evacuation
      1. Building representatives shall assist occupants during an evacuation by providing information and directing evacuees to safety.
      2. Building occupants shall proceed to the nearest exit when an audible fire alarm actuates.
      3. Interior doors are to be closed and left unlocked.
      4. Building occupants are prohibited from using elevators during fire drills.
      5. Building representatives shall establish an evacuation point at least 500 feet from the building and away from responding emergency vehicles.
      6. Upon exit, building occupants will proceed to the evacuation point and keep streets, fire lanes, hydrant areas and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel.
      7. Unit heads / supervisors shall conduct an attendance check at the evacuation point to ensure no employees are missing. The names of missing personnel are to be reported to a building representative and/or emergency personnel.
      8. When a drill occurs in a building during class sessions, faculty shall conduct an attendance check at the evacuation point to ensure no students are missing. The names of missing students are to be reported to a building representative and/or emergency personnel.
      9. The drill officer will silence and reset the fire alarm at the conclusion of the drill. The silencing of an audible fire alarm does not authorize re- entry into a building.
      10. Persons may not re-enter the building until the drill officer gives the “ALL CLEAR” signal. Building representatives shall assist the drill officer by passing this information along.
    6. Fire Drill Record Keeping
      Upon completion of a fire drill, a Fire Drill Incident Report must be completed by the drill officer and submitted for record keeping purposes. These records will be maintained for a period of (3) years and made available upon request through the Director of Public Safety.

    7. Additional Procedures for Student Housing
      1. Employees of the Office of Housing and Residence Life are designated as building representatives for campus housing facilities. This includes professional staff, contracted staff, and resident Housing staff and resident assistants shall perform the functions and duties of building representatives during fire drills and actual emergencies.
      2. The EGSC director of housing, or designee, shall insure all housing building representatives receive annual training from a qualified individual on fire safety, the use of fire extinguishers, evacuation procedures, and how to conduct a fire drill.
      3. Fire drills shall be conducted in Bobcat Villas West and Bobcat Villas South a minimum of four (4) times per calendar year.
      4. A drill shall be conducted within each facility during the first month of Fall Semester and a drill shall be conducted within each facility after the semester midpoint.
      5. A drill shall be conducted within each facility during the first month of Spring Semester and a drill shall be conducted within each facility after the semester midpoint.
      6. At least one drill will be conducted during the hours after sunset and before sunrise.
      7. A drill shall be conducted during the first month of Summer Semester for any facility occupied by residents.
      8. The EGSC director of housing, or designee, shall incorporate emergency preparedness information into student housing orientations based upon the most current edition of the College’s Resident Student Handbook. Specific attention shall be placed upon fire safety, fire drill, and evacuation protocols.
      9. The EGSC director of housing, or designee, shall insure the most current edition of the Resident Student Handbook is available to faculty, students, and staff via electronic means throughout the year.
      10. The EGSC director of housing shall ensure placards are displayed in each sleeping room detailing fire safety information and evacuation