Old Dominion University is committed to instilling a culture of fire prevention and life safety within the campus community. Led by a full-time Fire Marshal/Fire Prevention Manager with 33 years in the fire service, the ODU Office of Fire Prevention's programs focus on fire prevention and life safety education, realistic training, proactive inspections and enforcement, customer service, and modern technology to realize our goal of a fire-safe campus.
Through a partnership with local fire departments, fire prevention bureaus, and the Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office, the ODU Office of Fire Prevention works to meet or exceed all local and State fire code requirements. In particular, we work closely with Norfolk Fire-Rescue - the first responder to all main campus fire and medical emergencies - to plan for, train, exercise, respond to, and mitigate fire hazards in all University facilities.
ODU Fire Prevention Policies & Procedures
- All campus buildings, residence halls, and student rooms are smoke-free (including vaping)
- Smoking is not allowed within 20 feet of any building entrance
- Smoking any substance or creating smoke through the use of incense, candles, or other smoke-producing items is prohibited in all campus buildings, including residence halls
- Students documented for possession of candles/incense in a residence hall may be assessed a fee of up to $75
- Students documented for burning candles/smoking in a residence hall may be assessed a fee of up to $100
- When a fire alarm sounds, all building occupants (including residents) are required to stop activities, exit the building, and meet in the building's designated Emergency Assembly Area(s) (EAA). When leaving, feel doors for heat with the back of the hand, crouch low to the ground, protect the nose and mouth if smoke is present, and leave via the closest accessible exit."
- Failure to evacuate for any reason may result in referral to the judicial system and assessment of up to a $50 fee for the first offense and $75 for the second offense
- Any student, faculty, or staff member who tampers (which includes but is not limited to covering, removing, defacing, damaging, or rendering inoperable) with fire and life safety equipment to include fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, emergency egress lighting, or exit signage is subject to disciplinary action, which may include up to a $200 fine
- Any student, faculty, or staff member who deliberately activates a false fire alarm is subject to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal from the residence hall, possible suspension from the university, or other penalties
- The Old Dominion University Police Department may charge any violator tampering with fire safety equipment a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $2,500 and/or 12 months in jail
- Residents who activate a fire alarm as a result of negligence (including but not limited to cooking, hair styling, steam, etc.) may be assessed up to a $50 fine
Procedures & Forms
Fire Protection Impairment Program: The Fire Protection Impairment Program provides instructions to authorized individuals who wish to request to modify the normal operation of the University's fire alarm, fire protection, and/or life safety systems during events including but not limited to construction, demolition, outages, maintenance, testing, and building system impairments. Persons who wish to take any fire protection system out of service for any reason must fill out a request for a permit to do so. These documents contain an effective management program used to minimize the risks associated with fire alarm and fire protection impairments.
- Fire Protection Impairment Permit
- Fire Protection Impairment Program - Guidelines
- Fire Watch Signage
Hot Work: Personnel conducting hot work on ODU property must review the ODU Hot Work Safety Guide and apply for a Hot Work Permit with the Office of Fire Prevention. Upon permit approval, personnel must follow the provisions set forth in the Hot Work Safety Guide and Hot Work Permit, and post Hot Work Signage outside of the designated work area until work is complete.
Fire Watch: A Fire Watch must be implemented when an occupied building's fire protection systems or equipment are out of service, and must remain in effect until the systems or equipment are returned to service. A Fire Watch Form, Patrol Log, and Signage must be used when performing Fire Watch duties.
Residence Hall Fire Prevention
Old Dominion University houses over 4,600 students in 56 on-campus housing facilities. We are proud to say our housing facilities meet or exceed all minimum fire and life safety standards. The following items are prohibited in residence halls:
- Extension cords
- Multi-plug adapters
- Halogen and torch lamps
- Toasters/toaster ovens
- George Foreman type grills
- Hazardous materials
- Appliances with exposed heating elements
- Explosives/flammables/propane/gas grills
- Motorized vehicles
- Firearms/weapons/Incendiary devices
- Live Christmas trees
- Candles/incense/oil lamps/open flames
- Portable heaters
- Fireworks
Fire prevention is everyone's responsibility. In residence halls, the majority of fire alarms result from:
- Improper or unattended cooking
- Hair styling products used with hot irons/hair dryers
- Excessive shower steam
- Use of prohibited items
Learn how you can do your part to prevent fire and reduce nuisance fire alarms by watching this short fire safety video created by ODU Housing and Residence Life and ODU Fire Prevention.
Education, Training, & Outreach Programs
Fire & Life Safety Training: ODU Fire Prevention offers training for fire extinguisher use, basic fire prevention, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) use, Stop the Bleed, and other applicable fire and life safety topics on an as-requested basis. For details and to schedule training, contact fireprevention@562857.com.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program
- According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital in the United States each year. The United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration notes that about 10,000 cardiac arrests occur in the workplace annually, and only about half of employees know where an AED is located at work. With nine out of ten cardiac arrest victims surviving if they receive a shock in the first minute, knowing where to find an AED could save a life!
- ODU Fire Prevention coordinates oversight and maintenance of AEDs located in most campus buildings. For questions regarding ODU's AED program, contact fireprevention@562857.com. A drop-down list of AED locations in campus buildings can be found below.
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- Third Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Right Wall Past Front Entrance
- Second Floor: Dermatology Clinical Area
- First Floor: Coat Closet
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Fifth Floor: Near Elevator
- Eighth Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Room 1126
- First Floor: Food Court Near Mexican
- Second Floor: Near Restrooms
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- Third Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Room 1011
- First Floor: Near Room 1051
- Second Floor: Near Room 2004
- Second Floor: Near Room 2084
- First Floor: Main Hallway
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- Third Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Fourth Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Hallway in Main Office Area
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Main Entrance
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Fourth Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Dental Clinic
- First Floor: Near Room 1121
- Second Floor: Near Room 2113
- Third Floor: Near Room 3141
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Restrooms
- Fourth Floor: Suite 401
- Second Floor: Near Room 231
- First Floor: Hallway Between Lewis and Lester Halls
First Floor: Near Courtyard Door
- First Floor: Near Kitchen Area
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- Physical Therapy: Gym Area
- Hallway Near Room 1008
- First Floor: Near Elevator on Oceanography Side of Building
- Third Floor: Near Elevator on Oceanography Side of Building
- First Floor: Near Front Elevator
- Third Floor: Near Front Elevator
- Second Floor: Main Office
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor ARTOC: Main Hallway
- First Floor: Main Foyer Hallway
- First Floor: Room 1006
- First Floor: Room 1100
- First Floor: Room 1101
- First Floor: Hallway Near Room 1301A
- First Floor: Hallway Near MAC Court
- First Floor: Pool Area
- Second Floor: Room 2003
- Second Floor: Track
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Weight Area
- Second Floor: Near Room 2003
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Elevator
- Second Floor: Fitness Room
- Tenth Floor: Near Elevator
- First Floor: Near Room 1054
- First Floor: Near Room 1200
- First Floor: Information Desk
- First Floor: Near POD Market
- First Floor: Student Health Services
- Second Floor: Near Elevator
- Main Lobby
- First Floor: Hallway Between Research and Diabetes