Reporting a Fire
If you discover or suspect a fire, activate the nearest fire alarm pull station. Then call University Police at 781.891.3131, or pick up the nearest red emergency telephone, which will connect you to University Police. Give the dispatcher the specific location of the fire, and any other pertinent information. If your residence hall is equipped with tamper covers over the Pull Stations, be aware that:
- Pulling the tamper cover to gain access to the fire alarm pull station will activate the tamper alarm only, and will not report the alarm to University Police. To the right is a picture of a pull station with a tamper cover.
- You must proceed to pull the lever on the Fire Alarm Pull Station. By doing so, the building alarm will sound, alerting University Police and the Waltham Fire Department of the condition.
Preventing Fires
All cooking appliances, except microwave ovens, are prohibited from suites and dormitory rooms. This includes hotplates, hotpots, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers, and any other appliances whatsoever. Apartments may have cooking appliances in the kitchen only. Space heaters are not allowed. In an emergency situation only, the Physical Plant Department will provide an approved space heater for temporary heating purposes.
Cooking is allowed only in apartments and residence hall kitchens. When cooking, remember the following:
- Keep ovens clean at all times.
- Turn on smoke exhaust fans.
- Do not leave the oven or other heat producing appliances unattended while they are in operation.
- Use only U.L. listed appliances.
- If a pan of grease or a deep-fat fryer catches on fire, immediately turn off the heat, cover the burning pan with a lid, if possible and, if available, throw baking soda into the flame. Do not try to extinguish the fire with water, flour, sugar, or other materials. Never try to carry a cooking utensil with burning liquid.
- Do not open the door of your apartment or residence hall kitchen to clear cooking smoke; open a window. Otherwise you will set off the hallway smoke detectors and create a false alarm.
Additional fire prevention rules include:
- The only type of multiple plug adapters allowed in the residence halls are those with internal circuit breakers (surge protectors). Extension cords of any kind are not allowed. Surge protectors come in many lengths and are to be used instead of extension cords. Periodically check cords for wear. Always report problems with your refrigerator, microwave, stove, air conditioner, heaters, and other appliances to the Facilities Management Department. You can make a work order request, call x2208 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or call University Police at x2201 for an off-hours emergency situation.
- Flammable and combustible liquids are prohibited in all residences. This includes charcoal, Zippo lighter fluid, gasoline, benzene, propane, alcohol, cleaning fluids, oil-based paints, and thinners.
- All types of candles and incense are strictly prohibited everywhere on campus.
- Halogen lamps, and neon signs are prohibited, even if they are non-functional.
- Combustible waste should be disposed of as soon as possible. Trash and garbage should be emptied in the proper refuse containers, not left in corridors or hallways.
- Room furnishings should not obstruct or hamper any access to an exit. Bicycles chained to stairways or landings are prohibited.
- Motorcycles, mopeds, gasoline engines or engine parts are prohibited.
- Do not drape any type of combustible material over lamps or other electrical fixtures.
- Do not prop open fire doors. Closed fire doors are designed to prevent smoke and fire from spreading.
- Do not use flammable decorations at anytime, including during the holiday season. Remember, live trees or combustible ornaments are not permitted.
If You Smoke:
- Smoking (of any kind) is not permitted inside any building on the Bentley campus, including apartments. Please use smoking urns, located outside of most entrances, to dispose of cigarettes.
Smoke Detector Facts
All residence halls are equipped with addressable fire alarm systems - meaning when a device is activated or tampered with a signal is sent with the room number of the device to the fire alarm panel and to University Police. All detectors on campus are hardwired to the main and backup electrical systems for their buildings. Meaning no smoke detectors have batteries, and if you attempt to tamper with one you risk receiving an electrical shock.
There are two types of alarms - local and general. A local alarm rings the alarms in the apartment where a smoke detector is activated. A general alarm rings the alarms in the entire building. Both signals are received by University Police who investigate all fire alarm signals. A general alarm will cause a signal to transmit to Waltham Fire Department - and if it is a false alarm, you will be charged judicially.
Apartments and Suites - Orchards, Rhodes, Fenway, Copleys, Forest, Kresge, Falcones, and North Campus Apartments:
Each bedroom and living room has a smoke detector. If one smoke detector is activated (causing a local alarm) the alarms in your apartment will ring the and University Police will be notified. When the smoke condition clears, the alarm will silence by itself. You are not charged judicially for causing a local alarm unless you are doing something else that violates Bentley's policies.
If two smoke detectors are activated within your apartment or suite, then the general alarm will ring for your building. This will cause University Police to respond immediately, followed by Waltham Fire Department. You will be judicially charged for all false alarms. You will be charged judicially if the alarm condition was preventable, as they are in many cases.
The hallways are also equipped with smoke detectors. If one hallway or other common area (including lounges and study areas) is activated, the general alarm for the building will be activated.
Apartments and Suites - Collins and Boylstons:
Each bedroom has a smoke detector. If one smoke detector is activated (causing a local alarm) the alarms in your apartment will ring the and University Police will be notified. When the smoke condition clears, the alarm will silence by itself. You are not charged judicially for causing a local alarm unless you are doing something else that violates Bentley's policies. If two smoke detectors are activated within your apartment, then the general alarm will ring for your building. This will cause University Police to respond immediately, followed by Waltham Fire Department. You will be judicially charged for all false alarms. You will be charged judicially if the alarm condition was preventable, as they are in many cases.
In your livingroom near your kitchen there is a heat detector. Heat detectors do not activate from cooking. They react to sudden and rapid changes in temperature over a specific time period or a high heat build-up. If this detector is activated then the general alarm for the building will be activated and University Police will respond immediately.
The hallways are also equipped with smoke detectors. If one hallway or other common area (including lounges and study areas) is activated, the general alarm for the building will be activated.
Dormitories and Special Housing - Slade, Miller, Trees, Stratton, Cape and Castle:
All bedrooms and common areas (lounges, hallways, and study areas) are equipped with smoke detectors. If one smoke detector is activated, then the general alarm will ring for your building. This will cause University Police to respond immediately, followed by Waltham Fire Department. You will be judicially charged for all false alarms. You will be charged judicially if the alarm condition was preventable, as they are in many cases.
Hardy House Apartments:
Each kitchen is equipped with a heat detector. It senses the rate that temperature is changing within your apartment. If the temperature changes quickly, then it will activate. Smoke and steam will not activate a heat detector. The heat detectors are monitored by the building fire alarm, and if activated will cause a general alarm for the building. University Police monitors this fire alarm as well even though it is not on the main campus.
Each living room is equipped with a local smoke detector. If activated it will ring within your apartment. Once the smoke clears, it will stop ringing on its own. These detectors are not monitored by the fire alarm panel for the building. They are connected to the building's electrical system and do not have batteries. If you are having problems with your local smoke detector, please call x2208 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or call University Police at x2201 after hours.
Remember, any smoke condition can quickly become a fire situation!
Fire Suppression Systems
A water sprinkler fire suppression system system is comprised of sprinkler heads, associated piping, controls, and water under pressure.
In the event of a fire, the sprinkler heads are designed to activate at a pre-determined temperature. All residence halls on the main and upper campuses are equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems. The Hardy Apartments are not equipped with sprinklers. If your residence hall is equipped with sprinklers, please observe the following guidelines:
- Do not hang items or material from the sprinkler head, which may activate or interrupt the spray pattern of the device.
- Do not hit the sprinkler heads or tamper with any associated components of this Life Safety System!
Escaping From a Fire
As soon as the fire alarm sounds, prepare to exit immediately. Then touch your door to test its temperature. If it is hot, put towels or clothing around the doorframe to prevent smoke from entering. Open your window and wave something white to attract attention.
If the door is cool, evacuate your room as soon as possible. Go to the nearest exit. DO NOT WAIT for a staff person to tell you to leave. It is your responsibility to evacuate the building in a quick and orderly fashion!
If there is smoke in the hall, stay low and proceed to the nearest exit. There are two exits on every floor. Do not panic if one of the exits is blocked, proceed to the next one. 
- Stay calm. Do not run or shout.
- Do not use an elevator. In the event that you are in an elevator when the alarm sounds, it will bring you to the main floor.
It is essential to determine which residents have safely escaped. You should assemble in the adjacent parking lot to your residence hall. Do not attempt to re-enter the building until the Fire Department or University Police has declared the emergency over.
Keep in Mind:
Fire drills are conducted to familiarize everyone with the sound of the alarms. Use the emergency exit locations to evacuate the building safely. These drills are conducted once each semester. Remember, failure to evacuate when the alarm sounds is punishable by a fine and/or other disciplinary action.
Automatic and manual fire alarm signaling systems and smoke detectors are provided in all buildings. These systems are all connected to University Police. Damaging these systems is a serious offense and can result in prosecution and/or university disciplinary action.
Creating a false alarm is punishable by a fine, expulsion from residence halls and/or university, and up to twelve months imprisonment.
Fire extinguishers are located in all campus buildings. These are to be used only for their intended purpose, and should not be removed at any other time. Extinguishers are to be used only by trained personnel. Don't waste any time!
Get Outside Quickly! People who misuse fire extinguishers are subject to sanctions as severe as suspension from housing.
For more information on residence hall fire safety regulations refer to the Student Handbook on line.