Housing Policies
Student Procedure to Obtain and Dispose of Sharps Containers
1. Students may obtain empty sharps containers from the Student Programs area office managers, Schiffert Health Center staff, or Environmental Health and Safety Services staff.
To pick up empty sharps containters, go to the area office or health center in person, or contact EHSS staff by phone at 231-2509 or e-mail rmw@vt.edu to arrange
delivery.
2. When the sharps container is full and ready for disposal, you must return the full container to the Student Programs area office or health
center. You may also contact EHSS to arrange pickup.
3. Students should dispose of full containers directly into an approved receptacle to ensure containment of all medical waste and prevent
accidental exposure.
4. Health center and EHSS staff will then dispose of the material as required by law. Upon receipt of a full sharps container in the area
office, the area office manager will contact EHSS at 231-2509 or rmw@vt.edu within 48 hrs. to request a pickup.
5. Empty containers may be obtained at the time of disposal.
NOTE: Unless there are extenuating circumstances, no second or third parties should come in contact with used/filled sharps containers. The
student should dispose of the container directly into the approved receptacle, and trained personnel must complete the pickup and disposal.
Due to the potential hazards and strict handling requirements associated with regulated medical waste, students or staff can face disciplinary
action for improper disposal of any environmental hazard.
Policy for Residence Hall Decorations
Purpose
To provide expectations for all types of decorations that are consistent with any and all applicable rules, regulations, and codes in
order to reduce the potential for safety and fire hazards, inside and outside of the residence halls. Decorating rooms and public areas in
the residence halls for personalization and to celebrate holidays and other events is wholeheartedly supported within these requirements.
Resident rooms, suites, doors, and hallways:
- Combustible materials may not be placed on the surface of doors facing
hallways, stairwells, or other exits (resident room doors, bathroom doors,
stairwell doors, exterior doors, etc.). Examples of combustible materials
include, but are not limited to, paper of any kind, contact paper, and plastics.
- The only exception to this door decoration regulation is that a single memo
or message board may be placed on a resident room door facing the hallway.
The size may not exceed 200 square inches.
- Posting of resident names is permitted on a single paper or name board placed
next to the door on the masonry wall, not on the door frame. Room numbers
should not be covered, and the nametag or sign may not exceed 200 square inches
for both residents combined.
- No other posting of combustible materials by residents on the hallway walls,
exit doors, or in stairwells is permitted. Posting of flyers and other combustible
materials is permitted only on general purpose bulletin boards, hall council
and staff bulletin boards, and authorized posting areas for residence hall
staff.
- In student rooms, no materials of any kind may be hung from ceilings. Approximately
10 percent of the total wall surfaces in a room may be covered with combustible decorative
materials (also refer to #6). There is no limit on decorative materials that
are flame resistant. (Proof of flame resistance may be requested during a fire
inspection.)
- Improper decorative hangings contribute to the rapid spread of fire. Curtains,
draperies, wall hangings, blankets, banners, and other decorative materials
suspended from walls, closets, or other vertical surfaces must be flame resistant
or noncombustible. Virginia statewide fire code does not permit any other
combustible materials, such as posters, paper, or cardboard to be on or hung
around windows unless they are fire resistant. Mini blinds and pull shades
furnished by the University in most residence hall windows are fire resistant
and meet the code requirements. Curtains or drapes that are purchased or made
of flame resistant materials must have a manufacturer's tag verifying such.
- Only "cool" mini-lights are authorized for use in student rooms and must
be strung together according to manufacturer's recommendation (usually 2-3
strings). Care shall be taken to ensure that lights do not come in contact
with combustible material and the first or "lead" string must be plugged directly
into the wall or University-approved power strip with over-current/breaker
protection. The lights may be on only when the room is occupied.
- Flammable items such as fuel (propane, lamp oil, solvents, gasoline, etc)
may not be stored or used in any area of the residence hall. Items that require
an open flame, operate on fuel, or produce heat (such as Bunsen burners, lit
candles, incense, and alcohol burners) are prohibited. Candles, incense, and
other items producing an open flame may not be burned in the residence halls
except as part of a regulated religious ceremony approved in advance by Environmental
Health and Safety Services by securing an Open Burn Permit.
- A ceiling clearance of 18 inches for sprinklered buildings and 24 inches
for non-sprinklered buildings is required at all times. Posters, pictures, and
other decorations must not be placed around side-mounted sprinkler heads or
smoke detectors.
- Halogen lamps are no longer UL approved and are illegal to use anywhere.
Other interior areas:
- Exit doors, hallways, stairwells, and other means of egress (exit) may not be obstructed in any way.
- Combustible materials such as cotton batting, straw, dry vines, leaves, trees (cut or live), artificial flowers, shrubbery, and
foam-type plastic materials shall not be used for decorative purposes in such a quantity as to constitute a fire hazard, unless such
material is flame resistant in an approved and verified manner. This applies to cuttings from evergreens, as well. Refer to #8 above
for additional limitations.
- Decorations shall not be affixed to or cover exit signs, doors, doorways, smoke detectors, fire alarm pull stations, or any
audio/visual alarms.
- Decorations may not be placed on, over, or in close proximity to light fixtures, other electrical devices, or appliances.
- No live or cut trees are permitted. Only artificial trees are permitted in the rooms and public areas where the tree may be placed so
as not to block an exit or access to an exit.
- Only "cool" mini-lights are authorized for use in public areas and must be strung together according to manufacturer's recommendation
(usually 2-3 strings). Care shall be taken to ensure that lights do not come in contact with combustible material and the first or "lead"
string must be plugged directly into the wall or University-approved power strip with over-current/breaker protection. Lights may be on only
when the room or public area is occupied.
- All electrical decorations shall bear the UL label and shall only be used as rated for either indoor or outdoor applications. All
light strings and cords shall be checked for fraying, bare wires, loose connections, and cracked or damaged plugs. Cords may not be passed
through doors, window openings, above ceiling tiles or through holes in the wall. Never string lights or decorate with any type of
electrical decorations or devices on metallic trees.
- Decorative icicles shall not be hung near bulbs, sockets, electrical outlets, or other electrical power sources.
- Decoration plans and materials for public areas shall be approved in advance by the Residence Life supervisor in consultation with
the Student Programs Fire Safety Officer and/or Environmental Health and Safety Services.
- Public area decorations are subject to inspection by University officials and others to ensure compliance with these guidelines. Failure to follow the guidelines may result in the removal of decorations.
- Public area decorations may only be displayed for the time intervals noted below. All decorations must be disposed of, or stored, properly.
- Birthdays or other such individual celebrations: 72 hrs. (3 days)
- Christmas: The Monday after Thankgiving until the Friday before Fall Semester Commencement
- Halloween: One week before Halloween until the day after Halloween
- Thanksgiving: The day after Halloween until the Friday before Thanksgiving break
- Other Holidays or Events: Shall be decided at time of request for permission to decorate
Exterior Areas:
- All exit doors and other means of egress shall not be obstructed.
- All materials must be flame proof in an approved manner.
- All lights or other electrical decorations must be rated for outdoor use and UL listed.
- All extension cords must be rated for outdoor use and UL listed. No extension cords or other electrical cords may be run through doorways, windows, walls or above ceiling tiles. Only exterior outlet or approved power sources may be used.
- Electronic access/ key card readers may not be obstructed.
- Decorations/lights may not be strung or looped from window to window. Lights may be hung inside of the windows in accordance with the stated policy for use of "cool" mini-lights.
- The Residence Life supervisor in consultation with the Student Programs Fire Safety Officer and/or Environmental Health and Safety Services shall approve decoration plans and materials for public areas in advance.
- Public area decorations are subject to inspection by University officials and others to ensure compliance with these guidelines. Failure to follow the guidelines may result in the removal of decorations.
- Public area decorations may only be displayed for the time intervals noted below. All decorations must be disposed of, or stored, properly.
- Christmas: The Monday after Thanksgiving until the Friday before Fall Semester Commencement
- Halloween: One week before Halloween until the day after Halloween
- Thanksgiving: the day after Halloween until the Friday before Thanksgiving break
- Other Holidays or Events: Shall be decided at time of request for permission to decorate
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