Housing

The Risk Management Policy of the FIPG, Inc. shall apply to all member men’s and women’s fraternity entities and all levels of fraternity membership. The policy specifically addresses the issue of housing as follows:
Fire, Health, & Safety
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Basic fire safety suggestions for a fire safety risk management program follow:
  1. All chapter houses shall, prior to, during, and following occupancy, meet all local fire and health codes and standards.
  2. POST common phones and in other locations emergency numbers for fire, police and ambulance and also POST in the common areas on the back of the door of each sleeping room.
  3. COMPLY with engineering recommendations as reported by the insurance company or municipal authorities.
  4. PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION AND/OR USE OF FIREARMS OR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES of any kind within the confines and premises of the chapter house.
  5. DO NOT ALLOW THE USE OF CANDLES in the house or in individual rooms except under controlled circumstances and initiation.
  6. ESTABLISH A “NO SMOKING” POLICY. Ban smoking in bed and establish other non- smoking areas. Provide plenty of ashtrays in designated smoking areas.
  7. DO NOT OVERLOAD CIRCUITS. Prohibit the use of extension cords or multi-outlet devices. Use power strips, preferably with surge protectors in their place when necessary. Do not permit members to install their own custom wiring.
  8. INSTALL ALARM SYSTEMS. Consult with local fire officials to determine the number and preferred location of smoke and heat detectors in sleeping rooms and common areas. All smoke and heat detectors should be hard wired instead of battery operated. Also consider installing an alarm system wired to a central location.
  9. PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. Extinguishers should be well marked and readily available throughout the house. Establish penalties for tampering with a fire extinguisher. Make sure extinguishers are checked and serviced regularly.
  10. HOLD REGULAR FIRE DRILLS. Plan, design and post your emergency evacuation plan inside each bedroom door. Quarterly fire drills are recommended, with evacuation leaders and a post-evacuation roll call procedure established. Have emergency telephone numbers posted at all house phones.
  11. KEEP THE CHAPTER HOUSE CLEAN. Avoid keeping flammable materials in the house. Extra clutter, such as paper, boxes and clothing, provide fuel for a fire. Trash removal is especially important.
  12. COMPLY WITH FIRE CODES AND REGULATIONS. Local fire department officials and insurance investigators will be willing to provide regular inspections and answer your questions, usually without cost.
  13. INSTALL A SPRINKLER SYSTEM. While this can be a great expense, it will save lives in the event of a fire.

House Security
Chapter leaders must become more aware of the need to limit access to the chapter house. Unfortunately, cases of arson and vandalism are not unknown to fraternities. Some house security suggestions are listed below.
  1. A LOCKED HOUSE—A HOUSE WITH SECURE ENTRANCES– IS MUCH SAFER. The minor inconvenience of maintaining a locked house is justified by the safety benefits to the members and physical structure. Give all members a key, card or combination. If a combination is used change it at least once a month and use numbers or letters that cannot be quickly deduced by someone who is not a member. Example: Do not use the year that the national organization was founded or the day/month/year that the chapter was installed.
  2. INSTALL DEADBOLTS ON ALL DOORS AND LOCK WINDOWS. Consider installing a timer that automatically sets deadbolts from Midnight to 7:00 a.m. Lock all ground access windows during the same hours.
  3. LET PEOPLE KNOCK. No one enters your family home without knocking. Keep it that way at your chapter house. The only exception should be during social events with door monitors greeting guests.
  4. DESIGNATE “KEY ALUMNAE/ALUMNI”. Allow access by alumnae/alumni, such as your advisor and corporation officers, who require access to the house.
  5. HAVE “KEY ALUMNAE/ALUMNI” CHECK HOUSE DURING BREAKS. Whenever the house closes for holidays and term breaks establish a schedule of “Key Alumnae/Alumni” who will regularly check house security and make sure all mechanical systems are functioning.
  6. INSTALL OUTDOOR LIGHTING. Floodlights in front and security lights in back are the best way to deter chapter house vandalism and arson.
  7. GREET UNESCORTED STRANGERS. Don’t let strangers roam the house. Confront them, student or not, and ask if you can help them.