WVU Medicine and WVU Health Sciences holiday decorating guidelines

As we approach the holiday season, decorating guidelines are offered from both WVU Health Scieneces and WVU Medicine. Please see below to ensure your decorations meet safety guidelines.

WVU Health Sciences

WVU Facilities Management Guidelines for Holiday Decorating

1. Health Sciences has specific, approved decorations that will be displayed in specific public areas, and will arrange for the hanging/set-up, etc.
2. Decorative lights used in the building must have the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) and/or Factory Mutual seal of approval. This is usually indicated on a silver sticker near the electrical plug. However, battery powered electrical lights are preferred. Under no circumstances should lights be hung from the ceiling tiles or sprinkler heads.
3. Extension cords are not permitted for providing power to decorations (i.e., lights).
4. Live holiday trees, pinecones, mistletoe, wreaths, bales of straw/hay, etc. are not permitted in the building.
5. Open flame decorations (such as candles) are not permitted.
6. Decorations must never block an emergency exit, fire pull station, sprinkler head, fire extinguisher, fire hose connection box, circuit breaker panel box, or other critical fire/life safety equipment.
7. Holiday trees and other large decorations are not to be placed in corridors or other means of egress.
8. Do not completely wrap walls, floors, doors, desks, nurse’s stations, work desks, or any other furniture or building structure with wrapping paper, tinsel, or any other combustible materials. No more than 10% of any surface should be covered with combustible materials. Flammability ratings of decorations should be available upon request.
9. Decorations are not to be hung from the ceiling tiles or sprinkler heads.
10. Decorations must not cover up the fire system strobe lights or alarm panel stations.
11. A reminder for catered holiday parties in the building: Food warmers using open liquid “Sterno” type fuels are permitted provided someone is present to continuously monitor; they should never be left unattended. Catering table must be set up so that they do not block exit paths or exit corridors in the building.

The Facilities Department will be touring the buildings frequently to ensure compliance. Any violations found will be removed by the facilities staff or department staff during the compliance inspection. The purpose for these guidelines is to ensure we are providing a safe environment for our patients, visitors, students, facility and staff.

 

WVU Medicine

WVU Hospitals recognizes the excitement that surrounds the holiday season and wants to provide a festive atmosphere. However, to ensure we provide an environment safe for our patients, visitors and staff, we have developed the following decorating rules that must be followed in all of our facilities. These are reflective of the NFPA Life Safety Code, which both The Joint Commission and OSHA have adopted and reference. These rules apply to all areas in the hospital (clinical, non-clinical, offices, etc.), clinics and off-site locations.

Decorating Rules:

1. The following items are permissible:
   • Artificial fire-retardant trees, wreaths, other decorations.
   • Battery powered lights (strongly preferred).
   • Electric lights must contain the UL or Factory Mutual approval tag and must be plugged directly into wall outlet. They must also indicate acceptable for indoor use.
2. The following items are prohibited:
   • Extension cords and/or power strips. No “daisy chaining.”
   • Decorations hanging from the ceiling or sprinkler heads.
   • Decorations within 18 inches of sprinkler heads.
   • Live holiday trees, wreaths, mistletoe, pinecones and bales of straw/hay.
   • Candles or other open-flame decorations.
   • Heat-generating decorations (i.e., candle warmers).
   • Doors, walls, floors, desks, nurse’s stations, work desks, or any other furniture or building structures completely wrapped in combustible materials, such as wrapping paper, tinsel, lights, etc. No more than 20% of any surface is permitted to be covered.
   • Decorations of any amount on fire-rated doors.
   • Decorations blocking exit signs, fire pull stations, fire extinguisher cabinets, fire strobe lights, smoke/heat detectors, emergency exits or med gas panels.
   • Any type of decorations (such as holiday trees) in the hallway/egress corridor.

We appreciate your cooperation. If you have questions, please contact Brandon Knotts, safety director, 304-598-4055.

Wishes to all of you for a wonderful and SAFE holiday season!