Decorating for Holidays   

Although the University encourages the decoration of campus facilities during the holiday season, it also recognizes its responsibility for the safety of its students and employees.  These regulations apply to ALL areas of campus: student and employee.

All decorations, therefore, must be in compliance with the State of Indiana fire laws and guidelines established by the Evansville Fire Department.  Regulations for the decoration of campus facilities are:

Artificial trees may be used indoors provided they are labeled and listed as being flame-retardant by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory.  Electric lights are NOT permitted on artificial trees in individual residence hall rooms.  Light strings used on artificial trees in university offices shall be listed and labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.  Trees shall not be in a location as to obstruct any exit or fire alarm sending boxes.         

Electric lights are permitted around the interiors of windows in residence hall rooms or university offices.  They are not allowed around doors, or hung from ceilings in any rooms or hallways.  Highly flammable decorative material such as cotton batting, straw, dry vines, leaves, trees and foam plastic articles are permitted only if they are labeled when purchased as being treated with a flame-retardant product approved by the State Fire Marshall.

Extension cords are permitted for portable appliances or fixtures, while in immediate use and each extension cord is plugged directly into an approved receptacle and, except for approved multi-plug extension cords, serve only one appliance or fixture.

Extension cords shall be maintained in good condition and be grounded type when servicing grounded appliances or fixtures.  They shall not be affixed to structures, extend through the walls, ceilings, floors, under doors, or floor covering, or be subject to environmental damage or physical impact.  Multi-plug extension cords, cube adapters, strip plugs shall be of an approved type.

Decorations may not be hung from the ceiling in any hallway where ceilings are normal heights. They cannot conceal or obstruct exits, exit lights, fire alarm stations or fire extinguishers.