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One of the staples of Triangle’s existence has been to provide housing for
its members, thereby creating an environment for enduring friendships.
Triangle’s chapter houses are places where our members study, learn key
leadership skills, develop friendships, socialize, and perhaps meet their future
wives. The chapter houses are also the campus homes where alumni return to
rekindle fond memories and friendships.
Unfortunately, over two-thirds of Triangle’s chapter houses are over forty
years old. These aging structures affect the safety of our members and the
ability of our chapters to be competitive in recruitment. The National
Organization’s desire is to provide the safest chapter houses for Triangle
Brothers and to provide structures that meet the technological demands of
today’s students.
Tragically, each year there are major fires at chapter houses across the
nation. Triangle has not been immune to these catastrophes, as our Missouri
Mines Chapter House burned to the ground in the late 1980s. While we have been
fortunate not to have any disasters since then, we cannot rely on luck alone to
prevent property damage, serious injuries, or, in the worst-case scenario,
deaths. At a recent fraternity fire, the first fire engine company arrived
on the scene immediately. Yet, after only 19 minutes of battling the blaze it
was determined that there was no hope of successful rescue. Five students died.
With proper precautions and safety measures this tragedy could have been
prevented.
Several major items contribute to fraternity fire tragedies:
- non-sprinkled buildings
- broken or missing fire extinguishers and smoke detectors
- electrical circuits overloaded with computer and entertainment equipment
- lack of appropriate fire walls, fire doors, lighted exit signs
- less than adequate means of escape from all rooms and floors
In helping to control fire tragedies, more attention should be paid to
detection and suppression systems, UL rated fire doors, and non-combustible
interior finishes. Given the ongoing deaths and injuries in chapter house fires,
Triangle’s insurance provider urges the Fraternity to strongly consider
installation of automatic sprinkler systems. These systems can effectively
protect both life and property.
The records of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) show no
multiple death fires in chapter houses that were equipped with properly
functioning sprinkler systems. Additionally, sprinklers typically reduce the
average property damage loss by 55-60%.
| Leading Causes of Chapter House Fires |
| Misuse of Electricity, Over Fusing |
18.8% |
| Careless Smoking and Match Disposal |
17.9% |
| Incendiary or Suspicious (Arson) |
16.2% |
| Kitchen and Cooking Hazards |
12.4% |
| Defective Heating Devices or Chimneys |
11.0% |
| Miscellaneous or Undetermined |
10.8% |
| Spontaneous Ignition |
6.1% |
| Open Fireplaces and Sparks |
5.1% |
| Lightning |
.9% |
| Ignition from Adjacent Buildings |
.7% |
In addition to Triangle’s concerns for safety, we must also take into account
the ability of our chapter homes to meet the needs of today’s students. More and
more academic work is being done via computers and the Internet. Students are
bringing larger numbers of electronic equipment with them to school. Residence
halls and apartments are being remodeled, designed and developed to meet
students’ expectations. Triangle cannot afford to let its chapter houses slip
behind in this area. It would truly be disappointing to lose a prospective
brother because a Fraternity of Engineers, Architects and Scientists is behind
the times technologically.
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The Future Begins With Us:
