Environmental Health and Safety

• No Smoking in Residence Halls/administration buildings: Smoking cigarettes, E-cigarettes or any kind of vaporizer in any state building is strictly prohibited.
• Never Cover or Tamper With Smoke Detectors: It is against the law and endangers everyone in the building.
• Never Hang Lights/Tapestries From The Ceiling: It is unsafe to hang items that may obstruct the sprinkler heads in any way.
• Do Not Block Areas of Egress: Do not block the window or entrance ways with furniture or other items.
• Fire Alarm Protocol: For everyone’s wellbeing, please exit the building when the fire alarm sounds. Individuals not exiting the building during a fire alarm will be subject to disciplinary action as well as placing their housing assignment in jeopardy.
• Fire Restricted Items: For your safety and the safety of others, know what items are fire restricted. It is your responsibility to comply with all Residence Life Policies.

Below is a list of many prohibited/restricted items that create safety hazards and may cause fires or damage property in the residence halls/administration buildings. Possession of prohibited items or misuse of them will result in the item(s) being confiscated until the resident/staff member can safely remove it from the premises. If a student does not pick up their restricted items by the given time, it will be discarded. All parties are responsible for the restricted item found in the room or suite and are subject to disciplinary action. Please note that the items on the listing below may be changed to ensure the security and safety of the students. Environmental Health and Safety reserves the right to evaluate additional items that create health and safety issues.

• Air conditioners
• Air fryers
• Alcohol beverage/containers (empty or filled)
• Alcohol paraphernalia
• Ammunition
• Amplifiers 
• B-B guns/ Toy guns
• Candles (with or without wicks) or oil/wax
• tart warmers
• Cardboard drawer units
• Ceiling fans 
• Coffee pots or coffee makers used in rooms/suites
• Dart boards with point tip darts
• Drug paraphernalia such as bongs
• Duct tape
• Electric appliances
• Extension cords (only surge protectors permitted)
• Fishnets and other ceiling decorations
• Firearms (including air rifles)
• Fireworks
• Fitness equipment
• Flammable liquids
• Foldable Tables
• Gasoline
• Gasoline-powered equipment
• Halogen bulb fixtures
• Heating elements
• Hot plates or hot pots
• Hover boards
• Hookah
• Incense
• Knives (other than kitchen knives)
• Lamps (plastic fixtures, kerosene, oil types, lava lamps) 
• Loft Units 
• Multi-outlet adapters
• Micro-mobility Devices (e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, hoverboards)
• Noise makers such as bull horns, vuvuzela, or megaphones
• Non-university mattress 
• Paint/paint thinner
• Pets (except fish)
• Portable heaters
• Sun lamps
• Sub/woofers 
• Surveillance cameras inside or outside of residence hall room, i.e. Ring cameras
• Toasters of any kind
• Vaporizers or humidifiers
• Weapons of any kind 
• Wicker furniture or wastepaper baskets
• Wireless router
• 3D Printers

• Aquariums (for flake-eating fish only): tank not to exceed 10 gallons. One per room.
• Bicycles: must not block egress (door or window of room).
• Black lights: must not be used to replace fixtures provided by the university.
• Cleaning Supplies: Students are encouraged to bring their own cleaning supplies for their rooms and to clean their space regularly.
• Fitness weights: not to exceed 10 pounds.
• Furniture: Please refrain from bringing outside furniture.
• Hair dryers/straighteners: hand-held only, must be UL approved. To be used in bathrooms and bedrooms only.
• Indoor/outdoor decorative lights: must be UL approved; cannot be hung near sprinkler heads and ceilings.
• Irons: must have auto shut-off, to be used on desktop boards.
• Ironing Boards: only desktop boards allowed.
• Lamps: desktop lamps, no floor lamps.
• LED Strip Lighting Policy: LED lights are permitted in the residence halls, provided they are mounted properly. Students must use temporary mounting solutions such as command strip hooks or similar products designed to be damage-free. Adhesive tapes (including double-sided tape) may not be used to mount LED strips, as they often cause damage to walls, ceilings, or fixtures. Students will be held financially responsible for any repairs needed due to improper mounting.
• Microwave/refrigerator combination units:
  
  • Standard room: One microwave is permitted (not to exceed 700w). One refrigerator is permitted (maximum 3.2 cubic feet, Energy Star rated).
  • Suite: One microwave is permitted per suite (not to exceed 700w). One refrigerator within the suite is permitted.
  • Note: If using a microwave/refrigerator combination unit, it must be one-plug technology.
• Musical instruments: subject to quiet hours and 24-hour courtesy hours.
• Plants: while there are no specific size restrictions for plants in ECSU residence hall rooms, residents are encouraged to select plants that are appropriate for the limited space available. Plants should be manageable and fit comfortably without obstructing pathways, creating clutter or tripping hazards, or interfering with university-provided furniture. Smaller, low maintenance plants such as succulents, snake plants, spider plants, and pothos are recommended, as they thrive in limited light and space.
• Plug strip/surge protector: must have built-in circuit breaker & UL approved.
• Radios/Stereos: only one per room due to the power allotment for each room.
• Refrigerators: the unit must be UL approved and draw a maximum of two amps due to power allotment in the rooms. Only one per resident.
• Television: due to the power allotment for each room, only one per room. Students are encouraged to bring TVs no larger than 40 inches.
• Vacuums: handhelds only (no uprights or canisters).
• Posters/Wall coverings: must not exceed 50% of wall space.
• Wastebaskets: must be made of metal or plastic (no wicker wastebaskets permitted).