Building Annex - Burchard Hall Building Address: 1327 PERRY Last Revised: 12-Aug-2025 13:57 EDT
BUILDING EMERGENCY COORDINATOR & ALTERNATE (BEC / ABEC)
The Building Emergency Coordinator (BEC) program was established to coordinate the emergency preparedness and planning efforts among each of the campus buildings. The BEC serves as an extension of the Virginia Tech Emergency Management in the preparedness, response, and recovery phases of an emergency and serves as a central point of contact, in which information can be exchanged, within and external to the building. The BEC not only adds value to the building community, by serving in this position, but also to the overall University.
Typically a campus building is occupied by multiple departments, making building-wide communications difficult during normal operations, let alone during an emergency. Thus the Building Emergency Coordinator (BEC) program also serves to assist first responders and Virginia Tech Emergency Management by developing a common, building-wide, plan of action for emergencies that threaten life safety.
An additional role of the BEC is to serve as a single point of contact within each building and allowing emergency planners to better disseminate pertinent emergency preparedness information and plans throughout campus buildings. In addition, emergency responders are provided with a single, knowledgeable point of contact, within each building that can assist in contacting appropriate departmental personnel and officials in case of an emergency.
Building Emergency Coordinator Name Andy Tawney Office Address Burchard Hall, Room 121 Phone 1 +1 540-231-5257 Phone 2 +1 540-231-5257 Email Address wardat1@vt.edu
Alternate Building Emergency Coordinator Name Chris Collins Office Address Burchard Hall, Room 125 Phone 1 +1 540-231-5257 Phone 2 +1 540-231-5257 Email Address ctcollins241@vt.edu
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE (EPC)
The Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) is composed of one representative from every department that occupies a specific building on campus. Each of the departmental representatives shall act as a liaison between their department and the EPC. If a department occupies space in more than one campus building, the department will then have multiple EPC representatives serving on their respective buildings’ EPC.
Department Name Phone Number Email CAUS Tony Mastracci +1 540-231-9936 tmastracci@vt.edu CAUS Jeff Snider +1 540-231-0817 jeffs@vt.edu CAUS Chriss Coon +1 540-231-6416 cmattsso@vt.edu SOVA/ADLC Sam Blanchard +1 614-264-8191 sam1@vt.edu Leigh Zeigler
VISITORS INFORMATION
Visitors present a unique challenge because they are not familiar with department or University emergency procedures. During an emergency, visitors should be given instructions for building emergency procedures. If there is an emergency notifications (VT Alerts) issued, it should be shared with all visitors within the building. When appropriate, visitors should be informed on building procedures for evacuating, shelter-in-place, or secure-in-place.
FIRST AID KIT AND AED LOCATIONS
Each building should have at least one first aid kit available to building occupants. For guidance on what must be stocked in first aid kits and how these kits are to be maintained, see http://www.emergency.vt.edu/ready/make-a-kit/first-aid.html.
Location(s) of First Aid Kits Floor Location/Room Cowgill First 105 Burchard Hall Metal Shop Front of shop Burchard Hall Wood Shop Side wall
Many buildings are equipped with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). The Virginia Tech Rescue Squad provides program management, and maintenance response, to AEDs throughout campus.
For more information about the campus AED program, visit http://www.rescue.vt.edu/.
Location(s) of AEDs Floor Location/Room Cowgill 1st 105
HIGH-AVAILABILITY DESKPHONES
In the event of a power or network (internet) outage the new Unified Communications (UC) voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephones will not operate. Depending on the extent of the emergency, cellular service may also be unavailable. It is strongly recommended that a combination of VoIP and high availability phones are installed in selected areas throughout the building to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency services in the event of a power or network failure.
Please contact an NI&S Customer Support Specialist at 540-231-6460 for additional information about available VoIP (Avaya 9600 series) and High-Availability (Avaya 9400 series) service offerings.
Location(s) of High-Availability Phones Floor Location Phone Number
SHELTER-IN-PLACE GATHERING POINTS
Shelter-in-place events are usually weather related emergencies. When it is necessary to shelter-in-place, you will be safest by moving inside to a building space that protects you from the danger. Do not lock doors behind you as others may also need to shelter-in-place.
Rooms 001, 007, 013, 021, 027, 102, 106, 127
UNIQUE BUILDING HAZARDS
Unique building hazards are those hazards that may adversely impact building occupants in an emergency, and can reasonably by mitigated through awareness. Identifying unique hazards will also help to recognize locations that may require special consideration or precaution during an emergency. If you need to list any Unique Building Hazards, please contact the Building Emergency Coordinator (BEC) for your building.
Description of Location Contact Person Contact Phone 1 Contact Phone 2 Hazard Photo Developer Chem Rm 6 Hillary Bryon +1 540-231-4125 Alkaline Chems Rm 23 Scott Turner +1 540-231-3644 Pottery Glaze Rm 102 Martha Sullivan +1 540-231-9147 Silk Screen Ink Rm 011 Chris Pritchett +1 540-392-1718 Wood Dust Collection Rm 121A Mark Leach +1 540-231-5572 Metal Shop Rm 125 Jeff Snider +1 540-231-5257
BUILDING ALARMS
Many buildings are equipped with a centralized fire alarm system. In cases where the building is not equipped with a centralized alarm system, building occupants must attempt to make other occupants aware of an emergency by knocking on doors and shouting “Fire”, sounding air horns, or similar means.
This building is equipped with: Full fire alarm and detection system
This indicates the building's fire detection system (e.g., smoke detectors, heat detectors or water flow devices) will trigger both visual and audible alarms (e.g., strobe and horn) throughout the facility when activated. If there are manual pull stations located at exits, these can also be used to initiate a building alarm. (All buildings on campus with a fire alarm system will have manual pull stations. Leased properties, however, may not have these devices.)
EVACUATION PROCEDURES
For buildings equipped with an audible alarm system:
The fire/evacuation alarm is a high-pitched annunciator. When you hear the fire/evacuation alarm, leave the building. Follow evacuation instructions located in this plan. The fire/evacuation alarm may also be equipped with strobe lights for persons with hearing disabilities. Procedures, which may be hazardous if left unattended, should be shut down prior to evacuation, if safe to do so. Verify that persons are exiting the building and that doors are closed to reduce the spread of fire and smoke.
For buildings NOT equipped with an audible alarm system:
Departments should evacuate the building by shouting “Fire” throughout the halls and sounding air horns or similar audible devices. Follow evacuation procedures in this plan. Special attention should be given to the presence of hearing and/or visually impaired individuals during the notification and evacuation. Procedures, which may be hazardous if left unattended, should be shut down prior to evacuation, if safe to do so. Verify that persons are exiting the building and that doors are closed to reduce the spread of fire and smoke.
Floor Wardens Name Floor Department Phone E-mail
EVACUATION ASSEMBLY AREAS
Depending on the occupancy of the building, departments may consider the need to assemble in separate areas from other departments. For instance, if building occupancy is large, the ability to differentiate between personnel in different departments will become difficult. The Emergency Preparedness Committee should coordinate assembly area locations based on the size of the unit. The following map(s) displays the designated assembly area:
EVACUATION ROUTING
The following maps provide floor-plan based evacuation routes: