Hoverboards banned on campus because of fire safety concerns

8:34 a.m., Jan. 29, 2016--Because of the high number of fires associated with hoverboards, the University of Delaware has banned the use, storage and charging of the devices on its campus, effective immediately.

A popular gift item during the holidays, hoverboards are two-wheeled boards, similar to skateboards, powered by a battery-operated motor. Fires associated with the boards prompted the chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a statement in January urging consumers to use caution with hoverboards and  offering safety tips, including specific suggestions about charging and storage.  The National Fire Protection Association also issued a set of safety tips on the boards.

FYI Stories

June 6: UDid It! Picnic

All UD faculty and staff members are invited to attend the annual UDid It! employee appreciation picnic, set from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Monday, June 6, on The Green.

2FA protects you

If you are using two-factor authentication (2FA), even if a hacker has your password, your information is probably safe.

• 2FA protects you
• Police training
• Traffic alert
• Library photo ID

Given the potential for fire associated with hoverboards, UD’s Environmental Health and Safety, Residence Life and Housing, UD Police, and the Office of Risk Management convened a committee to address the concern. To ensure the safety of the campus community, the University’s existing policy on the use of skateboards, Segways, rollerskates/blades, scooters and bicycles was amended to include a ban of hoverboards.  The amended policy (GH&S -1) can be found on the Environmental Health and Safety website.

Anyone in possession of a hoverboard on campus will be asked to remove it from UD property. Persons who fail to comply could be subject to University sanctions. 

For more information, contact Kevin McSweeney, UD fire marshal, at kmcween@udel.edu.