Effective January 8, 2016: Bates College prohibits the use, possession or storage of hoverboards and similar electronic devices on campus due to fire-safety concerns.

As widely reported in the news media, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is conducting an investigation into at least 16 hoverboard-related fires across the country that appear connected to batteries and charging devices. Engineers at the CPSC National Product Testing and Evaluation Center in Maryland are testing a number of devices with specific attention to battery configuration, and the effects of routine use and battery charging. The reported fires have occurred both during use and charging.

A number of other colleges have restricted the use of hoverboards on campus and until the cause of these fires is fully understood and the risks have been mitigated it is in the interest of the Bates Community and safety that we prohibit these devices.

You can read a recent statement by the CPSC here at:http://bit.ly/CPSC-hoverboard.

If you have any questions, please contact us at ehs@bates.edu