OWNERS RESPONSIBILITIES & CASE STUDIES ONTARIO FIRE CODE John Percy, Public Education Officer Waterloo Fire Rescue
AGENDA: Fire Protection and Prevention Act and Ontario Fire Code Role of Assistants to the Fire Marshal Enforcement of the Act and Code Fire Alarm System Violations In-Class Exercise Case Studies-Fines from Fire Departments
Fire Protection and Prevention Act & the Ontario Fire Code 7/6/2015
Fire Protection and Prevention Act: An act to promote Fire Prevention and public safety in the Province of Ontario. The act references the Ontario Fire Code. 7/6/2015
Three lines of defense: 1. Fire prevention and public education 2. Fire safety standards and codes 3. Effective emergency response 7/6/2015
Purpose of the Fire Code: The minimum level of fire and life safety requirements for all buildings and the occupants in them. 7/6/2015
2015 Ontario Fire Code Div. B Part 2 Fire Safety Provides measures for the fire safety of persons and buildings, including the elimination or control of fire hazards in and around buildings, the maintenance of certain life safety systems in buildings, the establishment of a fire safety plan in certain buildings and the installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms 7/6/2015
2015 Ontario Fire Code Div. B Part 6 Fire Protection Equipment This Part applies to installation, checking, inspection, testing, maintenance and operation of fire protection equipment and life safety systems.
2015 Ontario Fire Code Div. B Section 6.3: Fire Alarm Systems Smoke Alarms Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Assistants to the Fire Marshal of Ontario 7/6/2015
Assistants to the FM FPPA Part III Section 11(1) A. The fire chief of every fire department B. The clerk of every municipality that does NOT have a fire department C. Any member of a fire prevention bureau as part of a fire department and D. Any person designated. 7/6/2015
Role of Assistants to FM May without a warrant, enter and inspect land and premises for purposes of assessing fire safety. May take a Police Officer to assist in inspection. Produce identification and state purpose of entry. 7/6/2015
Role of Assistants to FM: Powers During Inspection: a. Examine a document or other thing that is relevant to the inspection, b. Demand the production of a document or other thing relevant to the inspection. 7/6/2015
Inspection Orders Fire departments issue Orders to ensure compliance with the Ontario Fire Code. Issued to Owners/Occupants 7/6/2015
Fire Code Requirements: 7/6/2015
6.3.1.1. Access to fire alarm and voice communication system components requiring inspection or servicing shall be kept unobstructed.
Fire Code Requirements
Fire Code Requirements 6.3.1.2. (1) Where the Building Code or this Code require a fire alarm system to be monitored to transmit a signal to the fire department, the building owner shall ensure the continuation of the monitoring
Fire Code Requirements
Fire Code Requirements 6.3.1.4. Fire alarm and voice communication systems shall be maintained in operating condition
Certified Fire Alarm System Technicians
Fire Code Requirements 6.3.2.1. (1) The owner shall ensure that any person performing the annual tests or annual inspections required by this Subsection for fire alarm systems or performing the repairs, replacements or alterations of fire alarm systems referred to in Article 6.3.1.8. is in compliance with the requirements of (a) Clause 1.2.1.2.(1)(a) of Division C, or (b) Sentence 1.2.1.2.(2) of Division C.
Fire Code Requirements: Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems 7/6/2015
6.3.2.2. (1) A fire alarm system, with or without voice communication capability, shall be inspected and tested in conformance with CAN/ULC-S536, Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm System
Title Standard for the Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems Tests must be carried out to ensure that the FAS is fully operational. Daily, monthly, annual inspection and testing of the following: Control unit Batteries Annunciator All devices (initiating, audible, visual )
Daily Inspections: Power on status Trouble signal indicator status Monthly Inspections: Note: not required during the month when the annual inspection is occurring While on emergency power supply test: One initiating field device or manual station on a rotational basis 7/6/2015
Monthly Inspections continued: Testing one device/manual station on one zone only and checking the alert/alarm signal for that zone Checking annunciation of correct zone on control unit/annunciator Operation of the common audible and visual trouble signals Inspection of batteries (emergency power) One emergency telephone on one zone Voice communication paging to one zone 7/6/2015
Annual Inspections: Fire Code Requirements To be performed by qualified and certified CFAA technicians.
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In-Class Exercise
Fire Code Exercise May 13, 2015-A Fire Department Inspector attends your property to perform a complaint inspection. On site with your building representative as you are not on-site to assist with the inspection. This is a Residential apartment building.
The Fire Inspector observes the following: 1. Fire alarm panel obstructed with furniture 2. The Inspector asks if you have received training on the operation of the system in accordance with your fire safety plan. Your representative said NO 3. Your monitoring certificate of the system has expired
4. The inspector observes from his/her records that the fire alarm panel was replaced due to a flood in your building. Do you require a building permit for the replacement? 5. The inspector asks to see records that prove that Monthly Inspections and Tests have been performed. The inspector observes that the same manual station is tested every month (other than the month during the annual inspection).
6. Annual inspection performed in accordance with CAN/ULC-S536-04 and the Inspector observes the following from the report: i. No CFAA technician # listed Ii. Testing of the backup batteries did not produce a trouble signal Iii. Heat detectors painted Iv. Recommendation to install additional smoke detectors V. Recommend to replace manual stations
As the building owner do you think that the Fire Inspector will issue an Inspection Order for any of the above examples?
Case Studies Fines Issued by Fire Departments in Ontario
- St. Catharines: Apartment building landlord fined $5,000 + Victim Surcharges Fire Doors Propped Open; Combustibles stored in a stairwell; Failure to keep records of testing of smoke alarms Huntsville: Owner fined $1,000 + Victim Surcharges Failure to install a Smoke Alarm; $1,000 fine for failure to maintain a smoke alarm
Barrie-Metal Recycling Facility-$15,000 in fines Combustible salvage piles too high. Fines issued after 3 fires at facility.
Provincial Offenses Act Part I Fines: Failure to install smoke alarms - $295.00 Failure to install carbon monoxide alarms - $295.00 Failure to make records available to Fire Inspectors - $195.00
Provincial Offenses Act Part III: Individual Fire Code Violation Maximum $50,000 fine + 1 year in prison Corporation Fire Code Violation Maximum $100,000 fine + 1 year in prison
Thank You!