Recent Revisions and Proposed Key Changes to Fire Code 2014 CFAA Presentation Kim Bailey - Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management
New Section 9.7 Buildings with a Care Occupancy or Retirement Home Proposed Section 2.16 Installation of Carbon Monoxide Alarms Other Proposed Key Code Changes
New Section 9.7 Buildings with a Care Occupancy or Retirement Home 3
Division A, Section 1.4 New Definitions Care occupancy means an occupancy in which special care is provided by a facility, directly through its staff or indirectly through another provider, to residents of the facility (a) who require special care because of cognitive or physical limitations, and (b) who, as a result of those limitations, would be incapable of evacuating the occupancy, if necessary, without the assistance of another person. 4
Division A, Section 1.4 New Definitions (cont.) Retirement home means a retirement home regulated under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010, regardless of whether it is a care occupancy or a residential occupancy. 5
Division B, Subsection 9.7.4. Fire Alarm Monitoring (compliance by Jan. 1, 2015) Fire alarm systems required to provide notification to FD of fire alarm or alert signal usually through central station monitoring Sprinkler systems required to provide notification to FD of sprinkler activation usually through central station monitoring exemption if fire alarm system or interconnected smoke alarms notify FD of fire alarm or alert 6
Division B, Subsection 9.7.4. Voice Communication Systems (compliance by Jan. 1, 2016) OBC conforming V. C. system required in buildings where floor area containing care occupancy or retirement home is more than 18 m above grade some existing V. C. systems and public address systems may be deemed acceptable 7
Division B, Subsection 9.7.4. Smoke alarms (compliance by March 1, 2014) Required in each suite, and sleeping area not in suite Shall be permanently connected to electric circuit with no disconnect switch between overcurrent device and SA may instead be battery-operated Smoke detectors are deemed to be in compliance
Proposed Section 2.16 Installation of Carbon Monoxide Alarms (also includes Subsection 6.3.4. changes for CO alarm maintenance and testing) 9
Application Applies to every residential occupancy with a fuel-burning appliance a fireplace, or a storage garage Changes intended to be effective July 1, 2014 (but may be delayed) Enforcement date is January 1 or July 1, 2015 depending on size of residential occupancy
Application Landlords are responsible for installations in rental dwelling units CO alarms shall be either hardwired (with no intervening disconnect switch) battery-operated or plugged into an electrical receptacle CO alarms shall comply with CAN/CSA- 6.19 or UL 20134
Installation Where fuel-burning appliance or fireplace is located in a suite CO alarms installed adjacent each sleeping room in suite Where a fuel-burning appliance located in a service room not in a suite CO alarms installed adjacent each sleeping room in suite that has a wall, floor or ceiling common with the service room CO alarms to be installed in service room
Installation (cont) Where storage garage located in building with a residential occupancy CO detector installed adjacent each sleeping area in suite that has a wall, ceiling or floor common with the storage garage Where storage garage serves only a dwelling unit into which it is built or attached CO detector to be installed adjacent each sleeping area in the dwelling unit
Subsection 6.3.4. - CO Alarm Testing Home owner shall maintain CO alarms in operating condition including primary and secondary power supplies CO alarms need to be replaced at time frame recommended by manufacturer
Subsection 6.3.4. - CO Alarm Testing Landlords of rental dwelling units shall test CO alarm annually, and after every change in tenancy after the battery is replaced after any change is made to the electrical circuit CO alarms shall be tested by activating the alarm test feature
Key Code Revisions Approximately 82 revisions are Ontario driven Approximately 42 revisions are based on changes incorporated into 2010 National Fire Code 16
Division B, Section 1.2 Referenced Standards Table 1.2.1.A has 81 changes to add, update or delete obsolete standards Effective date for all existing referenced standards includes any amendment up to mid- 2012 i.e. includes both amendments to ULC-S561-2003, Installation and Services for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems 17
Division B, Section 1.2 (cont.) 18
Division B, Section 2.13 Smoke Alarms New requirement for SA in sleeping rooms not in dwelling units previously applied only to dwelling units i.e. proprietor's sleeping room in back of retail store SA will need to meet CAN/ULC-S531-2003 SA meeting previous editions will need replacing Requirements don t apply to Part 9 Retrofit buildings 19
Division B, 6.3.2.1. Interconnected Smoke Alarm Systems Owners will be required to ensure repair/replacement is done by qualified technician applies to residential occupancies and care occupancies does not apply to individual dwelling units and two-unit residential occupancies qualified means in compliance with Article 1.2.2.2. of Division C 20
Division B, Subsection 6.3.3. Smoke Alarms Will require SA in occupancies other than residential to be maintained where SA required by Building Code, i.e. B-3, D and E occupancies Both primary and secondary power sources will need to be maintained (where provided) Smoke alarms will need to be replaced at time frame recommended by manufacturer 21
Division B, Subsection 6.3.3. Smoke Alarms Enhanced smoke alarm testing by landlord will be required in rental dwelling units test to be done annually, when battery replaced, after changes to electrical circuitry, after change of tenancy test is to be done using test button feature 22
THE END Thank you!