Amendment to Ontario Fire Code Requires Smoke Alarms on every level of home.

Effective March 1, 2006

Working Smoke Alarms: It’s the Law!

TORONTO (December 13, 2005) – A Fire Code amendment requiring smoke alarms on every level of Ontario homes will save lives and reduce property damage, says Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter.

“If a fire occurs in your home, smoke alarms can give you and your family the precious seconds you need to safely escape,” Kwinter said. “I was pleased to accept the Fire Marshal’s recommendation and sign this regulation. It’s one more way our government is working to improve community safety for all Ontario.”

With this amendment, the Fire Code now requires homes to have working smoke alarms on every level and outside all sleeping areas. It covers single family, semi-detached and town homes, whether owner-occupied or rented.

To underline the importance of the new regulation, the Office of the Fire Marshal has launched a public education campaign, Working Smoke Alarms: It’s the Law! The province-wide campaign will heighten awareness about the importance of working smoke alarms and educate the public about the amended regulation, smoke alarm technology and the enforcement of smoke alarm requirements.

“Working Smoke Alarms: It’s the Law! is a comprehensive campaign designed to inform homeowners, landlords and tenants of residential occupancies of the need to have more working smoke alarms inside their homes and properties,” says Bernard Moyle, Fire Marshal of Ontario. “In about 50 per cent of fatal, preventable home fires, there was no smoke alarm warning. It is critical to have working smoke alarms on every level to give occupants the precious seconds they need to escape a fire.”

Municipal fire departments across Ontario have been informed of the amended regulation and will be enforcing it soon. For homeowners, tenants and individual landlords, non-compliance with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $25,000.