A building fire is no small matter. Capable of spreading with great speed, especially if flammable materials are present, fire can quickly claim lives as well as physical property. Fire codes are an important preventative measure because they outline safety measures to limit the probability of risk due to a fire. Fire codes must be adhered to by the construction industry – not only to ensure that buildings are constructed according to code, but also for the sake of site safety.
Ontario’s Fire Code is a regulation under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. The Fire Code consists of a set of requirements for fire safety within buildings and facilities across Ontario. As set out in Part 2, subsection 2.1.1.1, the Fire Code 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.
The owner of a building is responsible for complying with the Fire Code, and the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) is responsible for enforcing both the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 and the Ontario Fire Code on a provincial scale. Generally, the OFM works to minimize the impact of fire and other public safety hazards on people, property, and the environment. Some of the key duties of the OFM include administering emergency systems, conducting fire investigations, and maintaining fire-related statistics. Municipal fire departments operate independently of the OFM, and provide essential services such as emergency medical response, automobile extrication, fire, water or ice rescue, and hazardous materials rescue. Additionally, municipal fire departments are responsible for local fire protection and prevention education within their respective communities.
Of course, it is better to not need the services of the fire department, which is why fire codes are a critical consideration for any construction project. Builders are required to adhere to local fire code requirements to ensure fire safety and prevention, and must also consider the Ontario Building Code in correlation with the Fire Code. Section 2.1 (Part 2, Division B) of the Fire Code provides measures for fire safety of persons and buildings, which includes the elimination or control of fire hazards in and around buildings, the maintenance of life safety systems in buildings, the establishment of a fire safety plan, and the installation of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and these requirements must comply with the Building Code with respect to building occupancy types. By adhering to applicable codes and following all regulations during construction, the chance of fire-related injury, death, and damage can be greatly reduced.
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