HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-029 - New Smoke Alarm LegislationJ
Kd LR
Development&
Technical Services
6 REPORT
Report To:
Mayor and Members of Council
Date of Meeting:
February 13, 2006
Submitted By:
Rob Browning, General Manager, Development and Technical
Services /Fire Chief
Prepared By:
Tim Beckett, Deputy Fire Chief
Ward(s) Involved:
All
Date of Report: February 6, 2006
Report No.: DTS — 06 -029
Subject: NEW SMOKE ALARM LEGISLATION
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council receive this report for information purposes only.
BACKGROUND:
The intent of this report is to provide Council with information as it pertains to the new smoke
alarm legislation recently passed by the Ontario Provincial Government and to provide Council
with future initiatives that the Fire Department will be conducting to deal with the new legislation.
The new smoke alarm regulation under the Ontario Fire Code will come into effect as of March
11 2006. The new regulation will require all residential dwellings to have smoke alarms on each
storey of their home and specifically between each sleeping area and living area.
REPORT:
On March 1, 2006 the Ontario Fire Code will require all residential dwellings, single family, semi-
detached and town homes, to have working smoke alarms on every storey. This concept was
always recommended by the Kitchener Fire Department and the Ontario Fire Marshal. Prior to
this new regulation, residential dwellings only required working smoke alarms outside sleeping
areas.
Ontario fire statistics indicate that in about fifty percent of fatal home fires, the victims had no
working smoke alarm. Our Home Fire Safety Program in 2005 identified that of the 6,800
homes visited, 4% were found to have non - working smoke alarms as required by law yet, about
50% of the residential fires at which the fire department attends, there were no working smoke
alarms. Smoke alarms are a first line of defence for occupants. Experience and studies have
shown that early warning can afford occupants the opportunity to exit the building.
DTS — 06 -029
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For homeowners, tenants and individual landlords, failure to comply with this new regulation or
any Fire Code regulation can result in a ticket -able offence of $235 for each violation or a fine
up to $50,000 and /or up to 1 year imprisonment as outlined in the Fire Protection and
Prevention Act.
As part of a public awareness campaign, the Fire Department will be notifying residents of the
new legislative requirements through the utility bills, public service announcements in various
forms of media, the International Fire Ambassadors program run by the Fire Department and on
our City website.
Question and Answer sheets are being prepared to assist with citizen questions and these will
be available at all Fire Stations and on the website.
Our current Home Fire Safety program is reviewing the impact that the new regulation will have.
Currently the program provides that fire crews leave a working smoke alarm at any residential
dwelling that does not have one. This could be a large cost and very timely to install one on
each level. Talks are continuing with the Ontario Fire Marshal to look at various strategies to
assist with these challenges.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Approximately $6000.00 from our Provincial Fire Grant will be used to educate and assist
residents to comply with the new law.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Through an aggressive public awareness campaign, the Fire Department will be notifying
citizens through utility bill's, Public Service Announcements using various media, the
International Fire Ambassador Program, work with local service groups such as Meals on
Wheels, the City Website and through our Home Fire Safety Program.
Tim Beckett
Deputy Fire Chief