G-FIPC CRR- Carbon Monxide Alarms in Residences

Responsibility and Guidelines

• All Toronto Fire Services personnel are responsible for maintaining sufficient knowledge of the Ontario Fire Code to answer inquiries from the public regarding carbon monoxide alarms.
• Company Officers are responsible for answering questions from the public regarding carbon monoxide alarms and referring incidents of violation to the Community Risk Reduction Division.
• Community Risk Reduction Inspectors are responsible for responding to inquiries from the public and following up with owners who violate Ontario Fire Code carbon monoxide alarm regulations.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations

• TFS personnel must have knowledge of the regulations for carbon monoxide alarms in residences.
• At emergency incidents, the Officer in Charge shall advise the owner or occupant of their contravention of the Ontario Fire Code carbon monoxide alarm requirements and record the circumstances on the TFS Emergency Incident Report.
• Ontario Fire Code, Division B, Section 2.16 regulates the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in residential occupancies.
• Only the landlord is considered to be the owner when applying Section 2.16.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements

• Carbon monoxide alarms shall meet the requirements of CSA-6.19, “Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices” or UL 2034, “Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms”.
• Alarms shall be installed at the manufacturer’s recommended height or, if the height is not recommended, on or near the ceiling.
• Alarms installed adjacent to a sleeping area shall be audible throughout the sleeping area, even if any doors are closed.

Installation Requirements

• A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed adjacent to each sleeping area in a residential unit if it contains a fuel-burning appliance or a fireplace.
• If a residential building contains a fuel-burning appliance that is not within a unit, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in the service room or area, adjacent to each sleeping area in each residential unit, and adjacent to sleeping rooms that are not within a unit.
• If a residential building contains a storage garage (parking garage), a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed adjacent to each sleeping area in each residential unit and adjacent to sleeping rooms that are not within a unit.

Referral to Fire Prevention

• TFS personnel should be observant of inadequate carbon monoxide alarm protection within residential occupancies.
• Company Officers are responsible for referring to the Community Risk Reduction Division any property at which personnel observe inadequate carbon monoxide alarm protection.
• The Community Risk Reduction Division is responsible for following up with the owner of any residence where on scene personnel have made a referral for observed inadequate carbon monoxide alarm protection.