Stop, Drop, and Listen: Fire Facts from Cheif Lewis

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Welcome to the Condo Pod, brought to you by the Canadian Condominium Institute of Eastern Ontario.
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This is your go-to space for all things condo in Eastern Ontario.
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From governance and legal updates to maintenance, management, and community living, the Condo Pod tackles key issues affecting our condominium community.
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We are diving into topics that matter most to condo owners, directors, and professionals across the region.
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I'm really excited this morning to introduce a very special guest on our podcast today, Division Chief of Fire Prevention in our national capital, Gwen Lewis.
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Gwen, thank you so much for being here today.
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Thank you for having me.
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I'm excited about our topics today.
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Chief Lewis has a very full plate, so again, we're going to try and tackle as much as we can in the time we have today.
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She oversees fire investigation, code enforcement, and public education.
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She has a career spanning communications, enforcement, leadership, has developed innovative fire safety education programs for residents, building owners, and vulnerable communities with a strong focus on fire prevention and life safety.
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You've probably seen her as well at some of our condo conferences.
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She's a fabulous guest speaker, and owners just love having her present.
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Two great examples of her recent initiatives are After the Fire for Newcomers to Canada and a Building Owners Education Program, which is supported by social media.
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Gwen is a strong believer that fire education includes residents, building owners, and operators.
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Fire education can minimize the risk and impacts of fire.
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She has served on several local and provincial committees to help enhance the life safety of Ontario residents, including Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association, local and provincial, and provincial advisory committees.
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She loves to continue to educate.
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She is a lifelong learner, and she loves to get the message out to our communities.
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So let's talk about some of the biggest and hottest topics that are affecting our condo communities in the fire safety and fire prevention, uh prevention setting.
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There's a lot of hot topics, and we're going to try and tackle as many of them as possible.
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So let's start, if it's okay with you, Gwen, with fire code updates.
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This is an issue that affects, I think, every single condominium community in Ontario.
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There's some big changes that have come down the pipe, and I think that's probably our best place to start.
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Can you tell me what's happened, why it's happened, where we are?
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Sure.
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In June 2025, the new fire code was passed in the Ontario legislature.
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Took effect January 1st, 2026.
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Now, there was over 2,500 changes to the code.
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Some of those changes were just editorial changes.
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So uh taking um uh articles from a part two of the code into part six of the code with no actually code change wording.
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So housekeeping, I guess?
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Basically housekeeping.
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And part of this housekeeping is to be harmonized with the national code in coming years.
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ETA on that, we're not sure, but it's for harmonization of fire and building codes.
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So the harmonization of the Ontario Fire Code with the National Building Code.
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So the housekeeping was so that it'll be easier to read the two together?
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Uh so National Uh Ontario Fire Code with the National Fire Code.
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Got it.
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Okay.
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Okay.
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Um so some of those changes were editorials, others were actually improvements in fire and life safety for our Ontario residents.
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So some of those uh can be our testing standards.
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So a lot of our fire uh sorry, all of our fire protection devices are tested to a can ULC or a CSA standard.
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Over time, standards are rewritten, improved, changed.
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And as the code changes uh with each edition, we go to a more current standard, uh, more current edition of the standards to follow.
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Okay, so just to help me understand a little bit uh better, the fire detection systems.
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So what would that include?
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So that's your fire.
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I'll use a fire alarm system because it's I'm gonna say very popular.
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Some people understand what it is.
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It includes your pull stations and your bells that go off when your um when your fire alarm sounds in a multi-unit building.
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Okay.
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Um so we were testing them to an old standard.
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We've increased that standard to a 2019 standard of it's S536 standard, but those are just, and I don't want to say people in the industry understand that.
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Um building owners and um condo board members may not.
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Right.
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They just have to know that it's a newer standard, um, and their reports will look different when they are reviewing them.
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Ah, okay, that's important.
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So what they were seeing before is gonna look a little bit different now because of the updated requirements and standards.
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You got it.
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Okay, got it.
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Okay.
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So another change, a big change, uh, we've put a lot of uh media uh into this change across the province is the change for CO requirements.
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This is what we're hearing about all over social media and in webcasts and podcasts.
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So I'm excited to hear about this.
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So tell me all about that one.
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So anytime you have a attached garage or a fuel-fired appliance, so whether that's a gas-hot water tank, fireplace, stove, um, uh fireplace, um, you need a CO alarm on every level of that structure.
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So even if your fireplace is in the lower level, you would still need a CO detector upstairs on the bedroom level, for example.
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That's correct.
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So these are just enhancing what we've uh what were required already.
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So we were always required to have one where you sleep in the hall where you sleep in the sleeping areas.
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Um now it's required on every level.
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Um so that's if we can talk about single family homes or town homes, that's the that is that requirement.
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If you have a multi-uh unit dwelling, so um high-rise condo, low rise condo, um where there's multi-units within one structure, if that building is heated with a fuel-fired appliance, natural gas, you have to have them everywhere people sleep.
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Oh, interesting.
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So that is a big change.
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It is a big change.
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And if you have some units will have two heating systems.
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So, for example, your common areas are heated by a furnace, maybe natural gas, that will heat the whole unit all in common areas, so then you need a CO alarm there on every single level.
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So that would be your common hallways on every level of your uh your building.
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And then sometimes you have um a fuel-fired appliance within your unit that heats your unit, if that is natural gas, or if you have a natural gas dryer or fireplace, then you have increased CO alarms and a requirement.
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Okay.
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And so what about if you have um a natural gas barbecue on the exterior common almost?
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Not it nothing required.
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Okay, that's a little bit of a wrinkle there.
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Okay.
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So the the appliance has to be heating air, the appliance has to be heating um air or uh could contribute to the air within the residential dwelling.
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Got it.
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Hence the gas stove, gas barbecue, gas fireplace, burnout, et cetera.
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Okay, got it.
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Okay.
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And so we're you're saying that in 2025, in June, that's when this started coming down the pipe, and it came into force in January.
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Are you seeing a lot of compliance to date?
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Um so when we go into buildings, we usually ask before we get there, have you do you know about the CO alarm new requirements?
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Um I don't have stats on how many do and how many don't.
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Uh, because we've put out a lot of public messaging, both within Ottawa Fire, our website is a great resource for inf uh for information with diagrams on where the alarms are needed.
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Uh, we are finding that uh building owners' condo boards are being proactive and meeting the standard.
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Excellent.
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That's really good to hear.
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So it when you first launch this or when the province first launched this, what type of notification, what type of information was sent out just to keep people in the loop?
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Because that information may also be something that current boards want to be looking at if they haven't already complied.
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Um unfortunately, nothing gets sent out from the province.
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Okay, uh, from the Ontario Fire Marshal when that happens.
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Um, the each municipality, their fire service has done their own promotion, if I can say that, um, of the new legislation.
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And that's just to keep their residents safe within their municipality.
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Um and um uh I'm gonna say ensure compliance with the fire code.
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So one thing about CO alarms, they're very important because we won't know if there's CO in your building.
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So you can't see it, you can't smell it.
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Right.
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And you start feeling uh nausea, dizziness, as if you're sick.
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Well, you can be sick for other reason.
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Um and so that's why it is very important to have your alarms where required.
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Yeah, you can you can feel upset tummy, you can feel like it's a little bit dizzy, leave the home, feel great for a little while, come back, have it start again, and unless you're there for a prolonged period of time, you may not attribute that discomfort to CO in your unit.
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Okay.
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Um so where would boards find the information now?
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If they say, okay, well, I'm not up to speed on this, so I need to make sure that we're compliant.
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Would they go to the municipal website?
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Would they go to the provincial website?
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What's their best place to go for all the information they need to see?
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So the new fire code and previous editions are available on e-laws on the Ontario website, just like all municipal or sorry, all provincial legislation.
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Um Ottawa.ca slash fire has um our and I were where we direct our residents to.
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Um it has information for single family homes and town homes along with uh multi-unit dwellings.
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That's where we would find that chart, that work chart that you need.
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Okay, fantastic.
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So uh Ottawa.ca slash fire?
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That's correct.
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All right, folks, check that out.
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Make sure you don't miss that.
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So historically, we've had a case that confirmed or interpreted the word owner to confirm that condominium corporations were deemed to be co-owners of units for the purposes of fire code compliance.
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In that particular case, it related to smoke detectors.
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That is a legal interpretation, obviously, that the courts have taken in relation to the definition of owner that we find in the fire code.
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The challenge, of course, is that the the court didn't provide guidance to condominium corporations as to, okay, if you are the co-owner of the unit for the purposes of the of the fire code, what steps are you legally required to take to make sure units are complying with their obligations, fire detectors and now CO detectors, which is a bigger deal.
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Are you aware of any changes that have taken the interpretation of owner differently?
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Or are as far as you're aware, would condos still be considered co-owners of units for the purposes of fire detection systems and CO detectors?
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So we use the owner defined in the Ontario Fire Code, which uh not word for word, but it is uh whoever has the legal owner, so the owner of the property, or has care and control of that unit.
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Okay.
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Um if we are doing an inspection of a property, uh, we will issue an order, and the order would go to the individual condo unit along with the condo corporation, the condo board.
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Okay.
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Um, so we are covering kind of both bases.
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That's just a notify of who, and honestly, as long as the work gets done.
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We're not the ones that are going to interpret right.
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I interpret that.
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That comes down with the court of law in your expertise.
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But to make sure that everybody is notified and aware, it goes to both the owner and the condomine corporation.
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That's correct.
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Excellent.
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Um, and obviously you and I can't answer the question today.
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What are the reasonable steps a condo has to take to make sure that CO detectors have been installed or to make sure that uh all fire detection systems have been installed, etc.?
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All we can say is that both the condo and the owner have duties.
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If you're unsure as to whether or not you have fulfilled your duties as a condo board, reach out to the fire experts.
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They're the ones who will guide you through that.
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That's correct.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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Well, speaking of fire code compliance and tricky little issues, let's turn now to some of the questions that we get asked by property managers about in the building and on site.
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It's not unusual, particularly around holiday season, for owners to decorate or condo boards to decorate.
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We may see some festive decorations put up in the lobby, we may see festive wreaths or other types of decorations on doorways.
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When it's wintertime, we may see boots in the hallways, we may see all sorts of things happening on site, and boards or managers may have to send a notice to an owner saying, please take down your wreath or please put your boots inside and not in the hallways.
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And owners get a little bit fussed, saying, Well, wait a second, I'm just trying to be festive.
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What I think a lot of condo boards and managers are trying to do is enforce their obligations under the fire code.
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So I'm hoping we can talk about some of those items today so we can clear up some misunderstandings and talk about the do's and don'ts of what you can and cannot do on your site for fire code.
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I think the first one we wanted to talk about is lobby furniture, because it used to be a major no-no, no lobby furniture, but I think there's some changes.
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So that is one of the changes in the new code.
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Okay.
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Um, and I was gonna say I have my code book here just to make sure because uh some of these new changes, there's so many of them we want to make sure I'm giving you the it's not small, it's about this thick, there's a lot of stuff in there.
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So lobby furniture, uh as long as the uh it is non-combustible, solid wood.
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Okay, um, it is and constructed of solid wood, and there and the area is sprinklered.
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Oh, interesting.
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Okay.
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Um, and equipped with a smoke detector.
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That would be part of your fire alarm system.
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Um there is quantities that can be put in a lobby, and like it's very descriptive in the fire code.
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So you may not be able to have fancy uh leather wing back chairs, but you might be able to have some wooden stools depending on the size, depending on the nature of your particular lobby.
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That's right.
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And that is um in so these are four lobbies or corridors if there's large if they have large corridors.
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But the this furniture, solid wood furniture, cannot impact the means of egress.
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So it cannot be obstruction of the means of egress.
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So two issues to be thinking about one is the combustibility, and then two is the egress.
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That's right.
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Okay.
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And I think that's probably a sort of a key issue for each of the items that we're gonna talk about.
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Absolutely.
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Okay, so let's talk about wreaths on doors or other decorative items on doors.
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So your high-rise condo, uh, it's it's a holiday season and people are decorating, whether it's uh you know, a wreath or a some other type of wood object, etc., are those permitted?
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So nothing combustible can be on them in the means of egress.
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So if we just talk a simple hallway, maybe a stair at each end, elevators in the middle in the middle of the hallway.
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Um, when we go into the building, we should look down and see nothing in the hallway.
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So boots.
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Boots can be a um an issue, so they're combustible, but also they become a tripping hazard, not only for people leaving the units, but also for our firefighters.
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Oh, fair when they go in.
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Um wreaths or decorations on doors.
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Uh, we had a tragedy a number of years ago here in Ottawa where we had multiple fatalities because someone lit the wreath on the door.
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Um that is falls under the fire code definition of no combustibles in the means of egress.
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Right.
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Now, we always get challenged, or property managers always get challenged, um, because uh residents want to put something on their door to make it look festive.
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Um you can put something that's non-combustible, so porcelain.
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Oh, okay, interesting.
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Tin on your doors.
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Uh, but it is up to that property management to um police that.
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Right.
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So a lot of our uh corporations have put something in their bylaws that there is nothing allowed on the doors.
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Right.
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And that's because it becomes very difficult to police.
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And um so my line is let's enjoy our festivities in our unit or in a party room if there is one, and decorate that unit uh for um festivities.
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I agree, it's the safest approach.
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That way you don't have to worry about individuals not understanding why this particular type of object is permitted on the door, and this is not.
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Just take that obligation right out, keep it simple, nothing on doors, nothing in hallways, no temporary shopping carts if you're bringing your groceries back, no strollers because you never know what can happen at any given time.
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That's right.
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Okay, now here's another one that you and I were talking about, and it it actually really made me stop and pause because I wouldn't have thought about this.
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But snow removal.
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Snow removal in the fire code.
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Who, you know, who thinks about those things?
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So just like we um exits have to be accessible, which just makes sense.
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Um anytime you have an exit sign over a door or any door that leads outside, that pathway outside has to be free and clear to an unobstructed thoroughfare.
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So that has to be shoveled in the wintertime.
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So luckily we're spring and we won't tackle these problems, hopefully, until next fall.
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Mother Nature's kind.
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We have had the odd uh snow dump in April.
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So but yeah, those so it's just once again a reminder.
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So if you have a snow contractor or if you have somebody in your condo that does that, that's just one more thing to put on their list to make sure that it is done.
00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:04.640
Perfect.
00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:10.880
And another one that really made me stop and pause is the fire department connections outdoors.
00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.799
You highlighted gardening.
00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:17.440
We're not necessarily thinking about fire department or fire code when we're doing our gardening.
00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.640
So tell me a little bit about that one.
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:27.599
So your fire department connections are the usually um can be two, but can be more, depending on how large your buildings are.
00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:33.920
The fire department connections, there's usually an FDC sign or fire department connection sign above it.
00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:41.119
So there can be closer to your front entranceway or closer to your fire route where we would pull up.
00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:53.200
If there was a working fire within the building, we would connect our pumper truck to that and it would supply water to the fire and life, the the suppression system within your um building.
00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:53.839
Right.
00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:56.000
Um, so we want to be able to see these.
00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:01.119
So when gardening happens very soon, we'll be all anxious to do that.
00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:07.759
Make sure that the either if there's hedges in front that they are trimmed down, they have to be accessible.
00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.119
Okay, makes sense.
00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.359
Yeah.
00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.960
So let's not hide them.
00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:16.559
They may not look pretty, but they're very important to us and to our crews that are responding.
00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.039
Right.
00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:22.000
Don't put your hostas or anything that's going to grow big and flowery and pretty in front of those particular connections.
00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:29.200
I can see, I can see why condo owners or or boards or volunteers may say, Oh, it's a little ugly, let's hide that.
00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.160
But don't do that.
00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.160
It's the same for fire department, uh, sorry, for um fire hydrants.
00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.640
Oh, yeah.
00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:42.799
A lot of our larger condo units have their own private fire hydrants and um they try and put gardens around them.
00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.079
Don't do that.
00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:47.680
We have a city by so we have the Ontario Fire Code that stops us from doing that.
00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:52.559
We also have um a city bylaw that uh has speaks to that too, also.
00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.400
Oh, you know, I do I did not know about that.
00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:56.160
Again, we're learning so much today.
00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:58.400
A lot of boards wouldn't be thinking about that either.
00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.640
That you don't put don't even put like a little garden around them.
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:04.000
So they have to be accessible a meter and a half all the way around.
00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.559
Okay.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.039
Um and we talk about that with snow clearing.
00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.440
Right.
00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:09.279
Our hydrant heroes.
00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:17.279
Um that um hydrants have to be clear so that we can have them accessible in case we need them.
00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:17.759
Yeah.
00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:30.319
No, and again, these are all very, very, very practical day-to-day implications that we're not thinking about because we're not we're not experts in the industry, which is why we're talking to you today, Gwen.
00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:36.240
The condo pod is proudly sponsored by Aaliyah Associates, celebrating 25 years of practice.
00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:46.000
Aaliyah Associates is a law firm specializing in post-development condominium law, proudly serving communities across the province with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Barrie, and Oakville.
00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:57.440
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00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:59.039
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00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:07.279
To learn more, Okay, another one that's a hot topic is storage of mobility scooters, e-bikes inside.
00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.559
Yes.
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:17.759
So um I'm sure uh these have been a lot in the news lately, not only in Ottawa, but across Canada.
00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:25.519
So mobility scooters, e-bikes, um, this little scooters that my kids had when they were little.
00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:28.480
Although when when we had them when they were, they didn't have batteries.
00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.000
We have we're foot propelled, right?
00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.799
Absolutely.
00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.119
Yeah.
00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:35.279
So if we can talk generally about anything with an ionized uh ionized battery.
00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.000
Sounds good.
00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.240
Yeah.
00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:38.640
Uh so a rechargeable battery.
00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:41.839
So this can be tools.
00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:46.240
It can be your toothbrush, it can be your cell phone, your laptop.
00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:51.519
Um, very important to buy listed items.
00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:57.279
So make sure that there's a ULC listed item, uh listed a label on it.
00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.119
Um little silver label.
00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.599
That's right.
00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.799
Exactly what that looks like.
00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:01.039
Yeah.
00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.160
I'll tell you a funny story.
00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:05.279
Well, not sorry, it's not a funny story, it's an interesting story, very on topic.
00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.720
One of my son's friends very recently ended up in the emergency room.
00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:19.920
They had one of those portable chargeable batteries that they bought from Amazon for their cell phone, and they were sitting there charging their cell phone and it exploded and caught on fire in their hand.
00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:25.599
Next, and it was an Amazon knockoff, no little silver sticker on it.
00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.640
That's what you're talking about, right?
00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.319
That's exactly what I'm talking about.
00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:33.440
So when you're buying the product, buy listed items.
00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:39.519
Then when you're maintaining the product, so when I say maintain, it's um charging.
00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:41.839
Charge as per the manufacturer's instruction.
00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:45.680
So if it says don't charge longer than four hours at a time.
00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.480
Right.
00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.160
Follow that.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.920
Set a timer for yourself.
00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:58.640
Um if it says don't charge overnight, if it said any of that, unfortunately we have to read instructions.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:01.359
Um that's a challenge at times.
00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:03.359
And we're not being facetious, right?
00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:09.599
Sometimes you just buy it, you're you're you're busy, you plop it on, you think oh, it must work the same way as my last one did, and away we go.
00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.319
That's right.
00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:10.720
Yeah.
00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:20.160
Um and then if you have to replace it, so replace if you have to replace that charger, make sure you're getting a charger that's compatible with that unit.
00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:27.200
So if it is a DeWalt uh battery for a drill, make sure you're getting that DeWalt charger.
00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:27.519
Right.
00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:39.519
The ones that seem to be compatible with DeWalt or compatible with major brands of drills and usually are not listed.
00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:41.279
And they're gonna increase your risk.
00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:41.920
That's right.
00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.160
Yeah.
00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:50.000
The unfortunate part of this is some of those knockoff brands are are cheaper, and that's what people and that's what people go towards.
00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:55.359
Um so those are the things around just the battery safety to begin with.
00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:02.559
Read your instructions, follow the instructions, maintain it properly, and then also disposal.
00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:18.799
So if you have to get rid of those uh batteries, so for example, and I'm using like a power drill or um even some of the um items in like a toothbrush, a rechargeable toothbrush, has a battery, has an ionized battery in it.
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.960
Make sure you're following how to do that.
00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:26.640
So in Ottawa, we have um an Ottawa waste calendar through our garbage disposal people.
00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:26.960
Right.
00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:31.039
Um, and there's instructions on their website on how to dispose of them.
00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:37.519
And I know that Home Depot actually has like because we we've gone through a lot of uh power tool batteries recently.
00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:40.559
And so we dispose of our power tool batteries at Home Depot.
00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.200
They take those.
00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:44.960
So you drop off your regular batteries and you drop off the power tool batteries at the same time.
00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:45.519
That's right.
00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:49.200
Yeah, so the other thing to do is be aware.
00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:55.119
So, what doesn't uh a battery fire look sound like?
00:25:56.240 --> 00:26:02.240
So uh a battery fire caught is caused by thermal runaway, so there's an issue with the battery.
00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:05.599
So it usually has a popping sound, it usually has smoke.
00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:10.079
These are very fast mitigating fires, so fast, fast.
00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:16.640
So faster than that um waste uh paper basket on the floor, or faster than a kitchen fire.
00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.960
Get out.
00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:21.519
That's the only thing we're suggesting.
00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.559
So if you see that, oh my, it just popped.
00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.039
What was that?
00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.240
Oh, now there's smoke.
00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:26.960
Run.
00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.440
Right?
00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:36.000
Okay, leave the area, close the door, notify the fire department, notify other people in the building if you if you have a fire alarm system.
00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:40.720
Um by closing that door, it's going to keep that contained to an area.
00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:48.160
So those are um so starting point though, don't buy non-listed batteries.
00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:54.799
And this is important also for condos to be thinking about uh do we pass rules about using non-listed?
00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:57.279
I know it's hard to it's hard to enforce, obviously.
00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:10.319
Absolutely, but as a as a proactive measure, education, educating owners of the risks of having uh uh non-listed ionized batteries, what that can lead to, and why this kind of a rule is maybe important for the condos to be thinking about.
00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:24.000
And just one last thing, as we and I don't say this is a big issue right now, is if you're charging these, if you have a mobile mobility scooter or um a scooter or an e-bike, make sure you're not charging it in your exit pathway.
00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:24.559
All right.
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:33.680
So if you're charging it within your unit, find a spot to do it that is going to be supervised.
00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:36.720
So if it if that battery does have an issue, you will hear it.
00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.039
Right.
00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.480
But don't charge it on the exit way out of your building.
00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.920
Right or out of your unit.
00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:42.799
That's logical.
00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:44.319
And and you might not think about that.
00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:48.240
You might think, oh, they have a spare plug right in my hallway, right on the way in.
00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.039
It's convenient.
00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:51.759
I come in, I put my battery there, I charge it, and I leave it.
00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:54.079
But in the event of a fire, that's your egress.
00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.359
That's right.
00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.799
So logical.
00:27:56.960 --> 00:28:00.880
These these things are so logical, but we don't stop and think about them.
00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:03.759
And that's why education is so important.
00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:10.960
And we hear about it when we have kids in school and they bring home all this information and say, look, mom, look, dad, look what I have.
00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:15.599
This and some of the education never changes from when our kids were in school.
00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.960
Stop, drop, and roll.
00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:28.720
I I I saw a meme recently, and just a really funny side note, but I saw a meme recently saying, you know, when I was little, I I learned stop, drop, and roll, and I was waiting for a fire my whole life.
00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:30.720
I've been waiting to stop, drop, and roll, right?
00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:33.519
That was so ingrained into us when we were kids.
00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:35.440
Now we don't hear about it as much.
00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:38.559
So it's different, maybe a different kind of education that we're we're hearing about now.
00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.599
It's all about batteries.
00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.839
All about batteries, all about batteries.
00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:50.640
Uh so maybe one more hot topic on uh inbuilding, and then we're gonna turn to um what boards and managers need to be thinking about for ongoing compliance.
00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.920
So this is another one.
00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.839
You have an interesting story that you told me about.
00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:00.559
An owner did some construction in their unit and some interesting wrinkles that went along with that.
00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:03.839
Uh so if you're if you're renovating your unit, what do you need to be thinking about?
00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.559
Fire code.
00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.720
You think it's all good, but maybe not.
00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.599
That's right.
00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:11.920
So we had a high-rise, this was in a high-rise condo.
00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:19.920
Um, somebody expanded their closet to become a walk-in closet and took space out of either their bedroom or their living room.
00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:22.799
Um great idea.
00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:24.640
Gorgeous closet, I'm sure.
00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.880
Yes.
00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:33.440
Um, but what happened is whether they did it for by themselves or whether they hired someone, not sure.
00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:40.000
But what they did is they put the sprinkler with the sprinkler, sis the sprinkler head within the wall.
00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:46.799
So, yep, may they may not be pretty, but you know, they do serve a purpose.
00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.039
Yeah.
00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.200
And we never know when that's going to be needed.
00:29:49.359 --> 00:30:00.480
So the underlying message here is if you're doing renovations within your unit, even though you may not own the unit, make sure you're following the proper processes.
00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:07.119
And in that case, it would be uh getting a building permit through the City of Ottawa Building Department.
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.359
Right.
00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:12.480
And that may have an impact with fire protection within your unit.
00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:23.440
Not something maybe the agile the average resident may be thinking about, but you know, is that smoke alarm now in your closet where it should be outside?
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:26.640
Is that smoke detector that's connected to your fire alarm system?
00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.759
Where is that?
00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:30.000
And is is it in the proper place?
00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:35.200
These are things we need the experts to look at, and that's done through the building permit process.
00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:40.079
So kind of a one-off, but it's also a really good education topic.
00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.039
Yeah, it's a great story.
00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:46.880
Because I again, if you think about that particular scenario, it may have been perhaps more obvious than not.
00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.640
Don't hide a sprinkler.
00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:50.720
That's probably not a smart thing to do.
00:30:50.960 --> 00:31:01.680
But what wouldn't be evident would be the fact that you've now perhaps taken away the fire detection system, if it's now in your closet, from the main room.
00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:05.119
That would not everybody would be thinking about that ramification.
00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:08.079
Hiding a sprinkler, not smart.
00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:10.960
But maybe you're not thinking about the other aspect of that.
00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.599
That's right.
00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.000
Yeah.
00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:21.119
And also if it's connected to the fire alarm s if it's a smoke detector that's connected to your fire alarm system, it's not going to alert the other occupants in the building.
00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:23.920
So you're not just putting yourself at risk, you're putting everybody at risk.
00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.400
Yes.
00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:27.519
So many fun some fun stories.
00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:30.079
I say fun stories in hindsight because nobody's hurt.
00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:32.160
So it's all about education, folks.
00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:35.680
We want to try and make sure that these are issues that people are thinking about.
00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:42.400
I've learned so much today on these topics, and so hopefully it's helping others realize they need to be thinking about things.
00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:46.079
Before you do anything, think about whether or not this is a fire code issue.
00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:51.039
So, on that note, your boards and managers do have to be thinking about fire code on a regular basis.
00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:52.640
They have certain obligations.
00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:58.720
We have a little a story that we're going to talk about a little bit later on that's very uh very active in the news right now.
00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:07.359
But before we get to that story for now, let's talk about day-to-day ongoing obligations of boards and managers as they relate to fire code.
00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:14.160
And a big one that residents may not think about is the corporation's obligations in relation to records.
00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:19.839
So tell it tell us what boards and managers need to be thinking about in relation to records.
00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:25.119
So a building is built with fire and life safety uh systems within it.
00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:30.400
So that could be does that unit door close to hold back smoke andor fire?
00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:34.880
Does the fire extinguishers, where are they located in the building?
00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:37.359
Emergency lights.
00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:41.680
So when the power goes off, these emergencies, emergency lights go on.
00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:47.599
Um, fire alarm, sprinkler, generators that run that firefighter elevator.
00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:52.160
Um, those are what I talk about, or what I mean when I talk about fire and life safety systems.
00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:55.920
So all of these have to be maintained.
00:32:56.160 --> 00:33:03.440
Um, some are required to be tested weekly, monthly, annually, semi-annually, like there's a there's a huge list.
00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:10.000
Um but every time something is done, uh tested, it has to be documented.
00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.519
Oh, like a log of something.
00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.160
A log.
00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:20.240
Now, if you're hiring someone to do this, you will get a chances are you're going to get a report that says, I checked all these and everything is fine.
00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:25.119
Or I check these and there's these are the deficiencies or the repairs that have to be done.
00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:31.359
So under the Ontario Fire Code, um, and we ask for this when we go in to do an inspection.
00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:35.920
And Connor boards and property managers really have to be aware of this.
00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:42.079
So when you get that report, review it for deficiencies and correct those deficiencies.
00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:44.799
That's actually let's pause on that one.
00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:47.759
Just getting the report is not sufficient.
00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:55.440
And you know, again, people may not be thinking about this, but read that report carefully as you're saying, because it could have things that require a follow-up.
00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.720
That's correct.
00:33:57.039 --> 00:34:00.559
Maybe they didn't access a unit because the owner wasn't home.
00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:04.160
Um, maybe they couldn't get into your hydro vault.
00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:08.639
Um those end up to be deficiencies on your report.
00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:17.119
And yes, the fire alarm company may be very proactive and keep bugging your the property manager to come back or whoever their contact is to come back.
00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:19.280
Okay, I need access to that, that, that.
00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:21.440
Um, but there may be other things.
00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.320
These are systems.
00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:24.400
Systems break, just like our cars.
00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:28.480
Um, and they need that uh maintenance that's required.
00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:40.239
So coming back to records, anything that is deficient has to be noted that it's deficient and noted that uh the time date and time of when it was corrected.
00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:40.719
Okay.
00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:46.559
So when you walk through your building every day and you say, Oh, there's an exit light out, great.
00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:48.880
What's your process for getting that fixed?
00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:53.519
Sometimes our processes meet the requirements of the documentation.
00:34:53.920 --> 00:35:06.239
So if the process is when your property manager walks through the building, they're gonna file a work order and they're going to have either the um electrician on staff or on contract fix it.
00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:08.559
Well, that's the process that's needed.
00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:17.280
Because what happens is if there is a fire and somebody doesn't get out because they didn't see the exit sign, then it gets complicated.
00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:28.239
We'll talk about those complications in our story a little bit later on and the obligations that can flow from failing to keep the records, from failing to do the proper maintenance, etc.
00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:30.639
Okay, so we talked a little bit about records.
00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:41.199
So uh the bottom line message there to boards and and managers make sure you're looking at the records, maintaining the records, getting the inspections done as needed, and then getting any follow-up done as required.
00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:44.239
And then maintenance, you touched on that a little bit already.
00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:56.559
Uh touched about the fact that if you see an exit sign that's out, or if again, these are systems that they can fail, make sure that you're continuously monitoring and making sure that things are maintained as required.
00:35:56.880 --> 00:35:59.280
We you talked about the the life safety systems.
00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:01.119
Tell me a little bit more about the doors.
00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:20.480
So every door in a, and I'm gonna say every, that may be most doors, um, so whether it's in your high-rise apartment or high-rise condo or a low-rise condo where you have internal shared spaces, um, any door to your unit has to close to a latch.
00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:32.480
So over time, just through moving in, moving out, bringing groceries, bringing all that strollers, wheelchairs, whatever, um, they may not close to a latch.
00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:37.440
Your doors in and out of your parking garages or uh in and out of your storage room.
00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:41.119
When you release that door, it should close to a latch.
00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:50.079
And the important part of this is if there is a fire, we promote close that door as you exit.
00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:53.360
Well, that door is a fire-rated door.
00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:53.840
Right.
00:36:54.400 --> 00:37:01.920
And having that close to a latch is going to keep that smoke, fire, and contaminants within that area.
00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:10.400
So whether it's your unit, whether it's the stairwell, whether it's a hallway, whether it's a service room, those are really important areas.
00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:14.320
Um if you have a car fire in your uh parking garage.
00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:20.320
If the doors aren't closed to a latch, well then that smoke will migrate all through your building.
00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:21.039
Right.
00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.840
Right.
00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:28.639
Again, such important, important considerations for boards and managers, we think you had on a daily basis.
00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:40.400
When you talked about garages, it made me pause because there's one particular topic earlier on that we didn't talk about, and that's storage of combustibles or storage of items in in parking garages.
00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:42.000
That is a another hot topic.
00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:52.400
Uh storing bicycles in parking units or or parking stalls, uh, storing wood in parking stalls, storing fire cans or gas cans in parking stalls.
00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:53.519
Spare tires.
00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:54.639
Spare tires.
00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:59.840
So um there's a couple of do's and don'ts on that if if you have any immediate thoughts.
00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:01.440
So absolutely.
00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:06.079
So uh we call them parking garages, but they're actually called storage garages.
00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:13.039
And a storage garage or your underground parking is for vehicles for the storage of a vehicle.
00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:13.760
Right.
00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:23.280
So um we do allow that you can have per per stall um a car and a bicycle at most.
00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.320
At most, okay.
00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:24.719
Okay.
00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:24.960
Yeah.
00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:34.639
So the cabinets that you get that people have installed, nice cabinets that they have, I don't know, Christmas decorations, anything like that, absolutely not.
00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:39.280
The pile of the extra furniture that they've no longer need in their unit.
00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.639
Um a canoe.
00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:42.159
A canoe, any of that.
00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:50.159
Put in your storage unit if you have one, or don't have it in your parking garage.
00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:53.599
Those are uh cars catch fire.
00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:58.880
And not only that is and they're available to anybody.
00:38:59.199 --> 00:38:59.519
Right.
00:38:59.760 --> 00:39:00.719
So it's not as secure.
00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:03.920
I'm not looking at it as a security thing, I'm looking at it as a fire.
00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:07.519
So if there is a fire, it contributes to the fire.
00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:12.320
Um and it's against the Interior Fire Code.
00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:14.480
That's the bottom line right there, right?
00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:21.599
So I just like to take what's in the fire code and make it, and I'm gonna say m my way of education is it's in the book.
00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:26.079
Yeah, well, that's great, but how do people um understand that?
00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:28.320
What is what makes that important?
00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.039
Right.
00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:30.960
Because it can burn.
00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:31.920
Because it can burn.
00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:33.199
And it can block your path.
00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:33.679
Yes.
00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:41.280
I think one of the bottom mess bottom line messages for all of our discussions here today are it's combustible and it blocks egress.
00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:46.480
If those two things are making you stop and think, we need to think fire code.
00:39:46.800 --> 00:39:47.119
Yes.
00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:48.400
Okay, excellent.
00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:50.719
Um, I know we're running short on time already.
00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:54.559
So let's talk about the fire safety plan.
00:39:54.800 --> 00:40:16.239
Because uh the fire safety plan is a topic of big discussion right now as a result of a recent uh case in Toronto uh where a condominium corporation, a contractor, and a management company are being charged under the fire code for a failure to fulfill their obligation, a sorry, a potential failure to fulfill their obligations in relation to a fire safety plan.
00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:23.519
It's for a fire that is being deemed to be the longest burning fire in Toronto, a fire between two buildings.
00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:29.199
I won't get in too much to the the details and the facts of the case, so anybody can can Google it.
00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:39.599
But the bottom line in that case is coming down to the fire safety plan and whether or not the fire safety plan was followed in a particular case.
00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:46.320
So I think what we should be talking about here today is what is a fire safety plan, who has to have one, and how do you follow it?
00:40:46.400 --> 00:40:48.960
And then if you don't follow it, what happens?
00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:56.480
If you're a condo director, a property manager, industry professional, or a con owner, clear your schedule for Friday, May 29th.
00:40:56.639 --> 00:41:00.960
It's the annual CCI Eastern Ontario Kingston Conference.
00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:06.159
Happening at the Kingston Mary, and it's your one-stop shop for everything condominium.
00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:15.440
We're diving into governance, law, insurance, common elements, all the moving parts that keep your condo community running smoothly, or at least obviously better at night.
00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:19.519
Plus, it's a great chance to connect with others in the condo world who get it.
00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:22.559
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00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:24.320
Spots are going fast.
00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:28.639
Register today at ccieasternOntario.ca.
00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:31.599
So, what is a fire safety plan?
00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:32.719
Tell us about that to start.
00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:41.679
A fire safety plan, uh, it's required by the code anytime you have more than 10 occupants in a building, in a residential building.
00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:45.599
There's other buildings that need them, but let's just talk residential for now.
00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:48.239
Um and it has certain components.
00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:51.679
There's about 15 components it has to uh that are in the plan.
00:41:51.920 --> 00:42:04.239
It talks about what services your building has, what happens when there's a fire, um, how to what's going on for preventive, what's prev to prevent a fire, what's going on for your maintenance.
00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:07.599
It's your Bible, it's your book about your building.
00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:12.159
Each building is unique, each fire safety plan is unique.
00:42:12.400 --> 00:42:19.599
So every fire safety plan for a building has to be approved by our division, or so one of our fire, uh, one of our fire prevention officers.
00:42:19.840 --> 00:42:22.559
So you don't just make it up yourself and run away with it.
00:42:22.719 --> 00:42:23.679
It has to be approved.
00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.719
It has to be approved.
00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:24.880
Okay.
00:42:25.119 --> 00:42:27.039
And then it has to be implemented.
00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:32.000
So it's great that we're gonna have a piece of paper that's gonna tell us all about our building.
00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:34.559
It has to be reviewed annually.
00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:39.440
So great thing to do before your AGM in your for your condo board.
00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:39.760
Yeah.
00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:40.800
Uh review that.
00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:49.840
If their contacts have to be updated, maybe that happens after the AGM, but um uh if your contacts have to be update, update them.
00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:51.360
Send us a copy.
00:42:51.599 --> 00:43:00.800
Uh if your um things change, maybe you got a new fire alarm system because you're it was aging out and couldn't be repaired.
00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:03.519
Um, so all that has to be done.
00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:08.880
Implementing your fire safety plan means following your fire safety plan.
00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:20.079
So if it says in your fire safety plan you're going to give owners an annual prevent prevention document, as in this is how we're going to, you know, um stop fires within our building.
00:43:20.159 --> 00:43:24.079
So safe, it's just a reminder of safe cooking, safe ionized batteries.
00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:26.559
Yes, because how to store your ionized batteries.
00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:26.800
Yeah.
00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:28.719
Um, then make sure it's done.
00:43:28.880 --> 00:43:33.440
Um, your maintenance, it's in the usually in the back if you use one of our templates.
00:43:33.599 --> 00:43:35.199
Um let's pause there.
00:43:35.360 --> 00:43:39.440
So there are templates that owners can find as well, or card mean boards can find.
00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:40.320
Yes.
00:43:40.639 --> 00:43:42.480
Um website that we have.
00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:46.000
On our website, I'm sure you'll give the information at the end.
00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:52.239
Um so if we can uh so if it's not implemented.
00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:59.679
So if you're not doing your maintenance, or if you're only getting your systems tested and not following up in deficiencies, that's a vital.
00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:02.320
Of your n of your fire safety plan.
00:44:03.360 --> 00:44:06.320
If um you're not clearing your exits ways.
00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:11.199
So we it all comes down to responsibility and prosecution.
00:44:11.679 --> 00:44:12.480
Right, okay.
00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:19.760
So our prosecu um under the fire prevention and protection act, there's some very severe penalties.
00:44:20.239 --> 00:44:22.880
Um that's correct.
00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:31.360
So we have a lot of um buildings um that have fire safety plans that aren't followed.
00:44:31.440 --> 00:44:33.119
And I think this is what's happened in Toronto.
00:44:33.280 --> 00:44:34.960
Can't speak to the Pacifics because I don't know.
00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:36.559
I know what's in the media, same thing you read.
00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:38.239
Same thing we're all reading, yeah.
00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:48.559
Um one of the, I think one of the the the one of the issues we're seeing in the media is that the fire department wasn't notified as soon as people became aware of the fire.
00:44:48.719 --> 00:45:01.599
It took half an hour or so, and the fire safety plan you were telling me and educating me earlier that the fire safety plan should include as soon as a fire becomes evident, you call the police or the the fire uh the fire department.
00:45:01.920 --> 00:45:02.239
That's right.
00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:05.920
You may be calling the police too for other reasons, but call the fire department.
00:45:06.239 --> 00:45:06.559
That's right.
00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:17.920
And these are things like I say, if you have a plan, great to re it's required to be reviewed, but it's great for new board members to review it and say, hey, this is this was my responsibility.
00:45:18.079 --> 00:45:21.840
This was, you know, um, and what does this mean?
00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:30.800
And talk to your property manager because they're very resourceful um on who does what within the building, and each building's different.
00:45:31.360 --> 00:45:40.480
So the responsibility of the um fire safety plan is responsibility of everyone on that kind of management team.
00:45:40.559 --> 00:45:43.440
So your condo board, your property manager.
00:45:43.599 --> 00:45:52.960
Um there's usually not a lot of responsibility on the individual owners of the units, um, besides maintaining the stuff within your units.
00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:53.840
Right, right.
00:45:54.079 --> 00:45:58.000
But they're not the ones responsible for for preparing the plan and implementing the plan.
00:45:58.159 --> 00:46:03.760
And as you were saying just a few minutes ago, the there are very strong penalties.
00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:15.199
There are financial penalties, potential jail time for individuals who are on that management team if they are not following their obligations under the fire code for these fire safety plans.
00:46:15.360 --> 00:46:16.880
So it is all about education.
00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:28.719
And as a new board member or a new property manager or condominium manager, making sure that you understand what your obligations are and if necessary, reach out to the Ottawa Fire Services.
00:46:28.800 --> 00:46:31.360
I know that there's lots of education opportunities there.
00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:37.360
Uh, I know that people are very interested in speaking and chatting with buildings and coming to the buildings for education.
00:46:37.679 --> 00:46:38.079
Yes.
00:46:38.159 --> 00:46:38.400
Yeah.
00:46:38.639 --> 00:46:40.079
I've seen you guys do that before.
00:46:40.239 --> 00:46:47.119
So yes, we have a team that does, and they're more for fire safety within your unit versus the building.
00:46:47.599 --> 00:46:53.599
We um because there's a property manager involved, they're the and I don't want to say the experts, but they have that knowledge.
00:46:53.840 --> 00:46:56.639
Um, and frequently they will reach out to us for questions.
00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:59.920
So that's kind of that's a really good resource as well.
00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:02.159
So give us just uh the quick and dirty.
00:47:02.239 --> 00:47:03.760
I know we're very short on time now.
00:47:03.920 --> 00:47:07.360
Give us the quick and dirty on what happens if you have an inspection.
00:47:07.519 --> 00:47:10.960
So if the building's being inspected, what's the process very quickly?
00:47:11.360 --> 00:47:23.760
So quickly we walk through the building, we want to make sure that uh all the records, so all those uh records, uh test, check, and inspect records are up to date and current deficiencies are being corrected.
00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:29.119
Then we walk through the building uh to make sure that there's no physical deficiency.
00:47:29.280 --> 00:47:32.400
So nothing in our combustibles in the corridors.
00:47:32.480 --> 00:47:34.320
Um canoes in the garage.
00:47:34.800 --> 00:47:39.679
Uh yes, combustibles in the in the means, uh, in the means of egress, in your parking garage.
00:47:39.840 --> 00:47:47.360
Uh we want to make sure that um combustibles in our service rooms, so in your in the furnace room of the building.
00:47:47.599 --> 00:47:48.320
Oh, right, yeah.
00:47:48.480 --> 00:47:51.840
Uh, making sure we will go into one or two units.
00:47:51.920 --> 00:47:57.679
Um, stored in a furnace room.
00:47:58.480 --> 00:47:59.360
Not a good idea.
00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:00.320
Exactly.
00:48:00.480 --> 00:48:05.599
Um, and then if we do find deficiencies, um we do write an order.
00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:07.360
We'll give 30 days for compliance.
00:48:07.440 --> 00:48:08.960
That's our just our standard side.
00:48:09.360 --> 00:48:16.480
Um if you need uh more time because parts are in order, work with our division or our fire prevention officers.
00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:23.840
Um and they as long as work is getting done, we're very accommodating to move a compliance date.
00:48:24.079 --> 00:48:35.599
Um and if your orders are are on your building, or sorry, against your building, I will say, um there is they also may be posted on your front door.
00:48:35.840 --> 00:48:36.639
Oh, interesting.
00:48:37.119 --> 00:48:39.280
Um and that is a requirement under the act.
00:48:39.440 --> 00:48:44.400
Um so if they're posted on the front door by the fire services department, they have to stay there until it's fixed.
00:48:44.639 --> 00:48:45.280
That's right, fixed.
00:48:45.519 --> 00:48:46.400
Until it's fixed.
00:48:46.800 --> 00:48:47.119
Interesting.
00:48:47.199 --> 00:48:48.000
That's motivation.
00:48:48.320 --> 00:48:48.800
That's right.
00:48:48.960 --> 00:48:51.840
And it's also illegal against the code to take them down.
00:48:51.920 --> 00:48:53.920
Sorry, against the act to take to remove those.
00:48:54.239 --> 00:48:54.320
Right.
00:48:54.480 --> 00:48:55.360
Well, that's good to know.
00:48:55.599 --> 00:49:00.480
Um and and then there's also charges if the work it doesn't get done.
00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:13.920
So um having an order, just like other provincial orders, um, I don't want to say isn't a bad thing, but it's that formal notice to the owner that there's deficiencies that they must act upon.
00:49:14.800 --> 00:49:20.880
And once they're act upon, we can take that order down, and your building then is fire code compliant.
00:49:21.840 --> 00:49:24.880
Okay, wow, there's a lot to be thinking about here.
00:49:25.199 --> 00:49:30.400
We're gonna take a few moments just at the end of our time here today, to do a closing thought.
00:49:30.559 --> 00:49:31.519
The mic is is yours.
00:49:31.599 --> 00:49:33.519
You can speak to anybody in the industry.
00:49:33.760 --> 00:49:41.599
You can I don't know if you have one final thought or if everything is so important, just listen to this entire podcast a few times.
00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:42.559
Let me know.
00:49:42.639 --> 00:49:44.480
Do you have a final thought for the community?
00:49:44.880 --> 00:49:48.320
So, my thought, my final thought is the CO alarms.
00:49:48.800 --> 00:49:49.039
Okay.
00:49:49.280 --> 00:49:51.440
So CO is a poisonous gas.
00:49:51.599 --> 00:49:54.880
You can't smell it, see it, feel it, touch it.
00:49:55.679 --> 00:50:05.599
Um have your CO alarms installed, tested after 10 years, um install new ones.
00:50:05.679 --> 00:50:08.480
They're only good for 10 years, just like your smoke alarms.
00:50:08.960 --> 00:50:22.480
Um, that little bit of uh I'm gonna say time and money that we can all do, whether we're in a multi-unit dwelling or an individual home, is going to save our lives if there's a fire.
00:50:22.800 --> 00:50:24.800
I know I'm a little paranoid about that in my own home.
00:50:24.880 --> 00:50:29.280
So hopefully everybody will take a little bit of paranoia home from this particular podcast today.
00:50:29.440 --> 00:50:33.280
It's not a bad thing when we're talking about fire to be a little extra cautious.
00:50:33.440 --> 00:50:38.400
Uh, Chief Lewis, I want to thank you so much on behalf of Eastern Ontario, CCI Eastern Ontario, for being here today.
00:50:38.480 --> 00:50:43.119
There I've I have learned a ton just by preparing for today and talking with you today.
00:50:43.199 --> 00:50:45.119
So we're just grateful for your time.
00:50:45.360 --> 00:50:50.719
I anticipate uh a future podcast as well, because there's there's too much to talk about in just one setting.
00:50:50.880 --> 00:50:51.519
Thank you so much.
00:50:51.679 --> 00:50:52.480
Thanks for having me.
00:50:52.800 --> 00:50:57.440
Thanks for tuning into the condo pod, your source for all things condo in Eastern Ontario.
00:50:57.599 --> 00:51:00.079
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
00:51:00.239 --> 00:51:02.960
And share this podcast with your fellow condo community.
00:51:03.199 --> 00:51:08.079
For more resources and upcoming events, visit us at ccieasternOntario.ca.
00:51:08.719 --> 00:51:13.199
Until next time, stay informed, stay connected, and keep your community strong.