Keyur Desai

Automatic Fire Sprinklers have been for around for over 100 years and were typically utilized in higher hazard occupancies to provide an early automatic response to a fire. However, they are increasingly being introduced in new residential construction and through retrofit of older buildings which serve vulnerable occupancies such as retirement homes or care homes. Automatic sprinklers are proven to add a higher level of fire protection and provide active measures for fire control when passive measures are insufficient.

Fire drills serve an important function of ensuring preparedness in case of emergencies. They are used as training tools for staff and occupants and are used to refine procedures to streamline evacuations in fire emergencies, power outages or other precautionary threat aversion. Fire drills are a universal tool that is used in industrial, commercial, institutional and residential buildings equally. Being able to conduct them, record them and refine them is an objective every organization must strive to achieve.

Every building owner and operator is responsible for maintaining fire and life safety throughout their properties. The level of responsibility and the operational procedures are dictated under the Fire Code, local bylaws and guidelines provided by the Office of the Fire Marshal.

Whether you are leasing or purchasing, real estate can be one of the biggest investments your business makes!

But is your traditional property inspection good enough? Often the property gets a thorough inspection to ensure sound operation of major building systems and structural integrity. These building condition assessments can determine whether a property is a good investment or not. However, an item which often gets overlooked, is the fire and life safety systems of the building.

Owners and operators of many businesses often find themselves dealing with an Order to Comply or a Notice of Violation from municipalities’ Fire and Emergency departments. These notices are usually issued after a random or scheduled inspection of the facility and can be due to a myriad of reasons including

Existing and new retirement homes and other care facilities in Ontario, as applicable by the Ontario Building Code and the Ontario Fire Code. The new requirements are part of the provincial government’s initiative to protect seniors and vulnerable Ontarians in care facilities.