This section deals with the responsibilities of building owners and tenants with regard to Fire Protection and Life Safety as outlined in the Ontario Fire Code (OFC). We have also included a listing of Required Fire Safety and Maintenance Duties that must be performed to comply with the OFC and other applicable codes at the end of this section.

The OFC places the onus on the buiding owner for complying with the provisions of the code. Here are some excerpts from the OFC O.Reg. 388/97

Subsection 1.1.1. General

1.1.1.1. Unless otherwise specified, the owner shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this Code.

Subsection 1.1.2. Records of Tests

1.1.2.1.(1) Except as required in Sentence (2), written records shall be kept of tests and corrective measures for two years after they are made, and the records shall be available upon request to the Chief Fire Official.

(2) If the time interval between tests exceeds 2 years, the written records shall be kept for the period of the test interval plus one year.

Subsection 1.1.4. Required Testing

1.1.4.1. Where a building or its contents must be tested for compliance with this Code, the tests shall be carried out by the owner or the owner's agent within such reasonable time as the Chief Fire Official may determine.

1.1.4.2.(1) The tests referred to in Article 1.1.4.1. may be carried out by the Chief Fire Official.

(2) The Chief Fire Official shall only take such samples as are necessary in the circumstances in order to carry out the tests referred to in Article 1.1.4.1.

Subsection 1.1.5. Qualification and Responsibilities of Persons Performing Tests, Inspections and Maintenance of Fire Protection Equipment

1.1.5.1. The requirements of this Subsection come into force on the 21st day of November, 1999.

1.1.5.2. Any person performing tests, inspections and maintenance of fire alarm systems, with or without voice communication capability, shall be responsible for complying with the requirements of Articles 1.1.5.3. and 1.1.5.4.

1.1.5.3.(1) Any person who performs the annual tests or annual inspections of a fire alarm system required under Article 6.3.2.2. and any person who repairs, replaces or alters components of a fire alarm system shall
(a) have successfully completed a program or course acceptable to the Fire Marshal,
(b) produce for inspection, upon request by the owner or the Chief Fire Official, a copy of a certificate or document attesting to the successful completion ofa program or course referenced in Clause (a), and
(c) perform the inspection, test, repair, replacement or alteration in accordance with Article 6.3.1.8. and Subsection 6.3.2.

(2) Despite Sentence (1), a person who has not successfully completed the required program or course may perform the work described in Clause (1)(c) provided that
(a) the work is done under the supervision of a person who has successfully completed a program or course required by Clause (1)(a),
(b) no more than two persons work under the supervision of the person referred to in Clause (a), and
(c) the supervision is provided at the work site.

(3) Any person supervising another as permitted in Sentence (2) shall
(a) advise the owner in writing that the work has been completed in accordance with Article 6.3.1.8. and Subsection 6.3.2., and
(b) be deemed to be the person referred to in Article 1.1.5.4.

1.1.5.4. Despite Article 1.1.1.1., any person who performs the annual tests or annual inspections of a fire alarm system required by Article 6.3.2.2. and any person who repairs, replaces or alters components of a fire alarm system shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of Article 1.1.5.3.

As described above, the owner is responsible for making sure all Fire Protection and Life safety systems are fully functional and inspected/tested as required. There is a distinction between a Building Owner and Tenant in regards to these responsibilities. The following is a breakdown of this.

Owners Responsibilities:

A building owner is responsible for ensuring all Fire Protection and Life Safety systems within his building are compliant with the current codes and regulations. Some duties fall under the responsibility of the tenant, but the owner is still untimatly responsible. As a general rule, all systems that protect the entire building are the responsibility of the building owner. Exceptions to this are listed in the tenants responsibilities, but these may vary depending on agreements in place between the owner and tenant.

Tenants Responsibilities:

A tenant is responsible for ensuring all Fire Protection and Life Safety systems within his unit or space, not being performed by the building owner, are compliant with the current codes and regulations. The following is a list of most common items the tenant is responsible for.

Ememrgency lighting within the space that is NOT part of a centralized system.

Portable Fire Extinguishers that are NOT within a Fire Hose Cabinet.

Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression Systems or Special Hazard Systems.

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REQUIRED FIRE SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE DUTIES

Daily

1. Exit lights should be checked to ensure that they have not been damaged and that they are illumi-nated (All bulbs working).
2. Torches, regulators and welding equipment must be checked for defects.
3. Fire alarm systems AC power lamp and trouble signal must be checked.
4. Central alarm & control facility to be checked.
5. Tank heating equipment and water temperature must be checked for fire protection water tanks.
6. Temperature of fire pump rooms, valve rooms, and water tank enclosures must be checked during freezing weather.
7. Check all routes of egress are free and clear of obstructions.
8. Check Fire Doors are not propped open.

Weekly

1. Check hood, filters and ducts in ventilation sys-tems subject to the accumulation of combustible deposits.
2. Check that sprinkler system control valves are open and properly supervised and or “locked”.
3. Check that dry pipe sprinkler system air pressure is being maintained.
4. Inspect valves controlling fire protection water supplies.
5. Check the water level and pressure for fire protection system pressure tanks.
6. Inspect relief valves on air and water supplies of fire protection pressure tanks.
7. Check water level in fire pump reservoirs.
8. Inspect and operate all fire pumps. Inspect storage batteries etc.
9. Check all components for emergency generator system.

Monthly

1. Inspect all doors in fire separations.
2. Pilot lights, emergency lighting system, batteries, units and lamps to be checked, inspected, and tested.
3. Conduct fire alarm drills in day care centers and health care facilities.
4. Test all welding and cutting equipment.
5. Inspect all portable fire extinguishers.
6. Test the building fire alarm system and check all components including standby power batteries.
7. Test the voice communication systems and loudspeakers.
8. Inspect all fire hose stations (cabinets).
9. Test the sprinkler system alarm.
10. Inspect the water level in fire protection gravity tanks.
11. Test electric motor fire pumps
12. Test generator at a minimum of 30% of its ratted load for 60 min.

Every 2 Months

1. Test transmitters and waterflow actuated devices.

Every 3 Months

1. Conduct a fire alarm drill in all highrise buildings.
2. Test all fire safety devices in buildings regulated by Sub section 3.2.6. of the Building Code.
3. Test fire fighter’s elevators for proper operation.

Every 6 Months

1. Conduct a complete inspection of fire protection systems for commercial cooking equipment by qualified personnel.
2. Inspect elevator with smoke shaft.
3. Check and clean crankcase, breathers, gover-nors and linkages on emergency generator sets.
4. Conduct inspection and maintenance of special extinguishing systems by qualified personnel.
5. Test gate valve supervisory switches and other sprinkler and fire protection system supervisory devices.
6. Conduct fire alarm drills in schools attended by children (to be conducted 3 during school terms.)
7. Inspect hydrants.

Annually

1. Inspect all fire dampers and fire stop flaps.
2. Test emergency lighting equipment for proper operation and “run time” by qualified personnel.
3. Inspect all chimneys, flues and flue pipes.
4. Inspect disconnect switches for mechanical air conditioning and ventilation systems.
5. Clean chimney spark arresters.
6. Conduct fire alarm drills in all buildings that have a fire alarm system.
7. Carry out maintenance procedures for fire extin-guishers.
8. Conduct a complete test for the building fire alarm system by qualified personnel.
9. Conduct a complete test of the building voice communication system by qualified personnel.
10. Inspect all standpipe hose valves, plugs & caps.
11. Remove and rerack all standpipe hose.
12. Inspect all exposed sprinkler system pipe hangers.
13. Check all sprinkler heads.
14. Inspect auxiliary drains (drum drips) and dry pipe sprinkler systems (each fall).
15. Inspect dry pipe valve water priming level.
16. Conduct sprinkler system alarm test using the hydraulically most remote test valve.
17. Inspect and lubricate fire dept. connections.
18. Conduct a dry pipe system trip test.
19. Conduct a main drain flow test of the sprinkler system water supply.
20. Inspect fire protection water supply tanks.
21. Inspect the cathodic protection of steel fire protection water tanks.
22. Inspect all parts of a gravity fire protection water tank.
23. Conduct a fire pump flow test.
24. Inspect hydrants.
25. Inspect and flow test all fire hydrants
26. Conduct general engine and generator mainten-ance and engine tune-ups for emergency gene-rator sets.
27. Inspect closures at top of smoke shaft.
28. Inspect controls for air handling systems.

Every 2 Years

1. Check all steel fire protection tanks for corrosion.
2. Inspect all fire protection water tanks, connected to a non potable water supply, for the accumula-tion of sediment.
3. Check valve adjustments and torque heads for emergency generator engines.

Every 3 Years

1. Clean and service injector nozzles and check valve adjustments for emergency generator diesel engines.
2. Conduct trip test of dry pipe valves on sprinkler system with valve fully open.

Every 5 Years

1. Hydrostatic test of carbon dioxide and water type fire extinguishers.
2. Hydrostatic test of dry standpipe system.
3. Inspect fire protection water tank, connected to a potable water supply. Scrape and repaint as required.
4. Check insulation of generator windings.
5. Inspect closures in vent openings into smoke shafts.

Every 6 Years

1. Replace the extinguishing agent in dry chemical fire extinguishers.

Every 12 Years

1. Conduct hydrostatic testing of dry chemical and vapourizing liquid fire extinguishers as required.

Every 15 Years

1. Inspect dry pipe sprinkler system for pipe ob-structions. Flush the system when necessary.

As Often as Required

1. Clean any combustible dust producing opera-tions.
2. Cleaning of residue in spray booths.
3. Vacuum, clean and dust any dry powder finishing operations.
4. Inspect, clean and maintain all industrial ovens and associated ductwork.