Vulnerable Care Occupancies

Bluewater Fire Services is working with owners of care and treatment facilities and retirement homes in the community to remind them of their responsibilities under newly amended fire safety legislation governing these types of occupancies.

Since Jan. 1, 2014, the following requirements are in place:

1. A smoke alarm is required in each suite or sleeping room not within a suite that is not equipped with a smoke detector.

2.   They are required to have in place a fire safety plan which has been approved by the Chief Fire Official of the Municipality of Bluewater.

3.   The training of all supervisory staff under this fire safety plan must be recorded and the records retained.

4.   They must ensure that you have sufficient supervisory staff to carry out the duties as outlined in the fire safety plan.

5.   A fire drill must be carried out during each 12-month period for a scenario which has been approved by the Chief Fire Official and which represents the lowest staffing level complement in the occupancy in order to confirm the requirements in the fire safety plan have been met.

As of March 1, 2014, the following additional requirement exists:

6.    The Chief Fire Official must be notified within a time period approved by the Chief Fire Official of every drill carried out in accordance with number 4 above.

Bluewater Fire Services takes the safety of our vulnerable occupants seriously, and Fire Prevention Officers will be scrutinizing these properties, ensuring that all requirements of the legislation are being met.

Vulnerable Occupancies - What you need to know…

Ontario Regulation 364/13: Mandatory Inspection - Fire Drill in Vulnerable Occupancy:

This regulation sets out specific obligations for municipal Fire Chiefs and other prescribed persons responsible to ensure the following:

An inspector observes the fire drill
An inspector conducts a fire safety inspection
Required information is filed with the Fire Marshal

When the Chief Fire Official is notified by the owner of a care occupancy, care and treatment occupancy or retirement home that a fire drill will be carried out under Sentence 2.8.3.2.(2.1) of Division B of the Fire Code.

Ontario Regulation 365/13: Mandatory Assessment of Complaints and Requests for Approval:

This regulation sets out specific obligations for municipal Fire Chiefs and other prescribed persons responsible to ensure the following:

An assessment and, if deemed necessary, an inspection is conducted upon receipt of a fire safety complaint.

An assessment and, if deemed necessary, an inspection is conducted upon receipt of a request from an owner for assistance to comply with the Fire Code when the approval of the Chief Fire Official is required.

Required information is filed with the Fire Marshal if the complaint or request for assistance is in regard to a care occupancy, care and treatment occupancy or retirement home.

Fire Marshal Directive 2014-01

Fire Marshal Directive 2014-01 directs the process by which information is filed in the registry of care occupancies, care and treatment occupancies, and retirement homes, which is administered by the OFMEM.

Fire Marshal Directive 2014-02

Fire Marshal Directive 2014-02 directs the process by which a fire drill scenario is to be developed and observed and the process for assessing Fire Code compliance through application of a checklist.

An overview of the fire drill scenario and mandatory inspection is available on the OFMEM Web site.

Staffing Levels in Care Occupancies, Care and Treatment Occupancies and Retirement Homes (TG-01-2013):

This guideline incorporates a number of significant changes, most notably the following:

A broadened scope to include care occupancies, care and treatment occupancies, and retirement homes

References to changes introduced by Ontario Regulation 150/13, such as revised and new definitions, and amendments to Section 2.8 of Division B of the Fire Code

New commentary on “point of safety”, as used in the guideline

Enhanced discussion on “Identification of scenarios”, “Time required to evacuate to a point of safety (TRequired)” and “Time available to move to a point of safety based on tenability levels (TAvailable)”

Additional appendices to support understanding and application of the guideline

Training Strategy to Enhance Fire Safety in Occupancies Housing Vulnerable Ontarians-Communiqué 2013-14 :

On May 9, 2013, Ontario Regulation 150/13 was filed. It amends the Fire Code ( Ontario Regulation 213/07 ) to enhance fire safety in occupancies housing vulnerable Ontarians. It mandates that certain persons successfully complete a program or course approved by the Fire Marshal in order to be able to fulfill their fire safety responsibilities competently. These persons are the following:

Persons required to implement emergency planning provisions (Section 2.8 of Division B) of the Fire Code in care occupancies, care and treatment occupancies and retirement homes regulated under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010. They are the owners and operators of such facilities, or their delegates, and are responsible for developing and putting into effect a fire safety plan. The titles of these persons can vary: manager, general manager, executive manager, executive director, chief executive officer, and chief operating officer, to name a few.

Chief Fire Officials responsible for approving fire safety plans for buildings containing care occupancies, care and treatment occupancies, or retirement homes.

Although the regulation takes effect on January 1, 2014, the mandatory training must be completed by December 31, 2016:

Persons designated as “supervisory staff” as defined in the Fire Code must also be trained in regard to their fire safety responsibilities. Under the Fire Code, these responsibilities are set out in a building’s fire safety plan. The fire safety plan also specifies what training supervisory staff must receive in order to be able to carry out their assigned duties competently in the building where they are employed.

Compliance Schedule