RE: Ontario Fire Code Public Consultation

From: Matt Osburn, Vice President of National Codes & Technical Services

To: Ontario CASA Members

RE: Ontario Fire Code Public Consultation

Over the past four decades CASA has been a strong proponent and advocate with all levels of government requesting and supporting Compulsory Certification for the Sprinkler & Fire Protection Installer Trade across Canada. This Compulsory Trade Status ensures that individuals working in the Sprinkler & Fire Protection Trade must obtain minimum levels of training, knowledge, and certification to work in this trade. This legislation helps ensures that Fire Sprinklers and other related fire protection systems are properly installed, inspected, tested, and maintained across Canada by qualified individuals. This dedication and hard work have resulted in Ontario and five other Provinces adopting and classifying the Sprinkler & Fire Protection Installer Trade as a Compulsory Designated Trade, and three provinces have implemented very similar minimum qualifications into the Provincial Fire Code.

The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General recently announced a Public Consultation on a series of Proposed Changes to the 2023 Ontario Fire Code. The Public Consultation is open from May 29th through July 13th. One of the key proposed changes is the implementation of language and clauses that will require minimum qualifications for individuals who perform certain Inspection, Test & Maintenance activities on Fire Sprinkler Systems, Standpipe & Hose Systems, Water Supplies and Special Hazard Systems into the 2023 Ontario Fire Code. This would mirror and follow existing legislation that already exists under the Ontario “Building opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act”. This proposed change can be found in Div. B, 6.1.1.3. (New) and Div. C, 1.2.5. (New) (Appendix K) of the current public consultation.

We strongly encourage all our CASA Members to submit and offer comments of support by no later than July 13th on the Proposed Change Div. B, 6.1.1.3 (New) and Div. C, 1.2.5 (New) to help ensure that the proposed language is accepted into the Ontario Fire Code. To view the entire public consultation and proposed changes visit https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=44728&language=en To submit your public comments please visit https://one.ofmem.ca/firecodeapp/Instructions

Some key elements that you may want to include in your rationale on why you support the proposed change are the following;

• The Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer Trade in Ontario is already classified as a Compulsory Trade per the Ontario “Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act”. Therefore, the requirement to implement minimum qualifications for individuals performing certain Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance and Repairs on Fire Sprinkler Systems, Standpipe & Hose Systems, Water Supplies and Special Hazards is already a legal requirement in the Province of Ontario.
• The proposed language to be inserted into the Ontario Fire Code mirrors and utilizes past language and recommendations that were issued and communicated by the Ontario Fire Marshals Office, The
  Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer Trade Board, and Ontario College of Trades (Now Skilled Trades Ontario).
• This language will help ensure that building owners are aware and responsible for individuals who are performing certain Inspection, Testing, Maintenance and Repairs on Fire Sprinkler Systems, Standpipe & Hose Systems, Water Supplies and Special Hazards are properly qualified.
• The proposed language will help ensure Fire Code compliance and enforcement for already existing requirements in the Province of Ontario.