Pembroke Fire Chief Scott Selle says that stricter safety rules under Ontario’s updated Fire Code will take effect Jan. 1, expanding requirements for carbon monoxide alarms in homes and residential buildings.
The changes mandate CO alarms in more locations in houses, apartments, condominiums and rental units, aimed at reducing injuries and deaths linked to the colourless, odourless gas produced by improperly burning fuels such as natural gas, propane and wood.
Provincial data show more than 65 per cent of CO-related injuries and fatalities occur in residential settings. Under the updated code, alarms are required in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces or attached garages, or where heating air is supplied from a fuel-burning appliance outside the dwelling. Alarms must be installed adjacent to sleeping areas and on every storey, even without bedrooms.
In multi-unit buildings, alarms are required in units with fuel-burning appliances or fireplaces, or those located above, below or beside service rooms or garages. Public corridors heated by fuel-burning appliances must also be equipped with alarms.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Pembroke Fire Department at 613-735-6821 ext. 1201.
(Richard Evans)