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In 2018, the City of London Fire Department completed a very thorough surprise Audit on our building. The report was detailed and comprehensive and brought to our attention multiple small deficiencies along with two major deficiencies which we were unaware of. The Board worked closely with our Fire Inspector to rectify every single deficiency. The small ones were quick, the two major ones took more time as there were engineering drawings required – but in the end everything was taken care of and we got sign full off from the Fire Department in early 2019. The Board and Building Manager learned a lot from the Inspector who took the time to share his expertise. In January 2019, the Corporation passed a By - Law to make the building Smoke Free. There is no smoking (of anything) on property, in common elements or in units. “ Smoking Units ” were grandfathered until the owner sold, currently we have only 7 out of 194 units who are classed as Smoking Units. We no longer have residents flicking cigarette buts off balconies which used to cause at least one fire a year in the dry mulch of the gardens. In 2019, the Board did a rewrite of the Corporation Rules. In April of 2020 the Rules became effective. The Rules now incorporate much clearer fire prevention requirements. We had our Fire Inspector “ approve ” the new rules, he was able to assist us in wording, references and understanding so owners would have no questions. We published many of these new components in our Newsletters to ensure compliance.
Here are the enhanced Fire Regulations section of our Rules:
RULES: FIRE REGULATIONS
1. No Owner shall do or permit anything to be done in the Owner ’ s unit or bring or keep anything therein which will in any way increase the risk of fire or the rate of fire insurance on any building or on property kept therein. 2. No owner shall obstruct or interfere with the rights of other Owners or in any way injure or annoy them or conflict with the laws relating to fire or with the regulations of the Ontario or Municipal Fire Codes. 3. No Owner shall impede / interfere with any insurance policy carried by the Corporation or any Owner or conflict with any of the rules and ordinances of the local health unit or with any municipal by - law or any provincial or federal statue or regulation. 4. No one shall do or permit anything to be done on the common elements which will in any way increase the risk of fire.
5. Owners shall not overload existing electrical circuits and plumbing facilities in their units.
6. No hazardous, combustible or offensive goods, products or materials shall be kept or stored in the units or common elements. 7. No furniture, vases, mobility devices such as motorized scooters or walkers, shoes, small rugs or mats or any other items are permitted to be left in the hallways. Means of egress (escape pathways and exits) must be free of obstructions. This is a requirement under Ontario Fire Code Article 2.7.1.7 (1).
8. Storage Lockers:
a) No hazardous, combustible or offensive goods, products or materials shall be kept or stored in lockers. Examples of toxic or combustible goods include (but are not limited to) oil - based paint, gasoline, propane, aerosol sprays, BBQ tanks etc. b) The clearance between sprinkler head deflectors and the top of any storage shall not be less than 457 mm (18 inches). Failure to leave this clearance negates the ability of fire sprinklers to perform properly in the event of a fire. c) Tarps and other types of hanging barriers are not permitted to be placed on walls or doors of lockers. Barriers negate the ability of fire sprinklers to perform in the event of a fire. They also negate the ability of inspection from time to time to ensure items stored are permitted. d) This is a requirement under the Ontario Fire Code O. Reg. 213/07 as amended. Div. B, Sentence 2.4.1.1. (1) and Reg. 213/07 as amended. Div. B, Article 2.1.2.2. ■
CCI Review 2022/2023 — 1
August 2022 - 25
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