Smoke Alarms
If this is an emergency dial 9-1-1. Do not wait.
It's the law
The Ontario Fire Code makes it mandatory to have working smoke alarms. The Ontario Fire Code requires homes to have working smoke alarms on every level, in addition to the requirement of having smoke alarms outside all sleeping areas. This applies to all single-family, semi-detached and town homes, whether owner-occupied or rented.
It is the responsibility of homeowners to install and maintain smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside sleeping areas.
It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure their rental properties comply with the law.
If you are a tenant of a rental property and do not have the required number of smoke alarms, contact your landlord immediately. It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with the alarm in any way.
Failure to comply with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements could result in a ticket for $360 or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations.
A working smoke alarm can save your family's lives in the event of a fire in your home.
Did you know that 90% of residential fires are preventable? In Oshawa, from 2009 to 2012, only 39% of buildings where fires occurred had working smoke alarms. Out of those fires:
- 15% of buildings where fire occurred had smoke alarms that did not operate
- 19% of buildings where fire occurred no smoke alarm was present
| Change your clock, change your battery |
|
To make sure that the batteries are always fresh, change the battery in your smoke alarm when you change your clock in the spring and fall. If you do not have a working smoke alarm or if you want more information about smoke alarms and fire safety, contact Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311. |
| Test your smoke alarm |
|
To make sure your smoke alarm is working, you should test it once a month by pushing the test button. If you think your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them with new ones. Make sure everyone in the household knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds. Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it with the entire household. |
| Safety tips |
|
Install smoke alarms on every storey of your home, including the basement
|
| Dealing with Nuisance Alarms |
|
Only working smoke alarms save lives.
|
| Choose the right alarms |
|
There are smoke alarms available with different features and applications, so choosing the right alarm can be confusing. Some of the features to consider include: Power Source:
Technology:
Pause feature:
|
| Install in the proper locations |
|
Smoke alarms must be installed on each storey of the home as well as outside sleeping areas. Because smoke rises, smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling. If this is not possible, install the alarm high up on a wall. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing smoke alarms. Avoid putting smoke alarms too close to bathrooms, windows, ceiling fans and heating and cooking appliances. |