As of April 15, 2015, CO Detectors (Carbon Monoxide Alarms) are required in all homes. This resulted from updates to the Ontario Fire Code.
Carbon monoxide alarms will now be required near all sleeping areas in residential homes. They are also compulsory in the service rooms, and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. Carbon monoxide alarms can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into the wall.
Summary of New Requirements:
- -Testing and maintenance requirements for smoke alarms now apply to CO (Carbon Monoxide) alarms
- -CO alarms are mandatory in single dwelling homes with an attached storage garage and/or a fuel burning appliance.
- -CO alarms will be required only near sleeping areas and not throughout the entire home.
-Multi-unit buildings (e.g., apartment buildings or condominium buildings, hotels, etc.) have an attached storage garage and/or a fuel burning appliance/service room. Within these buildings, CO alarms will only be required:
*Near sleeping areas of suites that contain a fuel burning appliance within the suite.
*Near sleeping areas of suites that are adjacent to a storage garage and/or service room with a fuel burning appliance.
Hundreds of Canadians are hospitalized every year from carbon monoxide poisoning, many of whom are permanently disabled. Everyone is at Risk, 88% of all homes have something that poses a carbon monoxide threat.
Carbon Monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, toxic gas that enters the body through the lungs while breathing. It replaces oxygen in the blood and prevents the flow of oxygen to the heart, brain and other vital organs.
Fire crews will now be going door to door enforcing the law that makes carbon monoxide detectors mandatory in most Ontario homes. The fine for not having a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home is $360.
CO detectors are available at our Alvinston shop or can be delivered by our technicians on a service call.
For more details you can visit the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs website, by clicking here.
