Agent Blogs

New CO Detector Regulation Released

Ontario’s new CO Detector Regulation summary is now posted. The summary sheet is available at: http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/showAttachment.do?postingId=15722&attachmentId=23978

If you have any comments or feedback on this regulation, please email mchopowick@frpo.org or submit comments to the government directly via: http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=15722&language=en

This new regulation was required following the passage of Bill 77 by the Legislature. FRPO has worked with the Fire Marshall’s Technical Advisory Committee in the development of this proposed regulation.

Based on preliminary review of the regulation, there are few surprises in the proposed requirement.  Some key CO Detector installation and maintenance requirements are:

In Multi-Unit Buildings

• If fuel burning appliance in suite - install adjacent to sleeping areas.

• If fuel burning appliance in building service room - install in service room and all

suites adjacent to service room, adjacent to sleeping areas.

• If garage in building - install in all suites adjacent to garage, adjacent to sleeping

areas.

Additional Obligations for Landlords and Tenants

• Landlord to provide CO and smoke alarm maintenance instructions to tenant.

• CO and smoke alarms in rental units must be tested annually and tested when

battery is replaced, changes are made to electric circuit or change in tenancy

occurs.

• CO and smoke alarm testing in rental units performed by landlord. Testing done

by activating alarm test feature.

• Tenant required to notify landlord if CO and/or smoke alarm inoperable.

Installation for large buildings (those with more than six suites) would come into effect within 12 months of in-force date.

CO Alarms shall:

(a) be permanently connected to an electrical circuit with no disconnect switch between the overcurrent device and the carbon monoxide alarm,

 (b) be battery-operated, or

 (c) be plugged into an electrical receptacle.