Some of the most law-abiding people are unknowingly breaking the law every
day. Not for robbery, or speeding, or assault. But simply because they don’t
have working smoke alarms in their homes. A recent amendment to the Ontario Fire
Code now requires homes to have working smoke alarms on every storey. This is in
addition to the existing requirement of having smoke alarms outside all sleeping
areas. The amendment applies to all single-family, semi-detached and town homes,
whether owner-occupied or rented.
For homeowners, that may mean purchasing additional smoke alarms and installing
them on every storey of their home and outside all sleeping areas. Failure to do
so could result in a ticket for $235.
Landlords must make sure their rental properties comply with the law. Individual
landlords who fail to comply with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can
face penalties of up to $50,000.
Tenants of rental properties are encouraged to contact their landlords
immediately if they do not have the required number of smoke alarms. Once smoke
alarms are installed, tenants cannot remove the batteries or tamper with the
alarm in any way. If they do so, the tenant could receive a ticket for $235.
The Fire Code amendment comes into effect on March 1, 2006. After that date,
fire departments will be enforcing the regulation in communities throughout
Ontario.
“This may be a different approach than you are used to from your fire
department,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle. “That’s because they know
how important it is to have working smoke alarms. If a fire were to occur in
your home, smoke alarms could mean the difference between life and death.”
Ontario fire statistics reveal that in about 50 per cent of fatal home fires,
the victims had no smoke alarm warning.
“Think of smoke alarms as seatbelts for your home,” said Moyle. “You wish you
didn’t have to use them, but when they are needed and they protect you and your
family from harm, you are forever grateful that they were there and that they
were working.”
Smoke Alarm Facts
Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO), a non-crown corporation created under the Waste Diversion Act, was established to develop, implement and operate waste diversion programs for a wide range of materials designated by the Ministry of the Environment. One of the designated waste material categories is Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment (WEEE), which include various appliances, equipment, tools and instruments. Smoke alarms have been specifically identified to be included within this scope. We have been advised that the development of this particular diversion program is currently in progress. For more information on the status of this program, you may access WDO's website at www.wdo.ca or contact them at (416) 226-5113.
Despite the fact that the WEEE program is still under development, many Ontario municipalities already have hazardous waste recycling depots in place for collecting hazardous electronic waste materials. Please contact your municipal waste management department to determine whether such a facility is available in your municipality.
In the event your municipality does not offer this type of service, many smoke alarms have a label stating they should be returned to the manufacturer for disposal. As well, the Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Regulations permits a person, without a licence, to dispose of smoke alarms containing a nuclear substance if it does not contain more than 185 kBq of americium 241. Residential ionization smoke alarms typically contain up to 33 kBq of americium 241, which is comparable to the background radiation already present in many materials.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has confirmed that individual smoke alarms containing americium 241 may be disposed of in the garbage. If the smoke alarm contains radium or if more than 10 units have to be disposed of, then the consumer should contact the CNSC at 1-800-668-5284 to determine the proper procedure.
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