|
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Office of the Fire Marshal |
Ministère de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services
correctionnels |
 |
|
Place Nouveau Building 7th Floor 5775 Yonge Street North York ON M2M 4J1 Telephone 416-325-3100 Facsimile: 416-325-3162 |
Édifice Place Nouveau |
|
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2008
TORONTO The McGuinty government will hold a public consultation and information sessions on proposed changes to the Building Code that would require fire sprinkler systems in newly constructed multiple-unit residential buildings higher than three storeys.
Ontario has one of the lowest rates of residential fire deaths in Canada, said Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Nonetheless, we believe we can make our buildings even safer, and we will consider the comments, ideas and concerns received through the consultations when finalizing any amendments to the Building Code.
Over a ten-year period between 1997 and
2006, 103 people have died in these types of multi-unit residential building
fires, said Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional
Services. My ministry looks forward to partnering with the Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Housing to develop ways to reduce these tragedies and
increase the safety of families and individuals across the province.
A public consultation paper will be available Friday, February 15 on the
Building Code website of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at
http://www.ontario.ca/buildingcode. Interested parties will have until May
1, 2008 to submit comments.
Public information sessions will be held in late March and early April 2008. The locations and dates of the information sessions will soon be posted on the Building Code website and on the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Office of the Fire Marshal website at www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
These consultations are a chance to build consensus and increase awareness about fire safety across the province, said Ontario Fire Marshal Patrick Burke. Everyone must understand that fire safety begins with prevention, and that smoke alarms and sprinklers can save lives and limit property loss.
The Office of the Fire Marshal will use the information sessions to highlight fire safety challenges and home fire safety practices, and to discuss common misconceptions regarding residential sprinkler systems.
Sprinklers can make a difference, said Linda Jeffrey, MPP for Brampton-Springdale. The proposed regulations would help protect what we value most, including those most at risk seniors, the young and the disabled.
Jeffrey previously introduced private members bills calling for sprinklers in new residential buildings.
--30-
Contacts:
David Brezer
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
(416) 585-6656
Brian Teefy
Ministers Office
(416) 585-6333
Chris Slosser
Office of the Fire Marshal
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
(416) 325-3120
|
||||||||||||||||||
