Fire Code Commission Decision Summary
DECISION NO.:93A001-093
DATE:June 2, 1993
SUBJECT MATTER:
Installation of an ULC alternating current smoke alarm system, installation of single station smoke alarms for each sleeping room, and installation of a portable fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PREMISES:
The building has two storeys plus a basement and is occupied by five university students, each with their own bedroom (two in the basement, two on the second floor, and one on the main floor). The exterior walls are wood frame with gypsum wallboard on the inside and aluminium siding on the exterior. The interior walls appear to be gypsum wallboard on wood studs with wood panel on some wall surfaces. All interior vertical swinging doors are a hollow wood type, with no self-closing devices or locks. They share the living room, kitchen, den and bathroom on the first floor, and laundry and storage rooms in the basement. A battery powered smoke alarm is found on each floor but no fire extinguisher was provided.
REASON FOR APPEAL:
The current occupancy of the premises is classified as a family under the zoning requirement and meets the requirements for fire protection under those zoning by-laws.
APPELLANT'S POSITION:
Does not feel that house should be classified as a rooming house and therefore feels current battery powered smoke alarms provide adequate fire protection for occupants.
RESPONDENT'S POSITION:
The building occupied by five students as a shared living accommodation has inadequate provisions for early warning and detection of fire to alert occupants.
COMMISSION RULING:
The existing battery powered smoke alarms are inadequate to provide early warning of fire to all occupants. An alternating current smoke alarm system shall be installed with ULC approved single station smoke alarms being installed in the two sleeping rooms in the basement and the west bedroom on the second floor. A portable fire extinguisher should also be installed in the kitchen.
REASONS:
The appellant did not demonstrate that the existing conditions provide adequate protection for the occupants respecting early warning of fire. Work is considered to be adequate to meet fire safety requirements for the property and its occupants so long as the current shared accommodation arrangements (i.e. no locks on doors, no increase in the occupant load over five persons) are maintained.
