Ontario Fire Code Compliant Monitoring of Fire Alarm Systems
The 2007 Ontario Fire Code (O.F.C.) is unique in that many sections of the code do not allow alternative
interpretations or solutions to be applied by anyone, including Inspection Agencies or the Authority Having
Jurisdiction (A.H.J.) Simply put, this means that critical sections of the O.F.C. must be followed precisely as
written without deviation or unique interpretations. No Owner, A.H.J. or Inspection Agency is allowed to
deviate from the acceptable solution provided in Division B of the O.F.C. for these sections.
The Monitoring of Fire Alarm Systems, Section 6.3.1.2 of the O.F.C. is one of these unique and critical
sections that does not allow for alternative solutions or interpretations.
The O.F.C. clearly states that it is the “Owners Responsibility” to carry out the provisions of or comply with
the Fire Code. Further it defines Owner as “any person, firm, or corporation having control over any portion of
the building or property”. These critical statements identify the owner as the individual that must understand
and implement O.F.C. requirements and further identifies the owner as the individual liable for any penalties.
Most building owners have never seen a copy of the O.F.C. let alone tried to interpret the legal wording within
the document. The O.F.C. can be overwhelming, it is a complex document that requires years of experience and
training to understand and interpret. Four-O-One Security Systems Ltd. will demystify this critical section of
the O.F.C. for you. Our opinion is based on our 25 years of experience, telephone discussions, meetings and
emails we have had over the last two years with the Canadian Fire Alarm Association, Ontario Fire Marshals
Office, Underwriters Laboratories Canada, Interteck, National Fire Protection Association and private Fire
Code Consultants and Engineers specifically discussing this topic.
Excerpt from the 2007 Ontario Fire Code
Subsection 6.3.1. General
Monitoring
6.3.1.2. (1) Where the Building Code or this Code requires a fire alarm system to be monitored to transmit a
signal to the fire department, the building owner shall ensure the continuation of the monitoring.
(2) Where the fire alarm system monitoring referred to in Sentence (1) is provided by a central station, the
building owner shall obtain written documentation from the central station operator that the monitoring service
complies with
(a) NFPA 71, “Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Signaling Systems for
Central Station Service”, or
(b) CAN/ULC-S561, “Installation and Services for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems”.
(3) Where a fire alarm system is monitored by a central station to meet the requirements of the Building Code
or this Code, the operator of the central station shall provide, upon request by the owner or Chief Fire
Official, a document attesting that the monitoring service is in compliance with one of the standards identified
in Sentence (2).
Based on the assumption your facility is required by the O.F.C. section 6.3.1.2 to be monitored in a compliant
fashion (see appendix 1 for a list of required facilities) the simplest and most effective methods of ensuring your
facility is monitored correctly is to comply with O.F.C. section 6.3.1.2 (2) ask your monitoring station to
provide you with verifiable documentation you are compliant or a ULC Certificate for the Installation.
(2) Where the fire alarm system monitoring referred to in Sentence (1) is provided by a central station, the
building owner shall obtain written documentation from the central station operator that the monitoring
service complies with
(a) NFPA 71, “Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Signaling Systems for Central Station Service”, or
(b) CAN/ULC-S561, “Installation and Services for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems”.
The phrases owner shall obtain written documentation and monitoring service complies with requires you
to obtain documentation from your current monitoring company verifying:
1) your current monitoring company is maintaining an approved monitoring station in compliance with one
of the two standards listed
2) your facility is monitored in compliance with one of the two standards listed.
It is critical you understand that “MONITORING SERVICE” as definition by NFPA and ULC is a
combination of the Monitoring Station certification and the Protected Premises (your site) certification.
The only way to guarantee compliance and ensure your “Monitoring Service” is meeting the requirements of the
O.F.C. is by asking your current monitoring company to provide verifiable documentation from the accredited
agency that has certified them as compliant with one of the standards listed in the O.F.C. section 6.3.1.2 (2)
Although this procedure sounds complicated compliant monitoring companies should have this documentation
immediately available for you. The accredited agency that has performed their inspection to one of the above
standards will have them “Listed” and as such will provide access to an inspection certificate. Verifiable
documentation stating they are compliant, your only guaranteed means of proving compliance.
There are various types of ULC listings and companies may have multiple ULC listings. In order to be
compliant with the O.F.C., section 6.3.1.2 a ULC Listed monitoring company must be listed in the following
area. Fire Protective Signalling Systems, Signal Receiving Centres. DAYIC.S6707
Should a monitoring station suggest they are compliant with NFPA 71 they must be fully compliant with NFPA
71 section 1-6.2 which states “Listed in accordance with ANSI/UL 827-1988,” this listing is achieved by
having an accredited agency perform an inspection on the monitoring facility and multiple protected premises.
Following a successfully inspection the company inspected would be Listed by the accredited agency that has
performed the inspection. Only then would they be considered compliant with NFPA 71. Compliance
inspections are traditionally only performed by highly trained accredited agencies. It is important to note that
AHJ’s and Fire Departments do not perform Listing inspections since usually they are not accredited by the
Standards Council of Canada and may not have the technical experience with the standards or the various
technologies used in the monitoring industry.
Both NFPA and ULC compliant monitoring stations are subjected to periodic reoccurring inspections made by
the accredited listing agency that maintains their listing. The signal receiving center and selected certificated
installations are inspected to determine compliance with the requirements contained within the applicable
standard. Each accredited listing agencies provides standard listing documentation the monitoring company will
provide to Authorities Having Jurisdiction and end users upon request. We have enclosed our ULC Listing
DAYIC.S6707
DAYIC.S6707
Fire Protective Signalling Systems, Signal Receiving Centres
FOUR-O-ONE SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD
152 PERTH ST
PO BOX 1423
BROCKVILLE
ON K6V 5Y6, CANADA
File No.
S6707
Full central station service provided in Brockville, Ontario.
(Guide No. 3821 R0)
A fire protective signaling system is one in which the operations of electrical fire protection circuits
and devices are signaled to, recorded in, maintained and supervised from a signal receiving centre
having trained operators in attendance at all times whose duty it shall be, upon receipt of a signal,
to notify the subscriber and the local fire department in the event a fire alarm signal is received.
Services listed to this CCN/Guide No. have been found to meet the applicable requirements of
CAN/ULC-S561, "Installation and Services for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems".
Fire protective signaling system signal receiving centre companies are listed under the Certificate
Service of Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada. Under this Service, periodic inspections are made
at the signal receiving centers and at certificated installations to determine compliance with the
requirements contained in CAN/ULC-S561-03 , "Central Station Fire Protective Signalling Systems
and Services".
Where a listed fire protective Signalling system signal receiving centre issues a "Full Service
Central Station Fire Protective Signalling System Certificate", the listed company is expected to
provide the installation, maintenance and signal monitoring service associated with the particular
installation.
Where a listed fire protective signaling system signal receiving centre issues a "Shared Service
Central Station Fire Protective Signalling System Certificate", to a system which has been installed
by a listed fire protective signaling system installation company, a contract exists between the two
companies to share the installation, maintenance and signal monitoring services associated with
the particular installation.
The locations at which signal receiving centre companies provide fire protective signaling services
are shown in the individual listings.
The Listing Mark (certificate) of Underwriters Laboratories of Canada for a certified installation is
the only evidence provided by ULC to identify services which are under its Listing and Follow-Up
Service. The Listing Mark of these services includes the ULC symbol (as illustrated in the
Introduction of this List of Equipment and Materials) together with the service name.
This Listing can be verified by contacting ULC at 416-757-3611
Appendix 1
The following occupancies are required to be monitored in a compliant fashion.
GROUP A OCCUPANCIES – Occupancy level exceeding 300 persons
A1
A2
A3
Assembly occupancies intended for the production and viewing of the performing arts.
Theatre – Motion Picture, Concert Hall, Live TV Studio, Opera House
Assembly occupancies not elsewhere classified in Group A.
Museum, Art Gallery, Library, Lecture Hall, Auditorium
Recreation or Sports Facilities – Bowling Alley, Dance Studio, Community
Exhibition Hall, Arena Sports/Country/Social/Yacht Club, Gymnasium, Non Residential Club
Education Facility, Pre/Elementary/Secondary/Technical/Trade/Post Secondary/University/College
Transportation Facility – Airport, Bus Terminal, Railway Station, Subway Station, Marine Terminal
Restaurants, Bars, Tavern, Night Clubs, Court Facility, Daycare Centres
Assembly occupancies of the arena type.
Arenas, Indoor Swimming Pools
GROUP B OCCUPANCIES - All
B1
B2
Institutional occupancies detention facilities.
Jail, Penitentiaries, Psychiatric hospital with detention quarters, Reformatories
Institutional occupancies in which persons because of age, mental or physical limitations require special care or
treatment.
Children’s Custodial home, Convalescent homes, Hospitals, Infirmaries, Nursing homes, Orphanages,
Psychiatric hospitals without detention quarters,
GROUP C OCCUPANCIES – Floor Level Exceeds 18 m above grade (60 ft)
C
Residential Occupancies.
Apartments, Boarding houses, Camp for Housing of workers, Clubs-residential, Colleges, Residential,
convents, Dormitories, Group Homes, Hostels, Motels, Retirement Homes.
GROUP F OCCUPANCIES
F1
Industrial Occupancies.
High Hazard.
Significant Changes to the Ontario Building & Fire Codes for Building under renovation
1997 - The Ontario Building Code added the requirement to provide compliant monitoring of buildings with sprinkler
systems connected to their fire alarm systems. OBC 3.2.4.7. (2) This will include building with sprinkler systems that
have undergone major renovations after this date where the fire alarm system or sprinkler was upgraded or renovated.
1997 - The Ontario Building Code added referance to ULC/ORD-C693-1994 as a compliant standard for monitor fire
alarm systems. Previously ULC Listed Central Stations were compliant to NFPA-71, a USA standard. OBC 3.2.4.7. (4)
2006 - The Ontario Building Code revised the ULC referance to reflect to new standard CAN/ULC-S561 and removed
the referance to NFPA-71. OBC 3.2.4.7. (4)
It is important to note that the above noted requirement may from time to time change as codes are revised.