Fact Sheet – Visual Fire Safety Alarms What is the Building Code?  Ontario’s Building Code addresses new construction, renovations, and change of use or demolition of a building. The Building Code has been in place since 1975 and sets minimum standards for construction in Ontario. What has changed?  The 2012 Building Code was recently amended to enhance barrier‐free design requirements (accessibility) for new construction and extensive renovations.  The Building Code already requires that visual fire alarms must be installed in addition to audible fire alarms in public corridors and auditorium areas in a range of building types, including buildings with assembly, care, business and personal services, and commercial occupancies. Examples of these types of buildings are arenas, theatres, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, office buildings and retail establishments.  Visual fire alarms are also already required in at least 10 per cent of hotel and motel suites.  Audible smoke alarms are required by the Building Code in multi‐unit residential buildings and houses and must be installed on every floor and in every sleeping room of dwelling units.  New requirements expand the range of areas where visual fire alarms are required and set requirements for smoke alarms to be equipped with a visual signal component.  Requirements take effect January 1, 2015, and apply only to new construction or extensive renovations. What are the new requirements for visual fire alarms?  New amendments expand the range of areas where visual fire alarms will be required.  In large multi‐unit residential buildings, visual fire alarms will be required in public corridors and in every residential suite. Visual fire alarms are already required in the public corridors of other building types.  In all buildings where public washrooms are provided, visual fire alarms will be required in all barrier‐free and universal washrooms. What are the new requirements for smoke alarms?  All smoke alarms will be required to include a visual signal component, which must meet technical standards specified in Ontario’s Building Code.  The visual signal is not required to be an integrated component of the smoke alarm. An add‐on visual signal connected to the smoke alarm is sufficient to comply with the regulation.  Battery back‐up is not required for the visual signal component of a smoke alarm. This requirement applies only to the audible alarm. What do I have to do if I own or manage an existing building?  Unless you are planning an extensive renovation, existing buildings are not affected. You do not have to change or upgrade existing buildings to comply with new requirements.  Fire safety requirements in existing buildings are set through Ontario’s Fire Code, which is administered by the Office of the Fire Marshal. Why were these changes made?  The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) became law in 2005. The purpose of the AODA is to benefit all Ontarians by developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards.  As part of achieving Ontario’s goal of an accessible Ontario by 2025, Ontario is working to create a Building Code that demonstrates leadership in barrier‐free design and is responsive to the needs and concerns of all its stakeholders. Who can I call for more information?  For more information, visit www.ontario.ca/buildingcode or contact your municipality’s building department.