As of January 1, 2014, Ontario became the first province to require the retrofit of automatic sprinklers in all vulnerable occupancies, which include care occupancies (e.g. group homes and supportive housing where residents need care for cognitive or physical disabilities and require assistance to evacuate), care and treatment occupancies (e.g. long-term care homes – formerly known as nursing homes, municipal homes for the aged and charitable homes) and licensed retirement homes (i.e. homes for seniors who may require assistance with daily living).

Mandatory sprinklers are but one part of a comprehensive set of changes to the province’s fire safety regulations. There are a number of other fire safety changes that are required, by law, in care occupancies, care and treatment occupancies and licensed retirement homes.

In Care Occupancies and licensed Retirement Homes (within scope of Section 9.7 of Division B of the Fire Code)

• Smoke Alarms in individual sleeping rooms (Deadline is March 1, 2014)
• Fire Alarm Monitoring and Emergency Lighting (Deadline is January 1, 2015)
• Self-Closers and Voice Communication Systems (Deadline is January 1, 2016)
• Automatic Sprinklers (Deadline is January 1, 2019)

Reference: Ontario Fire Code, Article obtained from mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca

*Please refer to the Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services website for updates, changes and full details on current legislation