Fire Code Compliance and Inspection Practices for Ontario Buildings

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Interpret and apply the Ontario Fire Code and Fire Protection & Prevention Act to support compliant building operations
• Conduct structured fire safety inspections across a range of building occupancies
• Identify fire hazards, code violations, and non-compliant conditions within real-world environments
• Document inspection findings and prepare formal inspection reports and orders in accordance with enforcement requirements
• Navigate the regulatory and legal processes associated with fire code enforcement and compliance

Description

Fire safety compliance is a critical responsibility in any facility, yet applying the Ontario Fire Code in real-world environments often involves navigating complex regulations, varied building occupancies, and evolving risk conditions. Gaps in inspection practices or documentation can lead to non-compliance, increased liability, heightened risk to life safety and property and potential charges laid under the fire code.

This course provides a structured, practical approach to conducting fire safety inspections in accordance with the Fire Protection & Prevention Act and the Ontario Fire Code. You will learn how to systematically assess buildings, identify common hazards and violations, and apply code requirements across assembly, residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and mercantile occupancies. The course also addresses enforcement processes, including documentation, reporting, and the legal considerations associated with code violations.

Through applied exercises, you will practice completing inspection reports and issuing orders using standard fire department formats. The course emphasizes practical application, enabling you to carry out inspections with confidence, support compliance efforts, and strengthen fire safety outcomes within your organization.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for:

• Engineers and engineering technologists responsible for facility safety or compliance
• Facility managers, property managers, building operators and superintendents
• Maintenance supervisors and technical staff supporting building systems
• Fire safety coordinators and Joint Health & Safety Committee members

Professionals involved in inspection, risk management (insurance companies), or regulatory compliance within built environments

Day I

Welcome, Introduction, Workshop Preview, Learning Outcomes and the Assessment Method

Codes and Regulations

• Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA)
• Current Province of Ontario Fire Code Compendium
• Roles and Powers of Assistants to the Fire Marshal
• Fines and Offences

Ontario Fire Code

• Division B Parts 1–9 of the fire code
• Referenced Associations and Standards

Types of Building Occupancies

• Assembly; Institutional; Residential; Business/Personal Services; Mercantile and Industrial
• Seven Principles of Life Safety
• Fire safety risks for occupants of each type of building
• Fire code violations in Assembly; Residential; Mercantile and Industrial buildings

Types of Inspections by Fire Departments

• Complaint
• Request
• Routine
• Mandated by the Province of Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal
• Tools and equipment required to perform inspections

Day II

Performing Fire Safety Inspections

• Systematic process and steps to perform inspections
• Common Fire Code violations
• Housekeeping hazards for the interior and exterior of buildings
• Maintenance of installed Fire Protection Systems and Equipment: fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems; standpipe systems, egress facilities ,fire access routes, fire hydrants

Fines and Offenses

• Fire Protection and Prevention Act
• Ontario Fire Code
• The legal process when laying charges
• Documentation required for Legal proceedings

Fire Safety Inspection Reports/Orders

• Fire Department Inspection report/Order forms
• In-house inspection report forms
• Steps to achieving compliance with the Fire Code

Exercise
Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes