By Sam Soltani & Sarah Hinchcliffe of Trace Fire Group Ltd.

What Condominium Managers & Boards Need to Know

The Ontario Fire Code (OFC) establishes minimum requirements for the operation, maintenance, inspection, and testing of fire and life safety systems in buildings across Ontario. These requirements exist to protect occupants, first responders, and property assets by ensuring that critical safety systems function as intended during an emergency.

As of January 1, 2026, a series of significant amendments to the Ontario Fire Code came into effect under Ontario Regulation 87/25. While many Fire Code obligations are familiar to property managers, the 2026 updates introduce new inspection frequencies, expanded testing requirements, additional documentation expectations, and retroactive obligations that affect a wide range of existing buildings.

Building owners remain legally responsible for Fire Code compliance. In practice, property managers act as the owner’s representative and are often responsible for coordinating inspections, maintaining records, and responding to Fire Department inquiries. Understanding how the 2026 changes apply to your specific building is now more important than ever.

Every building represents a unique combination of design intent, occupancy type, fire protection systems, and operational practices. As a result, compliance cannot be approached as a one-size-fits-all exercise. A careful review of how the new requirements intersect with your building’s existing systems and procedures is essential to avoiding gaps that could lead to enforcement action.

Below is an overview of several key Ontario Fire Code changes that are already affecting inspections and Fire Department expectations in 2026.

Increased Focus on Doors in Fire Separations and Means of Egress (OFC Sections 2.2 and 2.7)

One of the most practical and immediately impactful changes in the 2026 Ontario Fire Code relates to doors that are critical to fire containment and occupant egress.

Under Section 2.2 of the Fire Code, all doors located in fire separations are now required to be inspected on a monthly basis. This applies regardless of whether the door is normally used by occupants or remains closed under typical conditions. The intent is to ensure that fire separation doors continue to perform their role in limiting smoke and fire spread.

In addition, Section 2.7 of the Fire Code introduces expanded requirements for doors that form part of a means of egress, as well as doors equipped with electromagnetic locking devices. These doors must now be inspected monthly and tested annually, with formal records
maintained.

For many buildings, this represents a significant increase in both inspection scope and documentation expectations. Doors that may not previously have been captured in routine checks now fall clearly within the Fire Code’s inspection and testing framework.

Updated Requirements for Supervisory Staff Fire Drills (OFC Section 2.8)

The 2026 amendments also update expectations around supervisory staff fire drills, as outlined in Section 2.8 of the Fire Code. While fire drills for supervisory staff have long been required, the updated provisions place greater emphasis on clearly defined drill objectives, meaningful staff participation, and documented records demonstrating that drills have been carried out in accordance with the Fire Safety Plan.

Fire Departments are increasingly looking for evidence that supervisory staff understand their roles during an emergency and are familiar with building-specific procedures, not simply that a drill occurred.

Expanded Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements in Existing Buildings (OFC Section 2.16)

The changes to carbon monoxide (CO) alarm requirements under Section 2.16 of the Fire Code are among the most widely applicable updates in the 2026 Fire Code, particularly for multi-unit residential buildings.

In addition to existing requirements for suites containing fuel-burning appliances or fireplaces, the Fire Code now expands CO alarm placement to include public corridors in multi-unit residential buildings where those corridors are served by a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural-gas-fired make-up air unit. CO alarms are also now required on every storey of a dwelling unit that requires CO protection, including storeys without sleeping areas, while continuing to require installation adjacent to each sleeping area within affected suites.

These requirements apply retroactively to many existing buildings and are often triggered by central building systems rather than equipment located directly within a suite. As a result, buildings that previously believed they were compliant may now require additional CO alarm coverage in common areas and residential units.

Retroactive Integrated Systems Testing Obligations (OFC Section 6.10)

A less visible but technically significant change appears in Section 6.10 of the Ontario Fire Code.

Buildings with fire protection or life safety systems installed or modified on or after January 1, 2020, and that were required by the Ontario Building Code to be verified in accordance with CAN/ULC-S1001, are now subject to a retroactive obligation. Owners must ensure that integrated systems testing has been completed, systems continue to be maintained and tested as required, and documentation demonstrating compliance is available.

This requirement recognizes that modern buildings rely on multiple interconnected systems, such as fire alarms, smoke control, elevators, emergency power, and door releases, and that these systems must operate together as designed during an emergency.

Smoke Control Systems and Pressurized Exit Stairs (OFC Article 7.3.1.4)

For buildings equipped with pressurized stairwells or other smoke control systems, the 2026 Fire Code introduces a notable change under Article 7.3.1.4.

When smoke control systems are tested, all doors in the path of exit travel must now be tested under pressurized conditions. This ensures that doors remain operable when pressure differentials are present, as intended by the original smoke control design.

In many cases, this requirement necessitates updates to existing engineered smoke control procedures, as previous testing protocols may not have included door operability checks throughout the full exit path.

Adoption of the 2019 CAN/ULC-S536 Fire Alarm Testing Standard (OFC Section 6.3)

The 2026 Ontario Fire Code formally adopts the 2019 edition of CAN/ULC-S536, the national standard governing the inspection and testing of fire alarm systems.

This change standardizes fire alarm inspections across Ontario and introduces more comprehensive, device-by-device testing, enhanced battery testing methods, mandatory use of the ULC-prescribed inspection and testing forms, and clear separation of deficiencies versus recommendations.

Fire alarm inspections are now more detailed, more time-intensive, and more heavily documented than in previous years.

A Practical Takeaway for Condominium Managers & Boards

The 2026 Ontario Fire Code changes reflect a broader shift toward greater accountability, clearer documentation, and verified system performance in existing buildings. While not every amendment will apply to every property, most buildings will be affected by multiple overlapping requirements.

Managers and Boards who understand how these changes intersect with their buildings’ systems, procedures, and records are best positioned to manage compliance proactively and to respond confidently to Fire Department inspections in 2026 and beyond.

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Article written by and used with permission of Trace Fire Group Ltd.

Sam Soltani, P.Eng. LEED®AP
President

Sarah Hinchcliffe, P.Eng. ITC
Associate Director