Student housing fire safety

When students move away for school, they often live on their own for the first time. It is important to know the fire safety rules that protect renters in Ontario.

Rights and responsibilities

Both landlords and tenants are legally required to take steps to prevent fires and make sure that student housing is safe. Landlords and tenants can face large fines if they do not follow the Ontario Fire Code.

Landlord responsibilities

Under the Fire Code, landlords must:

• install and maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) (if applicable) alarms in the home.
• provide tenants with a copy of the alarms’ manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.

Apartment buildings and student residences operated by the school must also have a building fire alarm system and a fire safety plan.

Tenant responsibilities

As a renter, you must:

• Never disable smoke and CO alarms, including the removal of batteries.
• Let the landlord know that the smoke or carbon monoxide alarms are no longer working, disconnected, not operating, or making chirping sounds.
• Keep all exits clear of furniture or other items. Blocked exits can trap occupants and fill halls with smoke.
• Keep all stairways and hallways free of storage items. Objects left in these areas are a serious fire hazard.

What to check before renting

Before signing a lease it’s important to make sure your new space has a way to safety if there is a fire.

Fire separations and exits

Every room and apartment must have clear paths to the outside. These exits allow for a safe escape from the building during an emergency.

• Identify exits: ask the landlord or superintendent to point out all emergency exits.
• Converted houses: homes turned into apartments or rooming houses must have proper fire separations (walls or ceilings that slow the spread of fire) between units.
• Check compliance: confirm with the owner that the property meets all Building Code and Fire Code requirements.
• Check all windows and doors: ensure all windows and doors open fully and easily without sticking.

Security bars

Security bars on windows can prevent a safe escape during an emergency.

• Quick-release devices: landlords must ensure that all window security bars have a quick-opening device on the inside.
• Easy operation: these devices must allow the bars to be opened or removed quickly without the use of a key or special tool.

Alarms and escape plans

Early warning during a fire is the best way to stay safe. Students should talk to their building manager or landlord to understand the safety features of their home.

• Fire safety plans: large apartment buildings and school residences must have a written fire safety plan. Students should ask the building manager to explain these emergency steps.
• Know 2 ways out: identify 2 exits from every room, if possible. Typically, this is a door and a window. Make sure windows open easily and are not stuck.
• Clear the way: do not block exits with furniture. Keep hallways and stairways free of boxes or storage items.
• Get out and stay out: if an alarm sounds, leave the building immediately. Never go back inside for any reason. Call 9-1-1 from outside using a mobile phone.

General safety recommendations

Cooking

Cooking is the number one cause of home fires in Ontario. If the student housing or accommodation has cooking facilities, prevent cooking fires by:

• staying in the kitchen when something is cooking on the stove.
• keeping a pot lid near the stove to smother flames if a fire starts in a pot.
• keeping anything that burns such as pizza boxes, dish towels, paper towels, wooden or plastic spoons and potholders a safe distance away from the stove.

Candles

• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles.
• Use tea lights or votive candles in non-combustible containers as they are generally a safer choice than tapered candles.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Blow out all candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Place candles in a safe location and within a sturdy candle holder that will not burn or tip over.
• Keep candles at least 30 centimetres (12 inches) from anything that can burn.
• Avoid using candles in bedrooms.

Space heaters

The central heating systems in older accommodations are often used along with space heaters. To prevent heating fires:

• use portable space heaters with a recognized Canadian certification mark (i.e. ETL, ULC, CSA) for indoor use

• keep the space heater at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from anything that can burn, such as paper, bedding, furniture and curtains.
• turn off the space heater before going out or going to bed.
• never use space heaters powered by kerosene, propane or another fuel indoors. These heaters produce dangerous carbon monoxide gas.

Social gatherings

Parties are a part of student life. The consumption of alcohol combined with cooking or smoking can create a serious fire risk. To minimize fire risk:

• keep the party small.
• order in food instead of using the stove or oven.
• ensure smoke alarms are installed and working.
• know your fire escape plan.

Smoking

Fires caused by smoking are the number one cause of fatal fires. To prevent smoking fires:

• smoke outside.
• keep large, deep ashtrays on hand that will reduce the risk of ashes and cigarette butts falling onto rugs or upholstery.
• allow ashes and butts to cool completely before disposing.
• if someone smoked inside, check for cigarette butts and look under pillows and cushions because sofas and chairs can burn fast.

Electrical equipment

Student housing may be an older home that may not have upgraded wiring. Make sure:

• outlets in bathrooms or within 1 metre (3 feet) of the kitchen sink are the ground fault circuit interrupter type.
• there are enough outlets in a room to not need to use an extension cord.

Overloaded circuits and octopus wiring are dangerous electrical hazards that are avoidable. To prevent fires caused by electrical equipment:

• use power bars with a circuit breaker and surge protector to plug in computer equipment and electronics and make sure they have safety certification marks, such as ETL, ULC, CSA.
• avoid the use of extension cords as permanent wiring.
• make sure electrical cords are not concealed under carpets or rugs where they can be easily damaged.
• use multi-outlet power bars that are approved and provide surge protection with a circuit breaker, if extension cords are necessary.

For more information, contact the administration offices of the college or university, or call the local fire department to determine if the building has been inspected for Fire Code compliance.

Lithium-ion batteries

• Use approved equipment: use only the battery, cord, and charger provided by the manufacturer. Make sure they have safety certification marks, such as ETL, ULC, CSA.
• Charge on hard surfaces: place devices on flat, hard, non-flammable surfaces during charging. Do not charge devices on beds, couches or under pillows.
• Avoid overcharging: disconnect devices once the battery is full. Do not leave devices charging overnight or while the home is empty.
• Keep away from heat and cold: keep batteries away from direct sunlight, heat sources, anything that can catch fire and keep them from cold temperatures below 0ºC.
• Keep exits clear: do not charge e-scooters or e-bikes in hallways or near exit doors where they could block an escape route.