FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Ontario’s first accredited Fire Safety program

Ontario’s first Accredited Fire Safety Certification program launches  

to better protect the public and responding firefighters. 

Almost every building owner in Ontario is required to have a Fire Safety Plan, approved and implemented at their building.  Part of this implementation, required by the Ontario Fire Code, is that all “Supervisory” staff of that building be trained on how to implement the Fire Safety Plan, and understand their own roles and responsibilities under that plan – before being given any responsibilities at the building.   

Building owners and building staff, responsible for fire safety, must understand that their specific roles and responsibilities impact both occupant and firefighter safety.  This makes it essential that before firefighters arrive at your building, staff must have successfully implemented the Fire Safety Plan.  The most appropriate way to do this is through training of the specific roles and responsibilities that building supervisory staff fulfill, in adherence to the Fire Safety Plan.  Helping to meet this obligation, the new in persons and online fire safety training program launched by the National Life Safety Group (NLSG) is providing critical knowledge to ensure that both public and private organizations not only comply with the Fire Code, but truly understand their fire safety plan – so they can effectively implement it.

The new NLSG training program also provides a solution to the recent Raising the Alarm report by the City of Toronto’s Auditor General, which highlighted the need for industry recognized training aimed at building owners and staff to assist and support them in understanding their roles and responsibilities under the Fire Code. 

The new NLSG online training enables building owners, property managers, security personnel, concierge and fire wardens to complete their mandatory fire safety compliance courses, knowing it is the only Fire Safety Plan implementation course available in Canada, accredited by the Institution of Fire Engineers - Canada (IFE), an internationally recognized accrediting body, with membership around the globe. 

See the Training Program  60 second Explainer Video Here

“Implementing a  Fire Safety Plan – through training at your building is much more than a fire code requirement.  Your building occupant safety depends on it.  In fact, firefighters who will respond to your building also expect the Fire Safety Plan has been implemented.  Firefighters expect all systems functioning, tested and recently inspected when they arrive.  They also depend on knowledgeable building staff at times of emergencies” says Jason Reid, Senior Advisor of Fire & Emergency Management with NLSG, whose team of NFPA 1035 certified Fire & Life Safety Educators created the new online program. “Training has been highlighted as a consistent gap right here in Ontario for over 30 years”, says Reid.    

In a 1995 a Coroner's Inquest into the Forrest Laneway fire that resulted in multiple deaths, the Coroner recommended that the building owners have mandatory training to better understand their accountabilities. Specifically, the Inquest recommended to: "Develop a mandatory, certification training course for building supervisory staff which includes the following subjects:  

− the use of emergency voice communication systems (EVAC)  

− fire alarms systems  

− sprinkler systems  

− smoke control measures  

− emergency power  

− elevator operations and control  

− fire safety planning  

− maintenance of door closures  

− understanding / scheduling of maintenance as detailed in the Ontario Fire Code  

NLSG’s course delivers on this and more. 

The Fire Protection and Prevention Act states that “every person who contravenes any provision of the Fire Code and every director or officer of a corporation who knowingly concurs in such contravention is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $50,000 (first offence) and $100,000 (subsequent offence) for an individual or $500,000 (first offence) and $1,500,000 (subsequent offence) for a corporation or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or both”.

Matthew Williams, president and CEO of Pennine Security Solutions has nearly 200 security staff that help to manage high-rise buildings across the province and now insists that all of his employees complete the online NLSG Fire Safety program. “In my business, lives are at stake, and its our security guards at the controls of these life safety systems at 2:00 AM.  Sometimes a matter of inches and seconds, so I want my people trained to the highest standard in the industry. Firefighters need the support of trained security and building personnel, and with more high rises being built every year, fire alarms go off daily and they need this training to speed up response times and keep residents safe and secure. My staff appreciate that I am investing in them professionally, with measured and endorsed training”, says Matthew. 

With thousands of firefighters and 441 fire departments across Ontario risking their lives for public safety every day, completing the online or in person  training for residential or commercial buildings is a small but legally required step that every responsible property owner, property management team and employer must complete.   This new training program allows everyone with responsibilities included in Section 2.8 of the Ontario Fire Code, to fully understand their fire safety plan.       

“We are thrilled to be able to offer convenient, engaging and educational fire safety training for our employees and our business tenants,” says Charleen Wrobel, property manager at Polaris Realty who oversees safety for several multi-unit tenant buildings. “As a company we want to make sure we have done our due diligence and are prepared for an emergency.   Property managers should know that insurance providers all ask for proof of a proper fire plan and proof of fire training for staff, so it is both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do.  The property management industry sees quite a bit of turnover, so we want all of our staff cross-trained and up to speed on fire and life safety requirements. The NLSG program gives us this training, and we sleep better at night knowing it’s a legitimate and endorsed training program for our staff.” 

Companies interested in registering for the residential or commercial NLSG Fire Safety Plan Implementation training can simply visit nationallifesafetygroup.ca or call 1-877-751-0508 

About National Life Safety Group 

Based in Toronto, National Life Safety Group (NLSG) is a trusted fire & Emergency Management consulting firm for the public and private sectors. With a focus on integrating fire, safety, security, and emergency management for facilities throughout Canada and internationally.   

NLSG is recognized throughout Canada for innovative training that seamlessly integrates fire, safety, and security best-practices. Their work includes program development for critical high-risk buildings, commercial and residential high-rises, hospitals, stadiums, shopping centres, universities, medical and hazardous material facilities, restricted IT data centres, and manufacturing facilities. 

For more information or to schedule an interview about this new training program please contact: 

National Life Safety Group  

Toll Free: 1-877-751-0508 

Email:  solutions@nationallifesafetygroup.ca