NEW CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM REQUIREMENTS

Where Do the New Requirements Apply?
The updated requirements apply to all existing homes that have any of the following:

• A fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace, water heater, or stove that uses natural gas, propane, oil, or wood).
• A fireplace. An attached garage.
• Effective Jan 1, 2026: Air for heating that comes from a fuel-burning appliance not contained within the home (e.g., an appliance in a utility shed). 

Common types of homes include:
• Detached or Semi-Detached Houses    • Townhouses     • Cottages

Where Must CO Alarms Be Installed?
If your home meets any of the conditions above, you must install a CO alarm in these two
locations:

• Adjacent to each sleeping area (near all bedrooms).
• Effective Jan 1, 2026: On every storey (floor) of your home, including storeys that do\not have a sleeping area.

Who is Responsible for Compliance?

• In Owner-Occupied homes, the Homeowner is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code.
• In Rental Homes, the Landlord is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code.

Where Do the New Requirements Apply?
The updated requirements apply to all existing buildings that contain multiple residential
units or suites. This includes but is not limited to:

• Apartment Buildings
• Condominium Buildings                                                   
• Houses with Two or More Units (e.g., Duplexes)                       
• Retirement Homes
• Boarding, Lodging, or Rooming House
• Hotels, Motels, etc

Where Must CO Alarms Be Installed?
Installation is required in several areas in the building:

Inside Individual Suites (Residential Units) 

A CO alarm must be installed in a suite if any of the following conditions apply:

• The suite itself contains a fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace or water heater) or a fireplace.                                                   
• The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a service room that has a fuel - burning appliance.                                 
• The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a garage.
• Effective Jan 1, 2026: The suite is heated by air coming from a fuel-burning appliance that is not contained within the suite (e.g., heat from a furnace in a central service room).

Placement within the suite:

• Adjacent to each sleeping area (e.g.: near all bedrooms).
• Effective Jan 1, 2026: On every storey (floor) of the suite, including storeys that do not have a sleeping area.

Service Rooms and Common Areas of the Building

• A CO alarm must be installed in each service room or area of the building that contains a fuel-burning appliance.
• Effective Jan 1, 2026: CO alarms must be installed in public corridors serving the residential suites, if those corridors are heated by air from a fuel-burning appliance.

Who is Responsible for Compliance?

• Owners are responsible for complying with
  the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code
• In Rental Homes, the Landlord is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code.

Where Do the New Requirements Apply?
The new requirements apply to buildings that contain Care Occupancies as defined in the Fire Code. These are facilities for residents who require special care and need assistance to evacuate in an emergency.

These facilities include, but are not limited to:

• Convalescent Homes
• Residential Care Facilities                                                         
• Certain Group Homes
• And similar types of buildings.

Where Must CO Alarms Be Installed?

CO alarms will be mandatory in both the individual resident suites and common areas of the building.

Inside Individual Care Occupancy Suites

A CO alarm must be installed in a resident suite if any of the following conditions apply:

• The suite itself contains a fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace or water heater) or a fireplace.
• The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a service room.
• The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a garage.
• The suite is heated by air coming from a fuel-burning appliance that is not contained within the suite (e.g., heat from a furnace in a central service room).

Placement within the suite:

• Adjacent to each sleeping area (e.g.: near all bedrooms).
• On every storey (floor) of the suite, including storeys that do not have a sleeping area.

Service Rooms and Common Areas of the Building

• A CO alarm must be installed in each service room or area of the building that contains a fuel-burning appliance.

Buying

CO alarms should have the logo of a recognized standards testing agency to ensure they meet Canadian performance standards. Some examples of recognized standards testing agencies and their logos include:

• Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
• Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
• Intertek (ETL)

Under the Fire Code, carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be:

• Hardwired (connected directly to an electrical system).
• Battery-operated (portable or permanently mounted).
• Plug-in devices (plugs into a standard electrical outlet).
• Many devices on the market are combined units that include both a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm in one device.

Installing

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and placement of CO alarms.