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Comments on Codes

The National Model Building and Fire Codes are of great importance to the fire service. They effect the safety of our communities and firefighters.  
 
We have a good codes system in Canada. However, it is a complex system. Over the past few years, the CAFC has become more versed in how to work with the Canadian Council on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC). We appreciate this learning and opportunity. As part of this:

• The CAFC President, Chief John McKearney and the CAFC Chair of the Fire Prevention Committee, Chief Chantal Bibeau have seats at the CCBFC. CAFC Past president Chief Ken Block and past Chair of the Building Codes Committee, Chief Gaetan Morinville, have also had same.   

• We have an active building codes committee. You can meet them here. CAFC positions are also always discussed with the National Advisory Council, who you can meet here, so that we can ensure all provinces and territories are apprised and on board.
  

• We also partake on various CCBFC committees and send observers when possible.
  

• Ret. Chief Sean Tracey who co-Chairs our Building Codes Committee, sits on the Joint Floor Assembly task group and;
• Ret. Commissioner Kevan Jess, who is CAFC’s Subject Matter and Technical Coordinator for Building Codes, sits on a committee reviewing proposals for Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction.
• As we build more resource, we would like to partake more actively on all CCBFC Committees.  
   

• CAFC also produces articles and a series called “Comments on Codes”  that allow us to communicate key issues. The issues addressed to date have included the following:

• Advancing the Responsible Introduction of Innovation: Currently, innovations in any material or construction can be introduced into the code without due consideration to whether or not firefighters are trained and equipped for response. This translates into firefighters finding out on the scene when innovation goes wrong or when the inevitable fire, flood, or evacuation need arises. Remember that 85% of the country’s fire service is volunteer and is raising money for gear. It would be problematic to assume that there is funding for training and equipment every time a code change comes out. Read more
  

• Tall Wood Buildings: This is especially pertinent in new wood materials where Canada is becoming a world leader. What is missing here is that cities like Vancouver and Toronto have fire protection engineers that spend years preparing teams and scenarios. A firefighter safety objective would require the codes process to consider the responsible introduction of innovation. Read more
  

• Ensuring a balance between economic interests and safety needs: We recognize and support the success and needs of Canada’s industries. A strong economy is often associated with safety. However, in the Codes process, which expects stakeholders to present research grade evidence, industries with R&D budgets, do much better than the fire service can when it comes to commissioning research. This can be rectified with a firefighter safety objective in the code, putting the onus on industry to demonstrate firefighter safety, rather than the safety sector to refute industry’s significant lobby. Read more
  

• Sprinklers for eliminating fire related deaths in new residential construction: In parts of the country, such as Vancouver, where Sprinklers have been introduced, we have all but eliminated deaths in new residential constructions. A firefighter safety objective in the code, would turn sprinklers from a perceived cost to a cost effective solution. It would also likely make deaths in new residential construction, a thing of the past in all parts of the country. Read more (forthcoming)
  
  
• Reducing the number of presumptive illness cases in firefighters: Canada spends a great deal of compensation for presumptive illness in firefighters due to cancer, respiratory diseases and post-traumatic stress injuries among others. A firefighter safety objective in the code would reduce these costs by offering better consideration to exposures from items relevant to the building codes. Read more (forthcoming)

• Radio coverage within buildings: The inclusion of a firefighter safety objective in the codes would also ensure that changes in technologies, which impact the ability of firefighters (and other emergency responders) to communicate and function safely within buildings during response, are considered during the code development process, in the same manner other tools like standpipe/hose systems, and fire alarm notifications to the fire department currently are considered. Specifically the introduction of new public safety radio frequencies has created a situation where radio equipment operation (signal penetration) is impeded by building size and construction type, and where firefighters are unable to communicate within or to the exterior of the building, putting emergency operations and the safety of occupants and responders at additional risk. Read more

• We participate actively in the public review of code change proposals. You can find our comments over the year here.

• Finally, the CAFC is very appreciative that the Minister’s Mandate letter includes a commitment to a firefighter safety objective in the new code and clarification that firefighter safety is included in the safety of occupants. We hope this will translate effectively on the issues above.