The Fire Code is a regulation made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 consisting of a set of minimum requirements respecting fire safety within and around existing buildings and facilities. The owner is responsible for complying with the Fire Code, except where otherwise specified. The municipal fire department enforces the Fire Code.

The Fire Code is broken into 3 Divisions.

Division A - This division explains the organization of the code, compliance with code requirements, exemptions, terms and abbreviations and referenced documents.  Compliance with code requirements is generally the responsibility of the owner and compliance does not relieve the owner from compliance with other applicable legislation and regulations.  Terms and Abbreviations are listed in section 1.4 of Division A.  It is important to understand the definition before applying the code requirements.  Division A also describes the objectives and functional statements in order to achieve solutions to fire code requirements.

Division B - This division explains the minimum acceptable solutions to achieve compliance with the Ontario Fire Code.  Division B is broken into 9 parts as listed below:

• Part 1 - Checking, Inspecting and Testing Requirements as well as a list of referenced documents.  Referenced documents include multiple documents from 15 standards organizations resulting in over 400 standard references.
• Part 2 - Fire Safety including fire separations, interior finishes, fire hazards, emergency planning and smoke and CO alarms to name a few of the areas covered.
• Part 3 - Outdoor and indoor storage requirements dealing with wood storage and tire storage to name a few of the areas covered.
• Part 4 - Flammable and Combustible Liquids - including types, quantities, storage requirements and locations to name a few of the areas covered.
• Part 5 - Hazardous Materials, Processes and Operations - including explosives and pyrotechnics, compressed gas cylinders, spray operations, industrial operations and hot works to name a few of the areas covered.
• Part 6 - Fire Protection Equipment - including portable extinguishers, alarms, sprinkler systems, water protection and emergency power systems.
• Part 7 - Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Fire Emergency Systems in High Buildings - Based on definition of high buildings in the Ontario Building Code (Article 3.2.6.1)
• Part 8 - Demolition - Requirements on maintaining fire safety on a demolition site.
• Part 9 - Retrofit - includes updating various occupancy types to bring them up to newer Building Code Requirements - Includes assembly, multi residential, health care, care, hotels as well as rooming boarding and lodging occupancies.

Division C - This division explains the administrative provisions such as Chief Fire Official requirements and qualifications of persons performing work on Fire Alarm Systems.

As the Ontario Building Code is a sister document to the Ontario Fire Code the owner may be required to obtain a building permit to complete the work necessary to be in compliance with the inspection requirements.  Simply contacting the Building Department will help the process along.  In addition to Building Code requirements you may need to ensure compliance with the zoning bylaw.  Again, simply contacting the Zoning Department will help the process along.  

The Office of the Fire Marshal publishes Technical Guidelines the provide further definition to the Ontario Fire Code requirements.  The Technical Guidelines cover a variety of fire related topics and occupancies.