Winter is here, and the cold winds of change are blowing. Many parts of the country have already gone through the adoption of new Building and Fire Codes over the last couple of years. The start of the new year will bring in these same changes for a large part of our population and industry workforce in Ontario.

Change can be hard. The changes to Building and Fire Codes also bring in new editions of the ULC fire alarm standards that we need to follow in our day-to-day work. These changes in the standards are extensive. There will be a learning curve for technicians, managers and support staff in adapting to the new requirements. The good news is that there are training and experience to lean on.

These Codes and Standards have already come into effect in other parts of the country. Most of the country West of Ontario has been adapting to the new requirements from as early as January 2024. The adoption of the 2019 edition of CAN/ULC-S536-19 and its subsequent revisions have probably been the most challenging. There are additional requirements for inspections such as circuit fault tolerance, new battery testing methods and standardized reporting that require some training and adaptation.

Looking at the bigger picture, the development and updating of our Codes and Standards is driven by the need to improve the life safety of buildings and the people in them across the country. Updates are based on several considerations including changes in building construction, past incidents and experience, changing technology and many other factors. Ultimately the goal, as it relates to our work, is to ensure that the occupants of these buildings are safe. As buildings and the systems in them have become more complex, so has the work of a fire alarm technician. The changes brought in by the new Codes and Standards bring with them a significant change in the day-to-day work of a fire alarm technician

The good news in all of this is that there is already a wealth of experience on how to adapt to these changes in the standards and the work they describe. Technicians that work for member companies with a national presence can hopefully lean on and learn from their peers. The experience gained across other parts of Canada has also helped the CFAA to put together training seminars on how to manage the changes. By the time this is published these seminars will be in progress and available to learn from. I would encourage anyone who’s work is impacted by the changes in the Codes and Standards to take the time to educate yourselves on the new requirements.

As I mentioned, change can be hard. Sometimes human nature prompts us to fight against it. But change comes whether we like it or not. We all need to consider the education required on these new requirements so we can follow them properly. When working in the life safety industry, it is critically important for us to do the right thing and be thorough in our work. Lives could depend on it. It may seem like an obvious point to make, but to do the right thing, you must know what the right thing is. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources available and the experience of others to learn and be prepared.

Change may not be easy, but it is coming. Embrace the challenge and be better for it.