Revisions to the Fire Safety Regulations

Jan 15, 2020 12:00 AM

Good morning everyone;

PDF Available here

 Please be advised that effective January 14, 2020 by Order of Council, the Nova Scotia Fire Safety Regulations have been revised to include Revisions and Errata to the 2015 National Fire Code of Canada along with a few minor housekeeping items.  As it will take time before the regulations are consolidated and published I have attached the changes, as they will be consolidated in the regulations for your convenience.  Once the updates are consolidated they will be located here:  https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/fsfiresf.htm

Also, the following is a summary of the changes:

  • Adoption of the National Research Council Revisions and Errata to the National Fire Code 2015, found here:    https://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/doc/solutions-solutions/advisory-consultatifs/codes_centre-centre_codes/revisions_errata-revisions_errata/2015_nfc_revisions_errata_september2018.pdf
  • Changing the name Nova Scotia School Board Association (no longer in existence) in the list of members on the Fire Safety Advisory Council to Education Common Service Bureau.
  • Updated to include references to B3 (Care Occupancy) and B2 (Treatment Occupancy) in four locations.  This change should have been made when the 2010 Code was adopted and the new occupancy B3 was introduced into the codes but was overlooked.
  • In order to allow the insurance industry flexibility to formulate their own Insurance Industry Fire Reports templates (rather than the forms contained in the regulations or using QuattroPro), wording has been changed to ensure that all the information required by the Office of the Fire Marshal is contained in the reports when reporting preliminary insurance reports and final insurance reports.
  • To be consistent with the National Fire Code, Section 30 is changed from Net Occupant Load to Occupant Load.
  • The OFM issue licenses to qualified applicants engaged in the business of servicing portable fire extinguishers.  Clarity has been provided in Section 19 to reflect the current process and practice already in place.
  • The following reference documents have been updated to more recent editions to ensure consistency with the Fire Code and industry standards:
  • CAN/ULC-S109 “Standard Method for Flame Tests of Flame-Resistant Fabrics and Films” from the 2003 Edition to the 2014 Edition.
  • Display Fireworks Manual to Display Fireworks Manual, 2010 Edition.
  • Pyrotechnics Special Effects Manual to Special Effects Pyrotechnics Manual, Edition 3, 2014.
  • An explanatory note to an Appendix at the end of Part 8:   “ 8.1.1.1.(1) Part 8 is intended to provide a guide to the minimum level of life safety in boarding, lodging, rooming and private rest homes that were occupied as such prior to the enforcement of the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations or a Municipal Building By-Law.  The Authority Having Jurisdiction may use this Part when it is their opinion that the level of life safety will be achieved through its application in such buildings.  It is not intended to be used as a substitute for the Code if one was in force at the time the building was occupied for the use.  Alterations to these buildings are expected to meet the Code of the day.”

Sincerely,

Lorelei Atkinson, CBO-II, CFI-I

Fire Code Coordinator/Plans Examiner

Department of Municipal Affairs & Housing

Office of the Fire Marshal

Building Fire and Safety

10 Starrs Road, Yarmouth, NS, B5A 2T1

T 902-749-2425

C 902-774-1955
F 902-742-4628

 

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