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INFORMATION BULLETIN
2010HSD0031-000314 Ministry of Housing and Social Development
March 25, 2010
SMOKE ALARM RULES EXPANDED TO PROTECT OLDER BUILDINGS
VICTORIA —Changes to the BC Fire Code require that every private home and hotel or motel
room built before 1979 must have smoke alarms installed by May 1, 2010.
Owners of these older buildings can install battery-operated smoke alarms, rather than
connecting smoke alarms to the buildings' electrical system. Battery-operated smoke alarms are
an affordable way to improve safety.
Home owners affected should contact their municipality or fire department to bring thea•
buildings up to code by May 1, 2010. There are about 800,000 residential buildings in B.C.
constructed before 1979. Some of them may require smoke alarms.
Previously only buildings built after 1979 were required to have smoke alarms, and most
municipalities have established bylaws that require smoke alarms be installed and maintained.
The new law will increase public safety and awareness, helping to reduce the health risks and
property damage caused by fire in older buildings.
The Province developed the new smoke alarm regulations with advice from the Office of
the Fire Commissioner and the public. Changes will make the BC Fire Code more consistent
with the National Fire Code.
For more information: housin�gov.be.ca/building/consultation/smoke alarms/index.html
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Media Contact: Seumas Gordon
Senior Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Housing and Social
Development
250 387-6490
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province's news feeds using
RSS, visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca.