Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Landlord/Tenant Responsibilities

Landlords must:

• Install carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with the Ontario Fire Code
• Maintain carbon monoxide alarms in operating condition
• Maintain primary and secondary power supplies that serve carbon monoxide alarms
• Provide the tenant a copy of the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions
• The same is true for smoke alarms

Tenants must:

• Not disable the carbon monoxide alarm
• Notify the landlord as soon as you are aware the carbon monoxide alarm in the unit is disconnected, not operating or the operation is impaired
• The same is true for smoke alarms

What do tenants do if the landlord does not provide working carbon monoxide alarms as required?

• Call 311 for a referral to Toronto Fire Services and a Fire Inspector will attend

The penalties for violating these requirements under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA) are:

• $50,000 and/or 1 year in jail for an individual
• $500,000 for a corporation

Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Your House

If your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage, you must have a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home. For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of the home according to manufacturer’s instructions. Fuel-burning appliances can include furnaces, hot water heaters, gas or wood fireplaces, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators, barbeques, stoves and vehicles.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Your Condo or Apartment

The Ontario Fire Code requires that in condo and apartment buildings with a service room, CO alarms must be installed in the service room and adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the service room. In condo or apartment buildings that have a garage, CO alarms must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area of all homes above, below and beside the garage.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

• CO is known as the silent killer because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly.
• CO is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, gas or wood fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbeques, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators and vehicles.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

Ensure all fuel-burning appliances in your home are inspected annually. Visit COSafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you.

• Check that all outside appliance vents are not blocked.
• Never use a portable fuel-burning appliance inside (i.e. barbeques, portable heaters and generators).

Know the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
• If your CO alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number from outside the building.
• If your CO alarm sounds, and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its “end-of-life” before calling 9-1-1.

Know the Sound of Your Carbon Monoxide Alarm

• Your CO alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
• Don’t be confused by the sound of your CO alarm’s low-battery warning. Follow your CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions so you know the difference between the low-battery warning, the “end-of-life” warning, and the alarm alerting you to the presence of CO in your home.