Egress and fire safety items on a Property Standards Order

What your order probably says

Orders cite the section of the by-law, describe the location, and set out a remedy. Two orders that look similar can require different work, which is why the first thing we do is transcribe yours item by item rather than assume.

What the Code appears to require

These items sit at the intersection of the property standards by-law, the Building Code and the Fire Code, and they are the ones most likely to attract a short compliance date or a follow-up inspection. Alarm work rarely needs a permit; egress and fire separation work usually does.

• Means of egress unobstructed and meeting the required minimum width.
• Sufficient exits for each dwelling unit.
• Fire separations between units intact, with penetrations properly sealed.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed where required and in operating condition.

If your order includes an egress or fire separation item, tell us on the first call. It changes the order in which everything else gets scheduled.

We say “appears to require” deliberately. Only the Chief Building Official can confirm what applies to your building, and only your property standards officer can close the order. We confirm both in writing before anything is priced or built.

What the fix involves

• Confirming with the building department exactly which items need a permit and which inspections apply.
• Scoping the work with the fire separation rating in mind, not just the visible damage.
• Coordinating any electrical or trade work required for alarms and interconnection.
• Carrying out the work and booking inspections in the right sequence.
• Documenting each item, since these are the ones an officer is most likely to re-inspect.

What drives the price

• Whether egress work is structural — an enlarged opening is a different job from a cleared path.
• The rating and extent of any fire separation that has to be restored.
• Number of units and alarms, and whether interconnection is required.
• Electrical work and whether a licensed trade is needed.
• Tenant access scheduling across multiple occupied units.

We don't publish prices for this work, because a number that hasn't survived plan review isn't a quote. The site visit and the written quote are both free, and the quote maps every order item to the fix and the price.

Other items on your order