New Ontario fire code rules require carbon monoxide alarms on every floor

New rules set to come into effect in 2026 mean many Ontario homeowners and landlords will have to add carbon monoxide alarms to their New Year's to-do list.

Starting Jan. 1, changes to the Ontario Fire Code will require a working carbon monoxide alarm on every level of any residence with a gas-burning appliance, including a furnace, water heater or stove.

Under the current rules in place until the end of 2025, a carbon monoxide detector is required only outside every sleeping area.

Matt Hepditch, a deputy chief with London's fire department, said the new rules are intended to provide better protection against a deadly gas that can't be seen, smelled or tasted.

"The only way you're going to know that there's carbon monoxide in your home is if you've installed a carbon monoxide alarm," he said.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as natural gas, gasoline, oil, propane, wood or coal are burned. At high concentration levels, carbon monoxide reduces the body's ability to absorb oxygen, which can quickly affect brain and organ function and lead to death.

The danger is magnified when combustion gases are not properly vented to the outside.

People exposed to carbon monoxide often experience flu-like symptoms along with fatigue, shortness of breath and impaired motor functions.

Depending on the concentration, carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness quickly, and death can occur within minutes.

According to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, carbon monoxide poisoning causes, on average, more than 50 deaths a year in Canada. Most of the victims died while sleeping and nearly two-thirds of carbon monoxide poisonings happened during the colder seasons of fall and winter.

While a carbon monoxide detector is the best defence against accidental poisoning, Hepditch said it's common for London fire inspectors to find both carbon monoxide and smoke alarms not working correctly, or not installed at all.

"I would say we run into that on a daily basis, unfortunately," he said.

He said the holidays are a good time to test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Each alarm should be checked to ensure the batteries are still good. Models also have a set lifespan, and older models may need to be replaced, regardless of working condition.

"Fire does not take days off, fire doesn't recognize the holiday season or New Year's, so this is a good time to check that you've got those alarms in operating condition," he said. "Check them and test them before you start having people over."