Office of the Fire Marshal Plan Review and Approval Program
| OCCUPANCY | OFM APPROVAL REQUIRED |
|---|---|
| Schools | All projects involving elementary and secondary schools operated by public and separate school boards including portables with shared exit facilities (see notes No. 1, and No. 2 and No. 3 below) |
| Colleges and Universities | All projects involving college and university facilities (see notes No. 1, and No. 2 and No. 3 below) |
| Hospitals | All projects in public and private hospitals including Children's Treatment Centres, Detox Centres, but excluding Community Health Units (see note No. 2 and No. 3 below) |
| Long Term Care Homes | All projects in Long Term Care Homes, Nursing Homes and Homes for the Aged licensed by the province (see note No. 2 below) |
| Social Services Buildings | On request from the Ministry of Community and Social Services and Ministry of Children and Youth Services for projects involving Adult Facilities, Children's Facilities and Rehabilitation Workshops |
| Government Buildings | On specific request from the Ministry of Government Services for government owned or operated buildings such as Psychiatric Hospitals, Correctional Facilities, Court Houses, etc. |
1. Exemptions for Schools, Colleges and Universities in Designated Municipalities
Drawings for new, stand-alone
buildings in designated municipalities need not be submitted
to the OFM, however, staff are available for consultation respecting
fire safety issues on all projects.
Projects involving additions or renovations to
existing buildings in designated
municipalities require submission for a conceptual review by
the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM). Final approval is
not required.
Designated municipalities for schools,
colleges and universities are municipalities with a population
base exceeding 50,000 persons. The following is a list
of those municipalities, but may not be fully inclusive:
| Ajax | London | St. Catharines |
| Aurora | Markham | Sarnia |
| Barrie | Mississauga | Sault Ste Marie |
| Brampton | Newmarket | Stoney Creek |
| Brantford | Niagara Falls | (Greater) Sudbury |
| Burlington | Norfolk County | Thunder Bay |
| Cambridge | North Bay | Timmins |
| Chatham-Kent | Oakville | Toronto |
| Clarington | Oshawa | Vaughan |
| Guelph | Ottawa | Waterloo |
| Halton Hills | Peterborough | Welland |
| Hamilton | Pickering | Whitby |
| Kingston | Richmond Hill | Windsor |
| Kitchener |
2. Exemptions for Minor Renovation Projects
The following projects do not require OFM approval and do not need to be submitted to our office:
| asbestos removal | boiler/furnace replacement |
| ceiling replacement | barrier-free provisions (except elevators and exit stairs) |
| re-roofing | mechanical systems upgrading |
| window replacement | lighting systems |
A guideline relating to fire safety issues for these projects is available from the OFM.
3. Applicable law
Review by the OFM is not considered as applicable law under the Building Code Act and is not required for issuance of a building permit.
Revised: June 23, 2010
