National Fire Code of Canada 2014: Guidelines for Fire Safety in Buildings

The National Fire Code of Canada 2014 provides guidelines for ensuring fire safety in buildings during construction, maintenance, and demolition. This code covers features used for fire protection and safety that should be installed in a building/s during construction. The required codes and standards include guidelines for housekeeping, electricity installation, access to buildings by the fire department, fire alarm systems, and more.

Introduction
The National Fire code of Canada(NFCC) 2014, is an objective based document which can be used
by both the provincial government and the territorial government
The Alberta Fire Code contains provisions that deal with the safety of persons in buildings in the
event of a fire and the protection of buildings from the effects of fire
This code is applied during the usage or maintenance of features that are related to fire in buildings
This code also covers features used for fire protection and safety that should be installed in a
building/s during construction (http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/1840)

Reasons for its creation
Ensure fire safety at construction and demolition sites
Enhance establishment of fire safety plans
Provide a limit on the amount of potential hazard materials inside/outside a building
Provide guidelines during maintenance works
Ensure that the safety and protection features against fire in a building(s) are put
into practical use

Required codes/standards
Housekeeping and store of materials
Rooms such as the furnace,mechanical and electricity must not be used for storing of any sort of
materials to prevent the occurrence of any hazard
Electricity installation
Installation of electricity and maintenance should be done in such a way as not to pose a fire risk
Doors leading to the outside
Adequate visibility on doors opening to the outside and with no accumulation of stored materials.
They should be easy to open(AFC 2.4.1.1)
Access of the building by the department of fire
Buildings are required to install a key box from the department of fire (AFC 2.5.1.5)

Required codes/standards
Guidelines on systems used for cooking commercially
An extinguisher labeled as of class ‘k’ should be placed near a deep fryer
The exhaust of a cooking system should be cleaned semi-annually by a satified company and their
filters thoroughly cleaned
Presence of extinguishers to put out fire
They should be placed accordingly as stipulated in the code i.e. whether it’s a high risk area such as
garages or a low risk area such as offices
As per the code,25meters should be the max. distance of travel to the extinguisher
System alarm incase of fire
A competent and qualified personnel from the alarm company should annually maintain,inspect and
test the alarm system

Required codes/standards
Lights and signs showing the exit
These signs should always glow and the lights on if the building is under
occupancy(AFC 2.7.3.1)
Lights incase of an emergency
These lights should be placed at the required/appropriate position as per the code
and be thoroughly maintained and tested every year(AFC 2.7.1.3)
Fire alarm system
They must be maintained in an operable condition at all times(AFC 6.3.1.1)

Required codes/standards
Accessibility by the department of fire
The access roads and laneways should always be maintained and free for access
Training of site personnel on evacuation procedure
Development location/address
The visibility and clarity of the address or location of the building should be
adequate
A minimum of 20cm should be used as the font size

Enforcing agencies
Regional Emergency Services personnel
Fire Prevention Branch
Permitting requirements
Provision of alarms in case of fire
Enough sprinklers to counter fire
Exits
Adequate extinguishers
Spray
Tent

Inspection requirements
Clear paths of egress
Emergency exit lights
Fire extinguishers
Fire alarm panels
Fire sprinklers
Proper storage of combustible liquids
Maximum occupancy limits
REFERENCES
1. Council, N. R. (2014, March Friday). Alberta Fire Codes. Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
2. Council, N. R. (2019, March Friday). Alberta. Retrieved from Municipal affairs:
http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/1840