Ontario Fire Code 2026: What Property Managers Need to Know

What changed in the Ontario Fire Code on January 1, 2026?

The Province of Ontario passed O. Reg. 87/25, which amends the Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07). The amendments took effect January 1, 2026. The major changes:

• Mandatory adoption of CAN/ULC-S536:2019. All commercial fire alarm inspections must now follow the 2019 version of the Canadian standard. Earlier versions are no longer the operative standard for new inspections.
• Mandatory adoption of CAN/ULC-S537:2019. Fire alarm system verifications must follow the 2019 version of the verification standard.
• Tightened documentation requirements. Inspection reports must include specific data points, formatting, and deficiency classifications. Reports filed in older formats are no longer compliant.
• Clarified property-owner accountability. The building owner is accountable for tracking deficiencies, scheduling remediation, and maintaining records. Property managers acting on behalf of ownership share this accountability.

The change is primarily about reporting standards and documentation. Most existing fire alarm systems remain in service. New systems installed or substantially modified after January 1, 2026 must be verified to CAN/ULC-S537:2019, and all systems must be inspected annually to CAN/ULC-S536:2019.

Why did the Ontario Fire Code change?

The previous fire alarm inspection standard, CAN/ULC-S536:2013, was over a decade old. During that time fire alarm technology evolved toward more sophisticated addressable systems, voice evacuation, and network-based monitoring; reporting practices fragmented across vendors; AHJs struggled to consistently evaluate compliance because reports varied so much in format and detail; and property owners faced uncertainty about what counted as compliant inspection. CAN/ULC-S536:2019 modernized the standard, and the Ontario Fire Code amendment makes the 2019 version mandatory rather than optional. The intent is clearer documentation, easier AHJ review, and better property-owner visibility.

What CAN/ULC-S536:2019 actually requires

The standard covers inspection frequency (annual inspections by a CFAA-certified technician, monthly checks by building staff, daily visual confirmation of control panel status), test scope (100% device testing during the annual inspection, with no sampling), documentation format (device-by-device records, deficiency classifications, technician credentials, monitoring station verification, AHJ submission confirmation), deficiency classification (critical versus non-critical, with specific definitions), reporting timelines, and record retention (reports kept on-site for at least two years).

What should property managers do now?

The practical action items, in order:

1. Confirm your inspection vendor is using CAN/ULC-S536:2019 format. Ask directly whether the annual fire alarm inspection report is filed in CAN/ULC-S536:2019 format. The answer should be yes, with no qualifications.
2. Confirm monthly building staff checks are documented. The standard requires monthly checks recorded in a logbook or digital tracking system. AHJ inspectors can ask for this documentation.
3. Confirm deficiency tracking is current. Open deficiencies older than 12 months without documented remediation effort can trigger fire code violations.
4. Confirm verification documentation exists if your fire alarm system was newly installed or substantially modified.
5. Schedule a compliance review if you are not certain. A vendor can perform a compliance review, often free for prospective customers, to identify any gaps.

What about my older fire alarm panel?

Most existing fire alarm panels can be inspected under CAN/ULC-S536:2019 without replacement, since the standard is about inspection methodology, not equipment specifications. However, aging panels, typically those installed more than 15 to 20 years ago, may have reduced parts availability, increased risk of nuisance trouble signals, and limited expansion capability. Annual inspections that flag aging panels usually include capital reserve planning recommendations even though the system is still serviceable. Panel replacement becomes mandatory only when the system can no longer be inspected against the standard, parts are no longer available, the system has been modified beyond its original capacity, or the AHJ issues a directive.

What about CO detector requirements?

A separate but related Ontario Fire Code amendment addressed carbon monoxide detector requirements, effective the same date. The amendment expanded CO detector requirements for buildings with fuel-burning appliances and attached garages. Property managers should confirm CO detector coverage meets the updated requirements in addition to the fire alarm standards work.

References

This article references O. Reg. 87/25 (amending O. Reg. 213/07, the Ontario Fire Code), CAN/ULC-S536:2019 (Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems), CAN/ULC-S537:2019 (Verification of Fire Alarm Systems), Office of the Fire Marshal advisories on the 2026 amendments, and NFPA 72. The consolidated Ontario Fire Code and the O. Reg. 87/25 amendment are available on ontario.ca.