Manitoba has implemented changes to the provincial building and fire codes as a result of recommendations from the Fire Safety Task Force.
“We need to ensure that vulnerable Manitobans have every level of protection we can offer,” Labour and Immigration Minister Erna Braun said. “Implementing these recommendations will strengthen the level of fire and life-safety protection in new and existing residential care facilities, personal care homes, hospitals and health centres.”
Formed in early 2014 following a tragic fire at a seniors’ residence in L’Isle-Verte, Que., the Fire Safety Task Force looked at a range of fire and life safety systems and activities. The review looked at fire protection and early warning systems, code enforcement and inspections as well as education and prevention. The task force included representatives from the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the Manitoba Building Standards Board, the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs, front-line fire services, regional health authorities and several Manitoba government departments.
The province has already begun or completed work on task force recommendations such as:
- requiring sprinklers in new residential care facilities for children and adults;
- requiring sprinklers in all existing treatment and care facilities;
- making additional training available to local authorities;
- ensuring local fire inspectors adopt a consistent approach to fire safety inspections;
- increasing public awareness about the importance of fire safety; and
- providing additional resources to the Office of the Fire Commissioner and local fire authorities to support fire protection planning, inspections and reporting.
The minister said changes to the Manitoba Fire Code will require automatic sprinkler systems to be installed in all hospitals, licensed personal care homes and residential care facilities in Manitoba by Jan. 1, 2026. Smaller residential care facilities of four clients or less may be exempt, depending on the results of a risk assessment, she added.
The minister said changes to the Manitoba Building Code will affect new construction, including existing buildings undergoing alteration or change of use, while changes to the Manitoba Fire Code affect new and existing buildings.
Almost 70 per cent of health-care and personal care home facilities in Manitoba already have full or partial sprinkler systems in place, and an additional 24 projects are currently underway, the minister said.
She noted the province has committed $7 million for sprinkler retrofits and other fire safety measures over the next year in hospitals and health facilities across the province. The projects include:
- sprinkler system installation at the Grandview Personal Care Home, Holy Family Nursing Home in Winnipeg, Lundar Personal Care Home, the Rock Lake District Personal Care Home in Pilot Mound;
- sprinklers and fire alarm connections at the Brandon Regional Health Centre;
- fire alarm system replacement at East Gate Lodge in Beausejour;
- sprinkler system upgrade at the Snow Lake Health Centre;
- fire protection upgrades and fire damper installation at St. Joseph’s Residence in Winnipeg;
- the second phase of a fire alarm system at Douglas Campbell Lodge in Portage la Prairie;
- fire alarm replacement at the Rock Lake Hospital in Crystal City; and
- fire dampers and motor replacement at the Beausejour Health Centre.
In addition, the minister said the province will be investing approximately $2 million to work with fire safety experts to assess 108 non-profit personal care homes and 76 hospitals and health centres in Manitoba to develop a 10-year plan for implementation. The review will determine if current systems provide appropriate protection and look at different options to guide future investments in fire safety and sprinkler systems, she noted.
Minister Braun said the Office of the Fire Commissioner will also take on a further review of fire and life-safety requirements for community living facilities and residential seniors homes not licensed as personal care homes.
