Safety Standards

Fire Safety Norms in Quebec

Fire safety regulations include several norms, codes and standards. Which of the following apply to your property?

In Quebec, the Code National de Prévention des Incendie (CNPI) requires that all fire protection equipment (sprinklers, fire alarm systems, portable extinguishers, automatic systems etc.) be inspected a minimum of once per year, based on regulations related to particular types of equipment.

Guide of the Inspection standards for fire protection equipment

  • The inspection of water-based fire protection mechanisms, such as sprinklers, is governed by regulation NFPA 25.
  • Fire alarm systems are verified in accordance with ULC-s536
  • NFPA 10 oversees the yearly certification of portable extinguishers, while fire hoses must undergo hydrostatic tests, in accordance with NFPA 1962.
  • Several different standards apply to automatic extinguisher systems, including NFPA 12 for CO2, NFPA 17 and 17a for commercial kitchens, NFPA 770 for hybrid water-gas systems, NFPA 2001 for clean agent systems, and many others.

Equipment manufacturers also provide regulations that our technicians must be familiar with during their inspections

Our approach in the case of reparation

Following the inspection, repairs are sometimes required, and our technicians thus refer themselves to installation standards of different types of systems in order to ensure the proper functioning of fire protection equipment:

  • National Building Code of Canada (NBC);
  • Building chapter from the Safety Code (BCSC);
  • ULC-s524 and ULC-s537 for fire safety alarms;
  • CSA B64.1 for backflow preventers;
  • NFPA 13 for sprinklers (also called automatic fire extinguisher system);
  • NFPA 14 for fire pipes;
  • NFPA 20 for fire pumps;
  • NFPA 170 for safety pictograms (firefighter connection);
  • NFPA 12(a), 17(a), 770, 2001, for extinguishing systems;
  • Standards of equipment manufacturers.

The city or the CNESST may also require certain modifications within your property’s fire protection system, given their authority over the fire safety of establishments within their jurisdiction.

For any further information, feel free to communicate with us at 514-277-2127. Our consultants will be happy to assist you.