Fire safety plan
Fire safety plans are binders that provides accurate and timely information about a building, business, site, or event and its fire safety systems, contents, and processes during an emergency. These binders are kept on site and stored within a Fire Safety Plan Box. Fire safety plans are a requirement of the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition) and they must be reviewed at least every 12 months to ensure that they take into account any changes in use or building characteristics.
If you are in a residential building with a common area and want to know if your building has a fire safety plan, please contact the building manager.
Submit a fire safety plan
If you need your fire safety plan accepted in writing, wish to have it reviewed, or it requires further input or corrections, you will need to submit it through the 311 process.
Who needs a fire safety plan?
The buildings and businesses that are required to participate in the fire safety plan program according to the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition) include:
- Buildings containing an assembly, care, treatment, or detention occupancy
- Buildings that require a fire alarm system according to the Alberta building Code
- Demolition and construction sites regulated under the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition)
- Indoor and outdoor storage areas regulated under the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition)
- Areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored or handled, including refineries and process plants
- Areas where hazardous processes or operations occur
Types of fire safety plans
Fire safety plans are required for a variety of buildings and circumstances. There may be additional requirements depending on which type of fire safety plan you need to make.
Fire safety plan process
The National Fire Code, Alberta edition states that fire safety plans must be prepared in cooperation with the fire department. The two instances where we must accept the fire safety plans in writing are:
- Construction, alteration, or demolition operations
- Hot works operations and hot surface applications
All other types of fire safety plans are not required to be accepted in writing but must be submitted to us for review.
Fees to review fire safety plans
Submitting a fire safety plan for review is subject to a fee. Fees will only be charged on the initial upload completed through 311 online. Fire Safety Plans that required additional input will not be charged additional fees. In addition, a fire safety codes officer can complete a fire warden lecture or fire drill for the same fee when required through 311.
Cost: $119 + GST
Creating fire safety plans
To help you create your Fire Safety Plan we supply each building and business with the following information and documents. This information should be stored in a binder labeled “Fire Safety Plan”.
For more information about developing a Fire Safety Plan, contact Fire Inspections and Investigations by calling 311 from within Calgary or at 403-268-2489 if calling from outside Calgary.
Training supervisory staff
Supervisory staff must be trained in fire emergency procedures before they are given responsibilities for fire safety. These training requirements must be met annually for most buildings and every six months for high buildings. Staff in Calgary schools attended by children must practice fire emergency procedures three times in the spring and three times in the fall.
Fire safety plan box
Fire safety plans must be stored within a metal box with a minimum size of 13” (33 cm) wide x 13” (33 cm) high x 4” (10cm) deep.
The box must be locked with a padlock that is non-reinforced and capable of being cut by bolt cutters. A spare lock should always be in the box. Building access keys can be stored in the box but only if there is 24/7 security nearby, otherwise access keys should be stored in an exterior key lockbox.
Fire Safety Plan Boxes should be surface mounted inside the building at a height where the top of the box is 1.5 to 1.8 metres from the floor level and located in clear view, within five metres of the main entrance.
In buildings considered High Buildings according to Subsection 3.2.6 of the Alberta Building Code, the Fire Safety Plan Box should be mounted in the central alarm control facility (Fire alarm panel room). The height mounting direction above still apply.
If your building doesn't have a central alarm control facility and has 24/7 security, the building fire safety plan box can be mounted at the security desk area at a height convenient for security personnel.