Common questions and direct access to help.

Fire safety is shared among the strata corporation, council, property management, Fire Safety Director, supervisory staff, contractors, owners, landlords and residents.

Each recurring task should have a clearly assigned person, completion date and written record. Council should understand who performs the work and how completion is verified.

Yes. A property manager may coordinate inspections, service, notices, records and emergency communication when those duties are included within the manager’s authority or contract.

Delegating work does not remove the need for council to fund, monitor and document the work. The management agreement should clearly identify who handles each responsibility.

Records may include the Fire Safety Plan, inspection and test reports, deficiency lists, repair invoices, work orders, retesting records, contractor correspondence, Fire Watch logs, notices, permits and council decisions.

The records should show not only that a problem was reported, but also what was done to correct and verify it.

Fire safety should be included as a recurring council responsibility rather than addressed only after an inspection or incident.

Council can briefly review upcoming inspections, open deficiencies, completed repairs, building changes and Fire Safety Plan updates during regular meetings.

A Fire Safety Plan is a building-specific document describing emergency procedures, responsibilities, fire-protection systems, maintenance arrangements and information needed by occupants and supervisory staff.

Visit the Richmond Fire-Rescue Fire Safety Plans page for submission and upload information.

Review the plan when responsible personnel, emergency contacts, installed systems, building layout, access arrangements or emergency procedures change.

Council should also confirm that the people named in the plan understand their assigned duties.

No. An inspection may identify failed equipment, inaccessible devices, recommended repairs or conditions requiring further investigation.

Council should keep each deficiency open until written confirmation shows that corrective work was completed and verified.

The report should identify the system and date of service, equipment inspected or tested, inaccessible equipment, deficiencies, recommended action and repairs completed during the visit.

Council should also know whether further testing, authorization or follow-up work remains outstanding.

Fire Watch may be required when normal building protection is reduced. Examples include impaired alarm systems, sprinkler or water supplies, emergency power, required exits, fire lanes or emergency access.

It may also be required for hot-work operations or other conditions that reduce the intended level of fire or life-safety protection.

The building owner or the owner’s designated representative is expected to initiate and maintain the Fire Watch in accordance with the applicable notice and procedures.

A Fire Watch log must be maintained at the building and made available to Richmond Fire-Rescue when requested.

The owner or the owner’s designated representative cancels the Fire Watch after the affected fire or life-safety system has been repaired and fully restored.

Richmond Fire-Rescue does not cancel the Fire Watch for the building. Required restoration documentation must be completed and submitted through the Fire Watch process.

No. Fire Watch is a temporary safety measure used while normal protection is reduced.

Qualified service should be arranged promptly, and the Fire Watch should remain in effect until the affected protection has been fully restored and the required process completed.

Work inside a unit may affect common fire-protection systems, rated walls, floors, ceilings, alarm devices, sprinkler piping, doors or concealed building spaces.

Council should understand the scope, required approvals, affected systems and who will restore and verify the work.

Some walls, floors and ceilings are fire separations intended to limit the movement of fire and smoke.

Openings created for cables, pipes, ducts or fixtures may need an appropriate firestop system and verification before the work is concealed.

Hot work includes activities such as welding, brazing, grinding and other processes that create sparks, hot particles, heat or another possible ignition source.

The area should be controlled before, during and after the work, with suitable extinguishing equipment and Fire Watch procedures where required.

Depending on the project, records may include permits, inspection results, testing documents, photographs, professional letters, firestop information and confirmation that affected fire-protection systems were restored.

Treat the alarm as real. Leave promptly, follow the building’s emergency procedures, use the stairs rather than the elevator and close doors behind you when possible.

Call 9-1-1 from a safe location outside and do not re-enter until emergency personnel say it is safe.

Responsibility may depend on the type of alarm, building design, strata bylaws, tenancy arrangement and whether the device is part of a shared building system.

Owners, landlords and tenants should clarify who tests, replaces and reports problems with each device.

Corridors, stairways and exit doors are part of the building’s emergency escape system and should remain clear.

Bicycles, scooters, furniture, boxes and other stored items should not obstruct a required exit route or fire door.

Call 9-1-1 for fire, smoke or an immediate threat. For a non-emergency building condition, contact the owner, landlord, property manager or strata council first.

An unresolved potential fire hazard can be submitted through the Richmond Fire-Rescue inspection and hazard-reporting page .