Fire Fees Bylaw

1
Fire Fees Bylaw

• Steve Dongworth
• Deputy Chief
• Calgary Fire Department

2
What will we be charging for?

• Repeated, preventable nuisance alarms
• No charge for first two nuisance alarms
• 250 for third and fourth
• 500 for fifth and beyond
• 500 for security signals routed to FD

3
Rebate Program

• Rebate available of up to 50 of fees paid in any
  calendar year
• Need receipt of proof that investment has been
  made in system that will reduce likelihood of
  future nuisance alarms

4
Why charge?

• Public and Firefighter Safety
• Resources tied up needlessly
• Complacency in buildings
• Loss to business
• Demoralizing effect on firefighters
• Unnecessary wear and tear, fuel and other vehicle
  costs

5
Why charge?

• UK Experience
• 2.5 billion CDN annual losses to industry from
  disruptions caused by false alarms
• Alarm industry estimate that 90 of systems give
  little, or no, problems. Remaining 10 create
  majority of unwanted signals
• Reducing False Alarms by HM Fire Inspectorate
  March 2001

6
How big is the problem?

• Upwards of 1300 repeat, preventable false alarms
  October 2000 to September 2001 in Calgary
• Two sites with around 100 each
• Over 60 sites with over 10 each

7
Examples of Nuisance Alarms

• Construction
• Soldering
• Dust
• Spray Painting
• Working on system while online
• Fire Drills without notifying FD
• Burnt toast

8
How to reduce Nuisance Alarms

• Management Plan
• Regular Maintenance/Testing
• Training/Supervising
• Building Staff
• Operators
• Cleaning
• Security
• Contractors
• Tenants

9
How to reduce Nuisance Alarms

• Management Plan (cont.)
• Hot Works Control
• Relocating detectors or switching types
• Control of portable cooking devices
• Clause in Tenant and Contractor contracts making
  them responsible for fees for alarms that they
  cause