b'CERTI-FIRE Program Supports Fire PreventionCERTI-FIRE SANCTIONED BY THE ONTARIO FIRE MARSHALE butfirefightersarecriticaltotraining and certification sanctioned by theapproved by Certi-Fire with years of experi-Everyoneknows savinglivestheElectricalContractorsOntario Fire Marshal. ence and knowledge to share.Association of Ontario (ECAO) hopes it canThere are only two programs sanctioned byEach level is a mix of classroom time and help support their challenging job by ensur- the Ontario Fire Marshal - Certi-Fire is onehands-onshoptime,equaltoabout40 ingbuildingshaveproperlyinstalledandof them, says Fred Black, who manages thehours,Blackexplains.Thatsatotalof working fire alarm systems. program. They look at your course content160 hours.For the past 20 years, the ECAO and Inter- and your manual, and have to approve anyThereisalsoalevel5course,specifically national Brotherhood of Electrical Workerschanges you make. forrecertificationeveryfiveyears,which andtheConstructionCouncilofOntarioThis distinction is an asset to both electri- keeps the Certi-Fire electricians current with (IBEWCCO)hasofferedtheCerti-Firecians and the public. Its always beneficialchanges to the Code. This course also takes programtolicensedelectricians,providingtohavecertificationslikethis,becauseapproximately 40 hours.them with the certification to install, test,itdemonstratesyoureanexpertinyour and verify fire alarm systems. field,Blackexplains.OurelectriciansAnotherimportantpartofCerti-Fireis Certi-Fire - formerly known as the CertifiedwhocompleteCerti-Firehaveundergoneeducation for building owners and property FireAlarmElectricians(CFAE)programrigorous training, and must recertify everymanagers. Theres a lot of fire regulationswas started in the 1990s by a group offive years. This means they are continuouslyand practices for which building managers instructors from the International Brother- educatedonnewstandards,andhavetheand owners are responsible, Fred explains. hood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). skills necessary to not only install, but to testWe saw an opportunity to help them by WhentheECAObecameinvolved,theyand verify smoke alarms - one of the mostorganizingseminarsthatgooverthose wentthroughtheprocessofhavingtheimportantsystemsinabuilding.ECAOresponsibilities and what is required to keep program officially sanctioned by the Ontariocontractor members commit to having Certi- your building safe.Fire Marshal. Fire electricians performing work on the fireTofurtherpromotepublicsafety,the Expert Certification alarm systems. ECAO and IBEW recently partnered with In Ontario, any electrician with the properComprehensive Courses withtheOntarioAssociationofFireChiefsto licensing can install a fire alarm as long asKnowledgeable Instructors create a marketing campaign that focuses on the project is under a building permit as perThe program itself is split into four levels,preventing electrical fires and the importance the Ontario Building Code. Any project thatstartingwithanintroductioncourseandof working smoke alarms. To learn more and does not take place under a building permitworking up to the advanced course. Theseview videos visit poweringcommunities.camustbecompletedbyanelectricianwithcoursesaretaughtbyexpertelectriciansLearn more at www.certifire.org.www.ecao.org10'