The Ontario Construction Report – March 2009 – PAGE OCR 3
Fire sprinkler debate continues after fire
kills two in Orillia retirement home
The Ontario building code was recently pressure could be an issue if the building is new construction – retrofitting is a much big-
SANDRA KING
– The OCR Construction Report
amended again, making it mandatory that, as serviced by a well, or cistern.” ger issue, but we would be pleased with any
of 2010, any residential building three Muskoka Heights Retirement Residence retrofit schedule that was feasible. Ontario is
A fire at the Muskoka Heights Retirement storeys and above, should have sprinklers. was over 50 years old, did not have a fire behind the times when it comes to the rest of
Residence in Orillia killed two seniors and However this legislation doesn’t apply to suppression sprinkler system, nor is it re- Canada. Vancouver’s had mandatory resi-
sent eight to hospital with critical injuries on houses, smaller apartment buildings, or res- quired to according to the Act. Smoke alarms dential sprinklers since the ‘90s, and they
January 19, 2009. This recent tragic fire has idential-care facilities. For these structures, in this case were not enough. haven’t had a fire death since.”
renewed the ongoing debate as to whether or hard-wired smoke alarms are all that’s re- “The smoke alarm is a great first step. In residential applications, often water
not fire suppression sprinklers should be quired. Fire suppression sprinklers need to be the damage is cited as a con when it comes to
made mandatory in all nursing and retire- “The building code is the minimum stan- second step in comprehensive fire safety sprinklers.
ment homes as well as all residential homes. dard and we don’t think that the sprinklers plans,” said Richard Boyes, president of the “People need to educate themselves and
Ontario amended the provincial building are the minimum standard for fire safety,” Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. “People, expel these myths,” said Boyes.
code, which governs new construction, to in- said Dave Henderson, the Ontario Home especially children and the elderly, can sleep Only one or two sprinkler heads would
clude mandatory sprinklers in residential Builders’ Association’s (OHBA) director of through smoke alarms. In nursing homes, activate, when sensing heat, to suppress the
care facilities after the 1995 fire at the Mead- industry relations. people are not going to be moving quickly, fire, he said. If this was not enough, then an-
owcroft Retirement Home in Mississauga, Henderson stated that problems could or at all. These people need this level of pro- other set would respond. Only a small frac-
which killed eight residents. A coroner’s in- arise in certain situations if they were made tection.” tion of water would be used as compared to
quest at the time recommended that all ex- mandatory throughout the entire province, Boyes continued to explain that it is the the amount needed by firefighters. Not only
isting nursing homes should be retrofitted not just in urban centres. smoke from the contents of the rooms that is is a greater amount of water used, but the fire
with fire suppression sprinklers as well, but “They could be unpredictable in rural ap- highly toxic and it is the smoke that kills would have had more time to spread.
it is now 14 years later and the province has- plications unless there was already signifi- people. Boyes likened fire sprinklers to air bags
n’t acted on the second recommendation yet. cant infrastructure already in place – water Boyes stated that a Calgary builder is in- in cars, “When air bags first came out, they
stalling residential fire suppression sprin- were considered to be too expensive, now
Publisher’s
klers in all of his homes in a rural area and they are used everywhere. How many people
selling it as a safety feature. need to die before we start doing the right
viewpoint
“It is much easier to install sprinklers in thing?”
By Mark Buckshon, Publisher, Construction News and Report Group of Companies
Relationships, resources and marketing:
How you can connect with associations and groups
When times are good – either for the How do you achieve these results? I’ve
overall economy, your business, or both – found by far the most effective route is to
you don’t have to work too hard for your connect with associations or groups repre-
business. Clients are calling you, there is senting the interests of your current and
more than enough business for everyone potential clients, and give your heart, soul
in the marketplace, and you can focus on and spirit to the groups. (You can give
your trade or profession and (maybe) solve your money as well, but you don’t need to
labour shortage issues. spend much if any cash here to succeed.)
When times are tough, even the sim- After a while, your generosity will be
plest processes seem to be much more dif- recognized by the groups’ leaders – and
ficult. You are running low on work, and their influence is strong among the mem-
new business isn’t flowing as you wish. bers-at-large. With the buy-in at this level,
So you decide you need to reach out and you will find you’re tipped off about proj-
promote your business, to advertise or re- ects. Where bidding opportunities must be
view leads service reports for whatever competitive, you find you end up with the
opportunities arise. You spend time, subjective edge in the selection process.
money and energy – but find you have Remember, from a marketing perspec-
even more competition, and even less tive, your contributions should be to the
chance of success. groups you wish to market to, more than
We certainly cannot change the exter- your own trade group or organization
nal economic environment (if we had that (though of course participation and sup-
kind of power, we wouldn’t be writing or port of your own industry or trade can be
reading articles like this), but we can take healthy and rewarding for you and your
some measures to create an effective business.) If you are wondering which
“good times” mentality in your marketing, groups to join, take your best clients for
even though things are less-than-perfect coffee or lunch, and ask them which
out there. groups they respect within their industry.
To achieve great results, you need to They may provide introductions to you to
appreciate that it isn’t what you take, but help speed up your acceptance among
what you give, that counts; and your ob- their peers.
jective should be to forge and develop re- Mark Buckshon is president of the
lationships so that your personal and Construction News and Report Group of
business reputation are so strong that po- Companies. He publishes a daily blog at
tential clients call you without worrying http://www.constructionmarketingideas.bl
about the price or competition. The mar- ogspot.com, and can be reached by email
keting word for this is “branding”. at bucksho@cnrgp.com or phone at 888-
432-3555 ext 224.
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