LMCH is committed to reducing the number of false fire alarms and engage with tenants about how we can make communities safer and prevent fires.
What is a false fire alarm?
London Fire Services defines a false fire alarm as “a fire alarm when there is no fire.”
LMCH tracks and classifies false fire alarms as two categories:
- Malicious - fire alarms activated based on negligent or intentional misuse
- Nuisance - fire alarms activated through mechanical failure, equipment malfunction, improper maintenance or installation of the system
False fire alarms by the numbers
- Over 90 percent of fire alarms in LMCH buildings are false.
- Buildings with largest number of false fire alarms are in areas with highly condensed residential units.
- Most false fire alarm occurrences happen between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The impact of false fire alarms
LMCH can face charges for false fire alarms in accordance with municipal by-law F-4, which can reduce the available funds used for capital repairs, resident services, and other programs.
False fire alarms create panic for some tenants, and they are put at risk due to in inability to differentiate between false fire alarms and real ones.
What is LMCH doing to reduce false fire alarms?
To reduce false fire alarms and their negative impact on tenants, LMCH is:
- Tracking false alarms, classifying them correctly to investigate the cause and implement mitigation strategies.
- Working with London Fire Services to address false fire alarm charges in LMCH buildings.
- Promoting resident engagement in communities with high false alarm occurrences.
- Discussing with tenants about impacts of false fire alarms and what they can do to prevent fire in their homes.
- Creating better relations between LMCH, its tenants and London Fire Services.
- Promoting the Tenant Code of Conduct.
- Bringing community partners into our buildings.
- Partnering with the National Fire Prevention Association.
