Addressing Compliance Challenges in Ottawa's Housing Sector
Ottawa's housing organizations face compliance challenges related to fire safety, including lack of code adherence, non-compliance issues, and legacy structural issues. Efforts to achieve compliance involve daily inspections, addressing combustible materials and obstructions, and obtaining funds for necessary upgrades. Challenges include understanding the scope of issues, time constraints, and maintaining compliance once achieved.
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Presentation Transcript
ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE
Rob Clark Ottawa Community Housing Building Systems Coordinator Gwen Lewis Ottawa Fire Services Assistant Division Chief
History OCH Portfolio Largest of 168 social and affordable housing organizations in Ottawa 123 building require a Fire Safety Plan 15,000 units in total 32,000 tenants
February 16th, 2016 Fatal fire in a high rise OFS investigator concerned with the lack of fire code compliance Extensive smoke damage
OFS Approach OFS would not prosecute, no action on deficiencies, no progress made, or an incident that infractions caused extensive damage or injury. OFS would issue orders for deficiencies found on inspections Monthly meeting to review FLS reports
Non-Compliance Issues to Resolve Daily inspection Combustible material on unit doors Combustible material in all service rooms Obstructions in all corridors Proper tire storage Fire door inspection Fire watch procedure
215 Wurtemberg Fall 2016 3 fires in 6 weeks Demonstrated that there were still issues that weren t being addressed. OCH and OFS were only beginning to understand some of the issues. Complete inspection of the building brought up legacy issues NO OBC permits for structural changes No closing off of OBC permits FA Panels installed with no permits First After the Fire program presentation needed work
Challenges - OCH Trust Understanding the size of the problem Length of time to obtain compliances risk associated Obtaining and securing funds 40 FA panels, 2 sprinkler systems, 4 fire pumps, increased service by 90 buildings, > 7000 doors and hardware Interpretation of compliance Maintaining the committed schedule Maintaining FLS compliance in a building once it has been achieved (vendors, tenants, employees)
Challenges - OFS Building trust Challenges with staffing lack of consistency 1FPO part 6, 1 FPO inspections, 1 ADC over-seeing project Brought to light previous practices were no long accepted Realization that building owners education Recognized the need that there were other municipalities that had the same issue ONPHA OMFPOA- OAFC - OFM
Successes OCH OCH OFC compliant buildings On-going training for OCH staff and tenants to maintain compliance Excellent working relationship with Community Partners (OFS, OBS) Have become a FLS leader in the non-profit housing sector across the province OFS OFS Reduced a major risk in the city Provided an insight into what maintenance is being completed by other building owners in the city Gained a better understanding of the efforts required to obtain/maintain compliance in the social housing sector Saved FPO inspection time by mentoring OCH of compliance requirements. ( One truck role) Reduced risk to suppression crews by obtaining/ensuring compliance ( Part 6 inspections)
