Alarms

Quick facts about carbon monoxide

  • CO is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas.
  • Fuels that do not have enough air to burn completely produce CO gas.
  • Any device that burns fuels can produce CO gas, including stoves, fireplaces, generators and engines.
  • Exposure to CO gas can cause flu symptoms.
  • At high levels, CO gas can cause loss of consciousness or death.

New Safety Requirements Starting January 1, 2026

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odourless, and deadly gas. Keeping your family safe means ensuring you have working CO alarms properly installed in your home.

New requirements are coming into effect on January 1, 2026, that expand where CO alarms must be placed in existing homes.

Existing Homeowners

Attention Homeowners & Landlords

Where Do the New Requirements Apply?

The updated requirements apply to all existing homes that have any of the following:

  • A fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace, water heater, or stove that uses natural gas, propane, oil, or wood).
    • A fireplace.
    • An attached garage.
  • Effective Jan 1, 2026: Air for heating that comes from a fuel-burning appliance not contained within the home (e.g., an appliance in a utility shed).

Common types of homes include:

  • Detached or Semi-Detached Houses
  • Townhouses
  • Cottages

Where Must CO Alarms Be Installed?

If your home meets any of the conditions above, you must install a CO alarm in these two locations:

  1. Adjacent to each sleeping area (near all bedrooms).
  2. Effective Jan 1, 2026: On every storey (floor) of your home, including storeys that do not have a sleeping area.

Buying and Installing Your CO Alarms

Buying

When buying a CO alarm, make sure it has the logo of a recognized standards testing agency to ensure they meet Canadian performance standards. Some examples of recognized standards testing agencies and their logos include:

 Canadian Standards Association (CSA)

  • Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
  • Intertek (ETL)

Under the Fire Code, carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be:

  • Hardwired (connected directly to an electrical system).
  • Battery-operated (portable or permanently mounted).
  • Plug-in devices (plugs into a standard electrical outlet).

Many devices on the market are combined units that include both a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm in one device.

Installing

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and placement of CO alarms.

Who is Responsible for Compliance?

  • In Owner-Occupied homes, the Homeowner is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code.
  • In Rental Homes, the Landlord is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code.

Existing Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

Attention Building Owners & Operators - New Safety Requirements Starting January 1, 2026

Where Do the New Requirements Apply?

The updated requirements apply to all existing buildings that contain multiple residential units or suites. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Apartment Buildings
  • Condominium Buildings
  • Houses with Two or More Units (e.g., Duplexes)
  • Retirement Homes
  • Boarding, Lodging, or Rooming Houses
  • Hotels, Motels, etc

Where Must CO Alarms Be Installed?

Installation is required in several areas in the building:

Inside Individual Suites (Residential Units)
A CO alarm must be installed in a suite if any of the following conditions apply:

  • The suite itself contains a fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace or water heater) or a fireplace.
  • The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a service room that has a fuel-burning appliance.
  • The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a garage.
  • Effective Jan 1, 2026: The suite is heated by air coming from a fuel-burning appliance that is not contained within the suite (e.g., heat from a furnace in a central service room).

Placement within the suite:

  • Adjacent to each sleeping area (e.g.: near all bedrooms).
  • Effective Jan 1, 2026: On every storey (floor) of the suite, including storeys that do not have a sleeping area.

Service Rooms and Common Areas of the Building

  • A CO alarm must be installed in each service room or area of the building that contains a fuel-burning appliance.
  • Effective Jan 1, 2026: CO alarms must be installed in public corridors serving the residential suites, if those corridors are heated by air from a fuel-burning appliance.
Buying and Installing CO Alarms

Buying

CO alarms should have the logo of a recognized standards testing agency to ensure they meet Canadian performance standards. Some examples of recognized standards testing agencies and their logos include:

  • Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
  • Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
  • Intertek (ETL)

Under the Fire Code, carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be:

  • Hardwired (connected directly to an electrical system).
  • Battery-operated (portable or permanently mounted).
  • Plug-in devices (plugs into a standard electrical outlet).

Many devices on the market are combined units that include both a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm in one device.

Installing

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and placement of CO alarms.

Who is responsible for compliance? 

  • Owners are responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code
  • In Rental Homes, the Landlord is responsible for complying with the CO alarm requirements in the Fire Code 
Existing Care Occupancy Buildings

Attention Care Occupancy Building Owners & Operators - New Safety Requirements Starting January 1, 2026

Where Do the New Requirements Apply?

The new requirements apply to buildings that contain Care Occupancies as defined in the Fire Code. These are facilities for residents who require special care and need assistance to evacuate in an emergency. These facilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Convalescent Homes
  • Residential Care Facilities
  • Certain Group Homes
  • And similar types of buildings

Where Must CO Alarms Be Installed?

CO alarms will be mandatory in both the individual resident suites and common areas of the building.

Inside Individual Care Occupancy Suites

A CO alarm must be installed in a resident suite if any of the following conditions apply:

  • The suite itself contains a fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace or water heater) or a fireplace.
  • The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a service room.
  • The suite is located directly above, below, or beside a garage.
  • The suite is heated by air coming from a fuel-burning appliance that is not contained within the suite (e.g., heat from a furnace in a central service room).

Placement within the suite:

  • Adjacent to each sleeping area (e.g.: near all bedrooms).
  • On every storey (floor) of the suite, including storeys that do not have a sleeping area.

Service Rooms and Common Areas of the Building

  • A CO alarm must be installed in each service room or area of the building that contains a fuel-burning appliance.
Buying and Installing Your CO Alarms

Buying

  • CO alarms should have the logo of a recognized standards testing agency to ensure they meet Canadian performance standards. Some examples of recognized standards testing agencies and their logos include:
  • Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
  • Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
  • Intertek (ETL)

Under the Fire Code, carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be:

  • Hardwired (connected directly to an electrical system).
  • Battery-operated (portable or permanently mounted).
  • Plug-in devices (plugs into a standard electrical outlet).

Many devices on the market are combined units that include both a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm in one device.

Installing

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and placement of CO alarms.

Maintenance

Carbon monoxide alarms must be maintained in operating condition and replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The City of Cambridge Fire Department has a Fire Prevention division that helps the community learn about preventing fires and other safety hazards, including the rules and regulations for carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms

Every home must have working smoke alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas. It is the law! Smoke alarms provide early warning and time to leave when there's a fire. A large portion of fire deaths in the home occur at night, while sleeping.

Installation and Maintenance
Since smoke rises, install smoke alarms on the ceiling and follow the manufacturers installation instructions. Avoid placing them close to bathrooms, heating appliances, windows or fans. For more protection, install alarms inside bedrooms.

Homeowners must install and maintain smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Landlords must also comply with the same law as homeowners, installing and maintaining smoke alarms for their tenants. Tenants must contact their landlord if they do not have the required smoke alarms. It is against the law for a tenant to tamper with a smoke alarm.

Smoke alarm safety checklist
Stay safe by following our smoke alarm safety checklist:

  1. Test smoke alarms monthly.
  2. Change the batteries at least once per year.
  3. Gently vacuum once a year with soft brush.
  4. Replace smoke alarm when they exceed the recommended life cycle (usually 10 years). Replace an alarm earlier if it is not working correctly or damaged.

Learn more about smoke alarm safety.

Types of smoke alarms

There are different types of smoke alarms available. They may be powered by electricity, batteries, or a combination of both. 

Smoke alarms with high decibel alarms or strobe lights are available for the hearing impaired. Visit the Canadian Hearing Society for more information.

Need Clarification?

For specific questions regarding the CO alarm requirements that may apply to your home, please contact fireprevention@cambridge.ca The local fire department is the authority responsible for enforcing the Fire Code in your area.