Ontario mandates additional carbon monoxide detectors in residential homes

By Brian Lockhart, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, New Tecumseth Times

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, changes to the Ontario Fire Code will require additional carbon monoxide alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.  

The updates are being made across the province to improve household safety and prevent incidents caused by carbon monoxide exposure.  

The new regulations require:  

· A carbon monoxide alarm adjacent to every sleeping area in the home.

· A carbon monoxide alarm on every storey that does not contain a sleeping area.

These requirements apply to all residential occupancies including existing homes.  

Even if your home already has a CO alarm, you may need to add more to comply with the updated Fire Code.

What you can do now:

· Check your alarms – make sure you currently have CO Alarms installed in the required areas.

· Plan ahead – Purchase and install any additional alarms before the Jan. 1, 2026, deadline or notify the property owner to do so.

· Maintain your alarms – test alarms regularly and replace them when they expire (Approx. Every five to ten years).  

· Inspect appliances annually – have all fuel-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician and ensure vents and exhausts are clear of snow, debris, and obstructions.  

· Combination smoke/CO alarms on each level of your home may be used to meet this requirement.  

A CO alarm will alert you when dangerous levels of CO are inside your home. A working alarm will ring loudly, giving you and your family the early warning you need to get out.  

CO alarms can warn you about sudden failures of fuel-burning appliances and are a good first line of defence against CO exposure.  

If you or anyone else in your home has symptoms of CO poisoning, or your CO alarm sounds, make sure that everyone leaves the home immediately and call 9-1-1.

There are different types of alarms with different features, so choosing the right one can be confusing. While alarms might look different and/or have different features, they are all tested to the same standard.  

 Unlike smoke, CO mixes freely with the air, so your CO alarm doesn’t have to go on the ceiling or up high. It does need to be near the area where you sleep so that it is loud enough to wake you up and get you into action. If your home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, install a carbon monoxide alarm adjacent to each sleeping area.  

Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and follow them exactly.  

 Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness.  

In very severe cases, CO poisoning can cause brain damage and death.