Safety & savings in one
Increase your profit by dropping expenses all while protecting your investment. It's really a no-brainer.
Reduce liability &
protect your investments
Never leave the safety of your tenants or the integrity of your building to chance - safeguard your assets against potential fire incidents. In doing so, you not only decrease your liability but also enhance the value of your property. It's a winning proposition all around!
The retrofitting process is simple
Step 1
Contact the City of Ottawa Fire Prevention Department and schedule a fire inspection at your property.
Step 2
We'll help you meet all fire shutter requirements that were highlighted in your inspection report.
Step 3
Provide the fire marshall with our product specifications and fire engineer's sign off.
Increase your return on investment
Sample multifamily in Ottawa - grossing $100,000/year with total expenses at 30% ($30,000). Given that it is a bigger multi-family, a retrofit will drop insurance premiums by approximately $1,000/year.
Post-retrofit
Net Operating Income : $100,000 - $29,000 = $71,000
Assumed Cap Rate : 4.9 (Cap rate lower for retrofit)
Value : ~$1,450,000
Pre-retrofit
Net Operating Income : $100,000 - $30,000 = $70,000
Assumed Cap Rate : 5 (Centretown)
Value : $1,400,000
Value Increase : $50,000
Cost : $25,000
Profit: $25,000
Save $100's to $1000's on commercial insurance after upgrading.
The Ontario Fire Code Summarized
Fire escapes
9.5.3.7. (1) Each fire escape used as an exit shall comply with Articles 3.4.7.2., 3.4.7.3., 3.4.7.5. and 3.4.7.6. of the 1990 Building Code.
(2) If a fire escape serves any storey above the second floor, doorway openings and window openings shall be protected in accordance with Sentences (3) and (4) if located
(a) within 3 m horizontally of any balcony, platform or stairway of the fire escape,
(b) within 3 storeys below or 10 m below any balcony, platform or stairway of the fire escape, or
(c) within 1.8 m above any balcony, platform or stairway of the fire escape.
(3) Doorway openings referred to in Sentence (2) shall be protected with closures having a fire-protection rating not less than 20 min and equipped with self-closing devices.
(4) Window openings referred to in Sentence (2) shall be protected with
(a) closures having a fire-protection rating not less than 20 min and that are fixed shut or arranged to close automatically upon the operation of a fusible link,
(b) wired glass screens set in fixed steel frames,
(c) glass block, or
(d) listed steel shutters arranged to close automatically upon the operation of a fusible link.
(5) The fusible link referred to in Clauses (4)(a) and (d) shall comply with ULC-S505, “Standard for Fusible Links for Fire Protection Service”.
Some Frequently Asked Questions...
What are fire shutters and what do they do?
Fire shutters are specialized window coverings designed to provide fire protection. They do so by preventing the spread of fire & smoke through windows by cutting off the fire's oxygen supply.
Where should I install them?
Experts recommend installing them near any exits to hinder the spread of fire or smoke and minimize impediment during an emergency. Additionally, it's highly recommended to install them in and around areas that are at a higher risk of fire incidents such as mechanical rooms or kitchens.
How do they work?
Residential fire shutters work similarly to traditional commercial roller shutters. They contain a fusible link that is activated once a specific temperature is reached. This fusible link triggers the closure of the fire shutter, impeding the spread of the fire through openings and facilitating the safe escape of building occupants during an emergency.
It seems like an expensive investment to prevent a possible fire?
While fires may be a rare occurrence, it's always best to be proactive rather than reactive. Investing in your building’s fire safety will not only give you and your occupants peace of mind, but also drastically reduce your potential future liabilities should an emergency happen.
Let's get started
To learn more about our services or to book a free quote, please fill out the following form. If you have measurements, please include them as well. We will follow up with you as soon as possible.
