Some of Ontario’s long-term care (LTC) home operators could be getting an 18-month extension on a looming deadline to install automatic sprinklers for fire suppression. A proposed regulatory amendment would give specified lollygaggers until July 1, 2026 to comply with the Ontario Fire Code mandate, provided other enhanced fire safety measures are in place.

The Ontario government is now inviting public comments on this proposed new deadline, which would give affected operators a total of 13+ years of advance warning since the provincial Fire Code first outlined the future sprinkler requirements in 2013. The associated regulatory analysis describes the extension as a measure to “manage the risk of capacity loss from homes that may not have sprinklers installed by the deadline” which would only be available in three designated scenarios.

It’s proposed that LTC operators could obtain an extension if they can demonstrate they have a contract for sprinkler installation in an existing building that will be completed by July 1, 2026, if redevelopment of the home is in progress and an equivalent number of beds will be available in a sprinklered facility by July 1, 2026 or if the facility is in the process of closing, but will still be occupied on January 1, 2025.

To warrant an extension, LTC operators would also have to pay extra attention to fire safety. That includes: committing staffing for continuous fire watch duty; submitting proof to local fire officials that LTC supervisory staff have completed prescribed online training; conducting more frequent fire drills and testing of the fire alarm and voice communications systems; and equipping all nurses’ stations with portable fire extinguishers.

The proposed regulatory amendment is open for comment until November 13.