New provincial regulations take effect on New Year's Day.
Kingston Fire & Rescue is reminding residents to prepare for new Ontario Fire Code changes that expand carbon monoxide alarm requirements starting January 1, 2026.
The updated rules will require CO alarms on every storey of homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages—not just near sleeping areas. In multi-unit buildings, alarms must also be installed in certain suites, service rooms, and sometimes public corridors. Care facilities and group homes will need alarms in suites and common areas.
Known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless, and tasteless. It can only be detected by a working alarm and is a leading cause of accidental poisonings in Ontario.
“CO alarms are a life-saving early warning system,” said Ted Posadowski, Chief Fire Prevention Officer for Kingston Fire & Rescue. “They give you time to evacuate and can prevent CO poisoning or death.”
Story by Alyssa Brush
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