Fire safety plan boxes are installed at the entrance of a building and, depending on the City requirements, the locking mechanisms of these boxes are either designed to be used with a padlock or cam-lock assembly. It is highly recommended for the building operators or management teams to confirm with their local City Fire Services which box manufacturers or models are approved by their office for installation. Box keys are to be kept readily available at a secure location in the building for fast access to the approved fire safety plan.  Access to the box is imperative not only for the building management to complete updates to the fire safety plan, but also for City Fire Services to inspect its content for currency. It is not uncommon for arriving firefighters to access the box to establish features of the building, persons requiring assistance, emergency contacts and their phone numbers or any other details deemed necessary.

Installed fire safety plan boxes are to be maintained in good order at the premises, and are to clearly display the words Fire Safety Plan on the cabinet front door. Only one fire safety plan box is to be installed at each premise, unless ordered otherwise by the City Fire Services. The location of the approved fire safety plan box is to be clearly marked on the site plan diagram. As a guide only, approved fire safety boxes are surface-mounted within 3 metres (9.84 feet) of the main entrance of the premises at a height between 1.5 metres (4.92 feet) to 1.8 metres (5.90 feet) above the floor-surface: consult with your local City Fire Officials to verify if there are any additional compulsory installation requirements. It is advisable to consult with the City Fire Services as to the best location of the box prior to its installation. Boxes are to be kept locked at all times. It is not uncommon for these boxes to be subject to vandalism, resulting in the loss of their contents. Storing master building keys or fobs in the fire safety plan box is not advisable for obvious security reasons. Specially armored key boxes are available to allow firefighters quick access to the building in case of an emergency, so that they do not need to break through the entrance door. Check with the local City Fire Services for a list of approved reinforced key boxes.

This article was contributed by Firepoint Inc, serving the GTA since 1997, developing fire department approved fire safety plans for newly constructed and existing buildings. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information, the bulletin publishers and authors do not guarantee, warrant, represent or undertake that the information provided is exact, precise or current to any regulated codes and shall not be liable for any loss, claim, or demand arising directly or indirectly from any use or reliance upon the bulletin information. Bulletin reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written consent of Firepoint Inc. Copyright 2023 – All Rights Reserved. See www.firepoint.ca or call 905-874-9400.