Toronto condo fire safety plans need to do more than satisfy a documentation requirement. They must accurately reflect how a building operates, how its fire protection systems function, and what staff and occupants are expected to do during an emergency.

This is especially important in high-rise residential properties. Multiple floors, underground parking, shared amenities, mechanical spaces, security desks, commercial tenants, and large numbers of residents can make emergency response significantly more complex.

For property managers and condominium corporations, the challenge is not simply obtaining a Fire Safety Plan. The plan also has to remain current, be understood by the people assigned responsibilities, and work under real building conditions.

Why Toronto Condo Fire Safety Plans Require a Building-Specific Approach

The City of Toronto describes a residential high-rise building as one that is seven storeys or more, or where the floor level of the highest storey of the major occupancy is more than 18 metres above grade.

High-rise buildings are designed with fire and life safety features that may include fire-resistant compartments, protected exit stairways, fire alarm systems, standpipes, sprinklers, emergency power, and voice communication systems. However, the systems, layouts, staffing arrangements, and emergency procedures can differ considerably from one building to another.

That is why the City advises residents to learn the approved Fire Safety Plan developed specifically for their building. Property managers can review the City’s high-rise fire safety guidance for additional information.

A generic template cannot accurately describe every tower, podium, parking garage, amenity floor, alarm system, or staffing arrangement. Effective Toronto condo fire safety plans must be based on the actual property.

Does Every Toronto Condominium Require a Fire Safety Plan?

A building should not be assumed to require—or not require—a Fire Safety Plan simply because it is registered as a condominium. The requirement must be assessed using the building’s characteristics and the applicable provisions of the Ontario Fire Code.

Many high-rise and multi-unit residential buildings fall within the circumstances where a Fire Safety Plan must be prepared, approved, and implemented. Mixed-use occupancies, interconnected buildings, shared fire protection systems, and commercial spaces can introduce additional considerations.

Property managers who are uncertain about their building can begin with our broader guide to Fire Safety Plan requirements in Toronto. A building-specific review should then be used to confirm the requirements that apply to the property.

What Toronto Condo Fire Safety Plans Should Capture

A high-rise Fire Safety Plan should provide an accurate operational reference for the building. Although every property is different, the plan will generally need to address several important areas.

1. Current building and contact information

The plan should identify the property, its occupancy, the responsible owner or management representatives, and the appropriate emergency contacts. Contact information should be checked whenever there is a change in ownership, management, security providers, or building staff.

Outdated names and telephone numbers can create unnecessary confusion during an alarm, inspection, system impairment, or actual emergency.

2. Fire protection and life safety systems

The plan should accurately describe the systems installed in the building. Depending on the property, these may include:

• Fire alarm and detection systems
• Voice communication systems
• Automatic sprinkler systems
• Standpipes and hose connections
• Fire pumps and water supplies
• Emergency generators and power systems
• Smoke control or smoke management systems
• Firefighter elevators and elevator recall features
• Emergency lighting and exit signage
• Portable fire extinguishers

The written description and accompanying drawings should match the equipment that is currently installed. System replacements, upgrades, removals, or changes in operating sequences may require the plan to be revised.

3. Emergency procedures for different situations

Emergency instructions must reflect the building’s approved procedures. The appropriate response may depend on where the fire is located, whether smoke is present, which alarm stage has activated, and what instructions are communicated by supervisory staff or Toronto Fire Services.

Resident notices should be clear and consistent with the approved plan. Property managers should be cautious about distributing generic instructions that may conflict with the procedures designed for their building.

4. Duties assigned to supervisory staff

A Fire Safety Plan commonly assigns responsibilities to building management, superintendents, security personnel, fire wardens, maintenance employees, or other designated supervisory staff.

Those responsibilities may include initiating emergency procedures, contacting the fire department, making announcements, assisting with building access, meeting responding firefighters, providing information about the incident, and carrying out other duties identified in the approved plan.

Listing a position in the document is not enough. The people filling that position must understand their responsibilities, and appropriate coverage should be considered for evenings, weekends, holidays, and staff absences.

Property managers can learn more about preparing designated personnel through our guide to Fire Warden Training in Toronto.

5. Site plans and floor plans

The drawings included with the plan should accurately identify relevant building features. These may include exits, stairways, fire alarm controls, sprinkler and standpipe equipment, utility shutoffs, hazardous areas, fire department access points, and other features required for the property.

Drawings should be reassessed after renovations, amenity conversions, parking-level changes, suite reconfigurations, or alterations to fire protection systems.

6. Inspection, testing, and maintenance procedures

A Fire Safety Plan should support the inspection, testing, and maintenance activities required for the building’s fire protection equipment and life safety systems.

Property management should have a reliable process for scheduling required work, retaining records, addressing deficiencies, and following up with qualified service providers. The written plan, maintenance records, and actual building conditions should tell a consistent story.

7. Fire drills and documentation

Fire drills help verify whether procedures are practical and whether assigned personnel understand their responsibilities. The applicable frequency and format will depend on the building and its approved plan.

After a drill, management should document what occurred and address problems such as unclear announcements, staff uncertainty, access issues, communication failures, or procedures that did not work as intended.

Fire Plan Strategies also provides professional fire drill facilitation for organizations that need assistance planning, conducting, and evaluating their drills.

The Property Manager’s Role in Fire Safety Plan Implementation

The property manager often becomes the link between the written plan and day-to-day building operations. This can involve coordinating with the condominium board, security company, superintendent, maintenance contractors, residents, commercial occupants, and fire protection service providers.

A practical implementation process should include:

• Confirming that assigned staff have access to the current plan
• Training staff on the responsibilities attached to their positions
• Ensuring emergency procedure notices remain accurate and legible
• Keeping emergency contacts and staff lists current
• Scheduling required drills, inspections, tests, and maintenance
• Retaining records in an organized and accessible manner
• Reviewing deficiencies and confirming that corrective work is completed
• Assessing whether building changes require revisions to the plan

The objective is to make the Fire Safety Plan part of the building’s operating system—not a binder that is only opened when an inspection occurs.

When Should a High-Rise Fire Safety Plan Be Updated?

The Ontario Fire Code requires applicable Fire Safety Plans to be reviewed as often as necessary, but at least every 12 months, and revised when required.

The annual review should not be treated as the only time changes can be made. An earlier review may be necessary when the building or its operations change.

Examples that should prompt an assessment include:

• Renovations that affect exits, corridors, stairways, or suite layouts
• Changes to fire alarm, sprinkler, standpipe, emergency power, or voice communication systems
• The addition or conversion of amenity, retail, office, storage, or parking areas
• Changes in property management, security providers, or supervisory staff
• New procedures for contractors or temporary system shutdowns
• Comments or deficiencies identified during an inspection
• Problems discovered during a fire drill or actual incident

If the current document no longer reflects the property, Fire Plan Strategies can perform a Fire Safety Plan review and assessment to identify areas that may need correction or updating.

Mixed-Use Condo Buildings Need Additional Coordination

Many Toronto condominium developments include more than residential suites. A building may have street-level retail, offices, restaurants, shared parking, loading areas, recreational facilities, or multiple connected towers.

These spaces may operate at different times, use different access systems, and have separate employees or security procedures. They may also share alarms, exits, sprinkler systems, emergency power, or fire department access routes.

The Fire Safety Plan should clearly explain how these parts of the property work together. Responsibilities should not become unclear at the boundary between the residential condominium, commercial occupants, and third-party service providers.

Warning Signs That a Condo Fire Safety Plan May Be Outdated

Property managers should consider arranging a review if any of the following conditions exist:

• The plan identifies a former property manager, superintendent, or security company
• The latest documented review occurred more than 12 months ago
• Floor plans do not match the current layout
• Fire protection systems have been upgraded or replaced
• Amenity, commercial, storage, or parking areas have changed
• Staff members cannot explain their assigned emergency duties
• Resident instructions conflict with the approved plan
• Previous drill observations or inspection deficiencies remain unresolved
• Management cannot quickly locate the current approved document

These warning signs do not automatically establish a Fire Code violation. However, they indicate that the accuracy and implementation of the plan should be examined.

A Fire Safety Plan Review Checklist for Property Managers

During the next annual or change-driven review, ask the following questions:

• Does the plan reflect the building as it exists today?
• Are management and emergency contact details current?
• Are all installed fire protection systems described accurately?
• Do the site plans and floor plans match current conditions?
• Are supervisory staff positions and alternates clearly identified?
• Have assigned personnel received suitable training?
• Do resident notices match the approved emergency procedures?
• Are drills and required maintenance activities being documented?
• Have renovations, system changes, or inspection comments been addressed?
• Can the current plan and supporting records be located quickly?

How Fire Plan Strategies Supports Toronto Condominium Properties

Fire Plan Strategies works with property managers, condominium corporations, building owners, and facility teams to develop and maintain practical, site-specific Fire Safety Plans in Toronto.

Depending on the property’s needs, our team can assist with:

• Assessing whether a Fire Safety Plan is required
• Preparing a new building-specific plan
• Reviewing an existing plan for accuracy and completeness
• Updating documentation following renovations or system changes
• Responding to plan review comments
• Preparing or updating site plans and floor plans
• Training personnel who have assigned responsibilities
• Planning and facilitating fire drills

Well-managed Toronto condo fire safety plans give building staff clear procedures to follow, help residents understand what is expected of them, and provide responding firefighters with more reliable building information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every condominium in Toronto require a Fire Safety Plan?

Not solely because it is a condominium. The requirement depends on the building and the applicable provisions of the Ontario Fire Code. Many high-rise and multi-unit residential buildings fall within circumstances where an approved plan is required. A building-specific assessment is the safest way to confirm applicability.

How often should a Toronto condo Fire Safety Plan be reviewed?

An applicable Fire Safety Plan must be reviewed as often as necessary and at least once every 12 months. It must also be revised when changes make the existing information or procedures inaccurate.

Does a Fire Safety Plan need to be updated after renovations?

It may need to be updated if renovations affect the layout, exits, occupancy, fire protection systems, emergency procedures, or information contained in the current plan. The effects of the project should be assessed rather than waiting for the next annual review.

Who needs to understand the Fire Safety Plan?

People assigned responsibilities in the plan must understand their duties. Residents and other occupants should also receive clear emergency information relevant to them and to the approved procedures for the building.

Can the same Fire Safety Plan template be used for multiple condo towers?

A common framework can support consistency, but each plan must accurately reflect the building or complex it covers. Differences in layouts, systems, staffing, access, and emergency procedures must be documented.

Get Help With Your Toronto Condo Fire Safety Plan

If your building has changed, the annual review is overdue, or staff are uncertain about their responsibilities, it may be time to have the plan assessed.

Contact Fire Plan Strategies to discuss a new Toronto condo Fire Safety Plan, an update to an existing document, or training and drill support for your property management team.

This article provides general information and is not a substitute for a building-specific assessment or direction from the authority having jurisdiction.