By Charles Lefebvre

Firefighters reminding property owners to ensure their secondary suites are safe

Jun 26, 2018 | 4:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Fire Service is reminding owners of secondary suites that they need to ensure their properties are up to code.

An update on the city’s secondary suite initiative was presented Monday during a public services committee meeting. The city launched an online database last year, giving residents a place to find legal secondary suites.

“When we were made aware of the issue, we encountered multiple, illegal secondary suites after responding to fires over the past few years,” said Carter Gramlich, fire prevention officer. “We brought our attention to the issue, we’ve tried to educate as best as we can, put the information out there, and we’ve really good success from owners calling us, scheduling inspections, getting the work done.”

Secondary suites are separate dwellings inside of a single, detached house, which contain a kitchen, bathroom and separate entrance. Property owners wishing to rent their suites must ensure they comply with the 2006 Alberta Building Code and the 2014 Alberta Fire Code.

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Secondary suites must also meet requirements for ceiling height, window size, and fire protection.

According to a briefing note, approximately 550 property owners of known secondary suites in the city were notified about the registry and encouraged to request an inspection from the Fire Service.

Firefighters have inspected more than 100 suites, noting 85 per cent of the properties surveyed were required to make upgrades or renovations to ensure their home is compliant with the codes.

Gramlich says the primary issue in the suites involve smoke alarms and bedroom windows. Smoke alarms need to be connected to both the primary and secondary suites to alert occupants in case of a fire, and proper egress windows need to be installed and easily opened if the occupant needs to escape.

Gramlich says most property owners have been cooperating with the inspections and making the changes, but notes there are still some who are renting the suites illegally.

“Some owners may think that it’s optional,” he said. “We’re at the stage where we’ve done the education portion, we’ve done our due diligence, if somebody was still non-compliant, and renting an illegal suite, we would have to proceed with enforcement through some channel.”

Those found operating an illegal secondary suite, either through a tip from the public or through response from firefighters, can receive an Administrative Penalty of up to $10,000, says Gramlich.

A total of 63 suites that have passed inspection are listed on the city’s website.

Secondary suite owners who wish to have a free inspection completed can call the Fire Service at 403-529-8282.