What is the role of the Fire Code in PSO enforcement, and how do PSOs interact with Fire Services?

• A. Fire Code mandates life-safety requirements; PSOs coordinate to ensure egress and smoke detector compliance, and may refer fire-safety concerns to Fire Services.
• B. Fire Code is optional; PSOs do not interact with Fire Services.
• C. PSOs replace Fire Services for all fire code issues.
• D. Fire Code only applies to new buildings.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the Fire Code provides mandatory life-safety standards that PSOs use to assess and enforce fire safety in buildings. When a PSO inspects a property, they look for issues that affect safe egress, working fire protection systems, clear access for emergency personnel, and other fire-safety basics. If they find problems, they coordinate with Fire Services to address them. This collaboration can involve referring concerns to Fire Services for assessment or enforcement, using Fire Service expertise to determine required remedies, and issuing enforcement actions under the municipal property standards by-law with the appropriate fire-safety conditions to be completed. PSOs do not replace Fire Services; Fire Services are responsible for fire prevention, investigations, and response, while PSOs focus on property standards and fire-safety compliance within their jurisdiction. The Fire Code is applicable to both existing buildings and new construction across a wide range of occupancies, not limited to new buildings.