Ontario government to invest $20M on sprinkler systems in small retirement homes

TORONTO – Ontario will spend $20 million to help install automatic fire sprinkler systems in small retirement homes across the province.

The move comes as a Jan. 1, 2019 deadline looms for the province’s retirement homes to be equipped with the automatic systems under updated fire code requirements.

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READ MORE: Deadly Quebec fire may lead to Ontario seniors homes getting sprinklers sooner

In 2014, Ontario became the first province to make sprinkler retrofits mandatory in licensed retirement homes.

The government says that 20 per cent of Ontario’s retirement homes do not yet have full automatic sprinkler systems.

READ MORE: New Ontario fire safety rules unveiled

The government program – which retirement homes have to apply for – is intended to help small homes with under 49 beds in rural communities comply with the rules.

There are over 730 licensed retirement homes in Ontario.