The City of Calgary has laid dozens of fire code charges against a fire safety company and several of its customers.
Premium Fire Protection Ltd. and 10 of its employees are facing 65 charges under the Alberta Fire Code.
The alleged violations are related to unqualified and uncertified people installing alarms and communications systems, portable extinguishers and special suppression systems.
While the systems were installed by those who weren’t qualified to do so, the Calgary Fire Department said people in the affected businesses are not at risk.
The city has also laid 15 charges against several large retail outlets that used Premium Fire Protection’s services.
A seven-month investigation led to the charges and the city said there’s the possibility more will be laid.
Paul Frank, a prosecutor for the city, said it’s the first time Calgary has levelled these types of charges.
“We want to remind the businesses retaining services that it is their responsibility to verify that life safety system installers and inspectors are qualified and certified,” he said in a release Monday.
Frank said he couldn’t elaborate on the businesses affected, only hinting that they are large grocery chains, pharmacies and restaurants.
Under the provincial fire code, companies and people can be fined up to $100,000 for a first offence and up to $500,000 for subsequent ones. Fine amounts are determined in court.
LISTEN: Fire safety code officer Frank Schroder joins Calgary Today to explain the charges
“Although the city’s preferred approach to safety code compliance is education, the seriousness of these violations and the fact that Premium Fire Protection Ltd. operates in Calgary, other areas of Alberta and other provinces, led the City of Calgary Fire Department to lay charges in these cases,” said Uzeloc.
In a statement sent out via email on Tuesday, Premium Fire Protection Ltd. said it was “shocked” to receive the citations from the Calgary Fire Department.
“Our number 1 priority is the safety and security of our clients and the communities in which we operate.”
“We are taking the allegations extremely seriously and are thoroughly examining each event in question,” CEO Kurt Bertrand said.
He alleged the company was not contacted by the fire department and that if they had been, they would have “provided verification of certification.”
“Premium stands behind its work, and it is reaching out to its employees and its customers to provide them with appropriate assurances.
– With files from Global News’ Josh Ritchie
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