In 2023, the City introduced the Alarm By-Law (5382) as a response to an increased number of false alarm calls made by monitored alarm systems. False alarm calls come at a cost – not just financially, but also to the firefighters, who leave their jobs and families to respond, and to emergency resources that need to be available for real emergencies.
What is a monitored alarm?
A monitored alarm is an alarm system that, when activated, sends a message to a service provider that dispatches emergency service personnel.
What is an false alarm and what causes one?
A false alarm is when an alarm system goes off accidentally, without an emergency.
A false alarm can be caused by a number of things but the most common causes are:
- unmaintained alarms/poor alarm system maintenance,
- construction related activities such as drywall sanding in close proximity to an alarm that has not been properly protected,
- humidity as a result of poor alarm placement (i.e. to close to your shower); and/or,
- not having emergency contacts listed with your alarm company/not knowing how to turn off your alarm when you’ve set it off by accident.
What happens when a false alarm occurs?
When the city’s emergency services receive a call, they are dispatched to provide the necessary response. If that call turns out to be a false alarm, it could divert resources from a real emergency happening elsewhere.
The City’s fire department is a volunteer based service which means those responding to emergencies must leave work or time with their family and friends to respond – making it important to take precautions to reduce false alarms in your residence or business.
How can I reduce my risk of a false alarm?
- ensuring your alarm systems are in an appropriate location,
- ensuring your alarm company has two points of contact to call in case an alarm is triggered,
- knowing how to deactivate your monitored alarm system when a false alarm is triggered,
- taking the appropriate precautions when conducting construction projects including contacting your alarm company in advance and covering your alarms appropriately; and,
- teaching kids about kitchen and cooking safety.
What happens if a building or home experiences a false alarm?
False alarms may result in a verbal warning or penalty issued by the City depending on the circumstance. The City’s Administrative Penalties By-Law (5383) outlines the penalties that are available to be issued under the Alarm By-law.
For any questions about the Alarm By-Law please contact our Citizen Support Representatives at 204-785-4900 or by emailing [email protected].