The Fire Technicians Network

Professional Certification Programme

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CODE OF ETHICS &
CANADIAN TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION

 


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The Fire Technicians Network is a Canadian Registered Non-profit Association of like minded professionals operating in Canada.  The founding Board of Directors comprises three committed Canadian life safety professionals:

Frank Kurz - Founder & Executive Director

Brian Stegavig - Founding Director

Arkady Tsisserev, P.Eng. - Founding Director

Collectively we have long recognized a number of simple facts:

1.  The life safety equipment service industry is not being properly and professionally regulated.

2.  The lack of knowledge of the Standards and Codes as they apply to building life safety systems inspection and testing, which is being demonstrated by a growing number of technicians across Canada, represents a genuine danger to the public.

3.  Individuals engaged in the inspection and testing of life safety systems require unrestricted access to knowledge, training and professional interaction in order to maintain their competence and raise the bar on their Professional Practice.

4.  The imposition of monetary fines for individuals found performing substandard practice results in an adversarial relationship that hampers meaningful and productive engagement.  FTN Members are instead engaged in a peer review process that identifies the areas of improvement necessary to achieve the Certification Programme’s expectations and goals.  The resulting personal success plan may include additional training, structured professional development and a period of ongoing supervision.

5.  Individuals who lack professional integrity, or whom reject a reasonable formal review of their practice, must be identified and barred from servicing life safety equipment in Canada.

Membership in our association is voluntary and not a right.

If this strikes a chord within you, we are looking to add additional board members from jurisdictions across Canada this year (2021).  Please email us at tech@firetechs.net, or use the Contact Us! link located above.


Mission and Objective

The protection of the public is our association’s primary mission and our highest purpose. 

 

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Canadian Building Life Safety Systems Training Initiative:
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Questions?
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by calling the number above or by clicking the email link!
 

 

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Forms:
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In Memoriam
G. Richard (Rich) Morris
Celebrating a truly
remarkable life!

CFAA’s Tribute
SCC’s Tribute

In Memoriam
David Sylvester
CFAA Legend, Educator,
and Friend!

CFAA’s Tribute

 

 

Smoke Detector Cross Listing Information:
ULC Smoke Detector Compatibility Index
(You’ll be prompted to either “save as” or “open” a Microsoft a Microsoft® Excel document. Please read our Terms of Use.)

 

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Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

1.  Members shall diligently apply themselves to the acquisition of knowledge, to its further dissemination and rigorous application through practical endeavour.

2.  Members shall apply the published referenced Codes and Standards in their area of expertise and jurisdiction which are considered to be the minimum expected performance, inspection and testing criteria. 

3.  Members shall ensure that any required inspection or test report submitted to the building owner(s) and/or their authorized representative(s) is based on the approved format as reviewed and provided by the Network.

4.  Members shall comport themselves in an honest, straight forward and professional manner both as representatives of the Fire Technicians Network and the larger community of fire equipment service industry providers they may represent. 

5.  Members shall only perform work for which they have received formal training and can demonstrate competence through actual experience. 
NOTE:  Minimum certification criteria has been established by the Network which the member is responsible to achieve within the time frames that have been established in the Practice Guideline and/or in their personal professional development plan.

6.  Members certified by the Network shall be subject to Periodic Practice Reviews (PPR).

7.  Members undergoing review shall cooperate with the assigned reviewer in providing documentation, reports, equipment and materials as required to ensure compliance with the applicable Codes and Standards, and the Practice Guideline.

8.  Members must support the goals, objectives, and mission of the Fire Technicians Network at all times in any interaction with members of the Public, other industry (or non-industry) professionals, other Network members, the media, Building Officials, Fire Prevention Officers, and other jurisdictional authorities.

9.  Members shall document and report the unprofessional practice of anyone engaged in the installation, service, testing, maintenance and inspection of building life safety equipment to the building owner (and/or their authorized representative) and to the local jurisdictional authority forthwith.

10. Members shall document and report unprofessional or substandard practice(s) of other Network Certified Members forthwith.
NOTE:  Failure to do so may result in the suspension of the Member’s professional privileges while they themselves undergo a formal Practice Review in conjunction with the offending Member(s).

 


Current Canadian Fire Protection Technician Certification

The following table illustrates the current (to May 1, 2021) levels of certification in Canada for technicians and technologists engaged in performing service, maintenance, testing and inspection of building life safety equipment and systems complete with inter-agency cross-reference.  It also serves to identify some significant concerns in the way that technician training, certification, and practice methodologies have failed to recognize the inspection and testing criteria associated with key building components critical to occupant safety.

Canadian Certification Agency References:
ASTTBC - Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia
CFAA - Canadian Fire Alarm Association
DHI - Door and Hardware Institute
ULC - Underwriters Laboratories of Canada

CANADIAN CERTIFICATION CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

Passive Building Safety Systems Testing

Active Building Safety Systems Testing

 

AGENCY

 

AGENCY

Equipment Description

DHI

ASTTBC
RFPT
(BC Only)

CFAA

Equipment Description

ASTTBC
RFPT (1)
(BC Only)

CFAA

Fire Door Assemblies

FDAI

NED*

NED

Fire Alarm System Inspection

AL

CT

Mechanical Smoke Dampers

NED

NED*

NED

Emergency Voice Communication
Systems

AL

CT

Self-Illuminating Egress Path Markers

NED

NED

NED

Fire Alarm Communicators

NED, ACA

NED, ACA

Self-Illuminating Exit Signs

NED

NED

NED

Smoke Control Systems

SM

NED

Fire Stopping

NED

NED

NED

Egress path Marker Systems

NED

NED

Fire Safety (Emergency) Planning

NED

NED

NED

Fire Curtain Assemblies

NED*

NED

Table Legend:
CT - Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAA)
ACA - Alternate Certifying Authority (ULC, Warnock Hersey/Intertek)
MA - Municipal Authority may require additional certification
MT - Manufacturer’s Training (and Certification) may also be required
RFPT - Registered Fire Protection Technician (ASTTBC)
FDAI - Fire and Egress Door Assembly Inspector
NED - No Equivalent Designation

* Observation and inspection of some passive life safety equipment is mentioned in the ASTTBC Practice Guideline (2008 Version).

Portable Fire Extinguishers

EX, ACA

NED, ACA

Fire Hose Assemblies

WA

NED

Sprinkler Back-Flow Assemblies

WA, MA

NED, MA

Fire Pumps

FP

NED

Unit Emergency Lighting

EL

NED

Generator Systems

GS

NED

Special Suppression Systems
(Includes Extinguishment Releasing
& Kitchen Hood Suppression Systems)

SP, MT

NED, MT

Fire Alarm Verification

NED (2)

CT, MT

Integrated Testing of Building
Life Safety Systems
(CAN/ULC-S1001)

NED

NED

Carbon Monoxide Systems

NED

NED

Commercial Kitchen Vent Hood Cleaning

CO

NED

 

Additional Table Notes:
1.  ASTTBC is only recognized in a limited number of communities in British Columbia (through the adoption of a local Bylaw) and no other Canadian provinces or territories.
2.  ASTTBC’s Fire Alarm Verification (VI) Endorsement is in permanent abeyance.  No further endorsements will be issued.  The endorsement’s acceptance in most jurisdictions in the Province has been largely curtailed through the decision of Mr. Justice Funt of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
3.  CFAA Certified Technicians employed by a manufacturer (or that have participated in manufacturer sponsored training) are often accepted as fire alarm Verifiers by the local jurisdictional authority.  Manufacturer’s training is usually limited to learning to operate the software required to program proprietary equipment, systems and functions.  It rarely involves exposure to any aspect of CAN/ULC-S537 (Standard for Verification of Fire Alarm Systems) or CAN/ULC-S524 (Standard for Installation of Fire Alarm Systems).
4.  Extinguisher annual maintenance and testing is required to be performed by technicians certified in compliance with NFPA 10.  All such accreditation in Canada must be acceptable to the local jurisdictional authority (AHJ) and may require additional certification of the fire protection equipment servicing agency which employs the individually certified technician.
5.  A NED in the form field may imply that the proper testing of the related equipment is not being accomplished in accordance with the National Fire and Building Codes (or local By-laws).  Alternative agencies may be involved in providing the required inspection/testing, usually utilizing special acceptance criteria established by the local jurisdictional authority (AHJ).
6.  It should be noted that a technician with an endorsement which appears in a table field for the related equipment testing and inspection may not be performing the required service or providing the necessary documentation.  It is the building OWNER’s responsibility to ensure life safety equipment is being maintained in a fully operational condition and that acceptable maintenance, service, and testing records are kept available ON SITE for inspection by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

 

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We are not affiliated with ASTTBC, CFAA, CANASA, NFPA, NAFED, or NICET (although we encourage you to explore and objectively evaluate the benefits associated with supporting their individual efforts).  Membership in the Fire Technicians Network is entirely voluntary.  Are you up to the challenge of demonstrating your commitment to public safety and the highest standard of professional practice?  JOIN US!  And let us help take your career to the next level!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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