Acronym
Fuels
TORONTO, ON, January 26, 2026 - As major winter storm effects continue to impact parts of Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) urges homeowners and residents to check their gas meters and the external exhaust outlets for furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters and all fuel-burning devices to ensure no snow or ice builds up.
“Exhaust vents, in particular, often extend out of the side of a home as low as one foot above ground. They have the potential to get covered and blocked easily without a homeowner’s knowledge, especially when a homeowner is shoveling snow or using a snowblower or when there is a severe snow build-up,” says Owen Kennedy, TSSA’s Director of Fuels Safety. “Additionally, a snow-covered gas meter can interfere with its ability to regulate gas pressure, creating other serious safety risks,” adds Kennedy.
Blocked vents can increase the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) building up inside a home. CO, is a highly poisonous and deadly gas commonly referred to as the “Silent Killer” as you can’t smell it, see it or taste it. When snow piles up, check your gas meter and vents.
When snow piles up, check your gas meter and vents.
- Use a car brush or broom to gently remove snow from gas meters and vent pipes. Avoid sharp tools to prevent damage.
- Never shovel, plow, or blow snow against the meter or vent pipe.
- Be cautious when using snow blowers to avoid bumping the meter.
- Refrain from kicking the meter or vent pipes to clear ice or snow.
- Remove icicles from overhead eaves to prevent dripping water from freezing on the meter or vent pipes.
Also, for residents experiencing power-related issues it's important to remember to never use any fuel-burning appliances indoors that are specifically designed and approved for outdoor use only.
Be in the Know when it Comes to CO.
CO poisoning symptoms include dizziness, headaches, and nausea. If you're experiencing symptoms such as these, immediately move to fresh air and call emergency services.
Learn more about CO in this backgrounder, by visiting COsafety.ca by browsing through TSSA's WinterWise booklet for additional CO and winter safety tips.
About TSSA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) administrators provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services includes public education, authorization, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.
For more information or to arrange media availability, please contact:
TSSA
Alexandra Campbell
Vice President, Communications, Stakeholder Relations
and Customer Service
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
Telephone: 416-734-2728
Email: media@tssa.org
TORONTO, ON, January 12, 2026 – Carbon monoxide (CO) continues to be a leading cause of accidental poisoning in Ontario. With approximately 65% of all CO incidents occurring in people’s homes, TSSA urges everyone to be ‘WinterWise’ this season and learn about how they can protect themselves against this invisible, odourless and highly poisonous gas - often dubbed the ‘Silent Killer’.
As part of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s (TSSA’s) ongoing efforts to build CO awareness across the province, select communities will be receiving a copy of an important safety booklet – WinterWise – this week. This campaign, together with the ongoing public education efforts of community fire and emergency services departments, provides vital information to assist residents in reducing CO risks in their homes.
“During the cold weather months, there’s naturally an increased use of furnaces and fireplaces, and even though these fuel-burning appliances may be safely designed, they can emit deadly levels of CO gas if not properly installed, inspected and maintained regularly,” says Owen Kennedy, TSSA’s Director of Fuels Safety. “While CO presents serious hazards, residents can significantly reduce CO risks and any potential harm by taking these two important steps,” adds Kennedy.
- Have all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually through the services of a TSSA-registered fuel contractor: to find a TSSA-registered contractor near you, use the Find A Registered Fuels Contractor Tool at cosafety.ca.
- Install certified CO alarms in your home, regularly test and replace them in accordance with manufacturer’s instruction.
“It’s also important to remember to never use any fuel-burning appliances indoors that are specifically designed and approved for outdoor use only,” adds Kennedy.
Residents are encouraged to learn more about CO and other seasonal safety topics by reading and sharing the information in the WinterWise booklet and by visiting COsafety.ca – a website dedicated to providing critical CO safety information.
TSSA continues to partner with local fire and emergency services and other safety-minded organizations to deliver critical CO safety information to residents in communities across Ontario. The attached backgrounder provides additional information on carbon monoxide.
Stay one step ahead of CO – Beat the Silent Killer. COsafety.ca
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About TSSA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) administers provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services includes public education, authorization, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities. www.tssa.org
For more information or to arrange media availability, please contact: TSSA Alexandra Campbell Vice President, Communications, Stakeholder Relations and Customer Service Technical Standards and Safety Authority Telephone: 416-734-2728 Email: media@tssa.org
A slew of changes to the Ontario Fire Code will take effect on January 1, 2026.
The changes will improve harmonization of the Ontario Fire Code with the 2020 National Fire Code of Canada and introduce new requirements to enhance fire-prevention safety. This includes changes to where carbon monoxide (CO) alarms must be placed in existing homes, including detached or semi-detached houses, townhouses and cottages.
The updated requirements apply to all existing homes that have any of the following:
• A fuel-burning appliance (like a furnace, water heater, or stove that uses natural gas, propane, oil, or wood)
• A fireplace
• An attached garage
• Air for heating that comes from a fuel-burning appliance not contained within the home (e.g., an appliance in a utility shed).
If your home meets any of the conditions above, a CO alarm must be installed:
1. Adjacent to each sleeping area (near all bedrooms)
2. On every storey (floor) of your home, including storeys that do not have a sleeping area
These requirements are outlined in Section 2.16 of Division B of the Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07).
Changes introduced through O. Reg. 87/25: Fire Code also align with recent updates to the Ontario Building Code, including new requirements for CO alarms in existing residential and care occupancies. Click on the respective links for detailed information on new CO alarm requirements for:
Click here for details on other changes introduced by O. Reg. 87/25.
Toronto, ON, December 5, 2025 — Glen Robinson and Sons Plumbing and Heating (Glen Robinson & Sons) has been fined $10,000, plus a 25% victim surcharge, for safety violations related to a furnace installation under Ontario Regulation 212/01: Gaseous Fuels of the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.
In 2021, Glen Robinson & Sons installed a furnace at a property in Metcalfe, Ontario, but failed to affix the required pressure test tag upon completion. Without this tag, the homeowner could not change propane suppliers. Despite requests, the company refused to return to install the tag.
Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) also found that Glen Robinson & Sons did not hold a valid TSSA contractor registration at the time of the furnace installation. In Ontario, all contractors working on fuel-burning equipment must be registered with TSSA and renew their registrations annually to continue operating legally. The company’s fuels contractor registration had expired for over 10 years and was only reinstated in October 2025.
“Contractors must ensure their TSSA registration is current before carrying out any work on fuel-burning equipment,” said Owen Kennedy, Director of Fuels Safety, TSSA. “In Ontario, only contractors with active registration are legally authorized to operate. This registration serves as an essential credential, validating that a business meets the qualifications and safety standards required to perform technical work on fuel equipment.”
TSSA’s licensees are responsible for renewing their licences or registrations with TSSA to operate legally in Ontario. Devices, facilities, contractors, and businesses regulated by TSSA that operate without a valid licence or registration may pose a risk to public safety. If a regulated party fails to renew or reinstate their authorization, TSSA will take regulatory actions, which may include shutting down equipment or pursuing court proceedings for offences.
TSSA’s Lapsed Authorization Policy outlines the scope of lapsed authorizations, licensee responsibilities, and the process for reinstatement. For more information, please visit: TSSA’s website.
About TSSA
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is one of Ontario’s public safety regulators mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety. Throughout Ontario, TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education and consumer information, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support and enforcement and prosecution activities. The organization’s vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety.
For more information, please contact:
Alexandra Campbell
Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
Telephone: 416-734-2728
Email: media@tssa.org
Toronto, ON, November 10, 2025 — Oasis Pool and Landscaping was found guilty of eight offences related to pipeline strikes under Ontario Regulation 210/01 (Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems) of the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000. The Ontario Court of Justice has imposed a fine of $80,000, plus a 25% victim surcharge.
The safety violations occurred in June and July 2024, when Oasis Pool and Landscaping damaged two gas pipelines in two separate incidents in North York, Ontario, causing a loss of gas service to over 50 households in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
An investigation by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) found that Oasis Pool and Landscaping failed to supervise its employee and did not follow safety procedures during excavation work. The company did not hand-dig within one metre of a gas pipeline as required and struck the line, in both incidents, with an excavator. Following each of the strikes, an employee of the contractor sealed the damaged gas line and continued working without reporting the incident—an unsafe and unlawful action that posed a serious risk to public safety.
In the July incident, the company conducted additional excavation without referencing the obtained locates, increasing the risk of a pipeline strike.
According to TSSA’s latest Public Safety Report, pipeline strikes account for over 60% of reported fuel-related incidents in fiscal year 2025. These incidents can result in gas leaks, fires, explosions, property damage, injuries, or fatalities. Repairs often require gas shut-offs, leaving nearby homes and businesses without service.
“This prosecution marks the third conviction for gas pipeline damage in Ontario this year,” said Owen Kennedy, Director of Fuels Safety at TSSA. “In this case, the company involved even failed to use the obtained locates in one of the incidents. Digging without knowing the location of buried utilities is irresponsible, as it significantly increases the risk of damaging gas pipelines and other underground infrastructure.”
Mr. Kennedy added, “TSSA reminds all contractors to follow the rules when carrying out work that may contact gas pipelines. Every contractor has a duty to ensure locates are completed before excavation begins and to dig safely in accordance with safety codes.”
Before starting any digging project, both homeowners and contractors must contact Ontario One Call to identify the location of underground utilities such as gas, hydro, cable, and telephone lines. Taking this step is critical to preventing damage to pipelines and other buried infrastructure.
To help protect underground utilities, contractors are also required to follow the safety standards as outlined in the Canadian Standards Association’s Damage Prevention for the Protection of Underground Infrastructure safety code (CSA Z247-15).
If a gas line is damaged or a leak is suspected, it must be reported immediately to TSSA at 1-877-682-8772.
About TSSA
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is one of Ontario’s public safety regulators mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety. Throughout Ontario, TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education and consumer information, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support and enforcement and prosecution activities. The organization’s vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety.
For more information, please contact:
Alexandra Campbell
Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
Telephone: 416-734-2728
Email: media@tssa.org