What fire code applies in Alberta?

The National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition, in force since May 1, 2024. It is part of Alberta's safety codes system under the Safety Codes Act, and Municipal Affairs is the lead ministry.

How often do I patrol on a fire watch in Alberta?

Your local fire department and site set it. Medicine Hat, for example, asks for a tour of the entire building every hour. Follow the stricter rule that applies to you.

Do I need to call the fire department when the alarm is out?

Often, yes. Medicine Hat, for example, asks for a call if a fire alarm or detection system is out for more than 2 hours. Check your local fire department's rules and your site's procedure.

Who reports a fire to the Fire Commissioner?

Safety codes officers in the fire discipline and insurance companies file those reports. Your log and notes help them get the facts right.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Alberta Fire Watch Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

Which fire code is in force in Alberta?

The National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition
The Ontario Fire Code, 2007 edition
The US International Fire Code, 2024
The Alberta Fire Code, 1997 edition

Show answer

Answer: A. The National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition

Alberta.ca lists the National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition, NFC(AE), as the code in force.

Question 2 of 25

When did the 2023 Alberta Edition of the National Fire Code come into force?

January 1, 2020
May 1, 2024
July 1, 2022
December 5, 2019

Show answer

Answer: B. May 1, 2024

Alberta.ca lists the 2023 edition of the NFC(AE) as in force on May 1, 2024.

Question 3 of 25

Which Alberta law sets up the safety codes system, including the fire code?

The Safety Codes Act
The Traffic Safety Act
The Petty Trespass Act
The Police Act

Show answer

Answer: A. The Safety Codes Act

Alberta.ca says the Safety Codes Act sets codes, standards and processes in 10 disciplines, including fire. Municipal Affairs administers it.

Question 4 of 25

Which Alberta ministry leads fire codes and standards?

Transportation and Economic Corridors
Municipal Affairs
Health
Education

Show answer

Answer: B. Municipal Affairs

Alberta.ca lists Municipal Affairs as the lead ministry for fire codes and standards.

Question 5 of 25

Which Alberta body certifies and trains safety codes officers?

The Workers' Compensation Board
Security Programs
The Safety Codes Council
The RCMP

Show answer

Answer: C. The Safety Codes Council

The Safety Codes Council is an independent body that manages safety codes officer certification and training.

Question 6 of 25

What is STANDATA in Alberta?

The name of the standard fire watch log sheet
The provincial fire alarm monitoring company
A brand of fire extinguisher sold in Alberta
Code interpretations, variances and bulletins

Show answer

Answer: D. Code interpretations, variances and bulletins

Municipal Affairs and the Safety Codes Council develop fire code STANDATAs. Some are province-wide interpretations or variances, and others are information bulletins.

Question 7 of 25

Which fires in Alberta must be reported to the Fire Commissioner?

Only fires that are reported in the news
Fires that cause death, injury or dollar loss
Only fires that happen inside schools
Only grass and wildland fires in summer

Show answer

Answer: B. Fires that cause death, injury or dollar loss

Alberta.ca says fires that result in death, injury or dollar value loss must be reported to the Fire Commissioner.

Question 8 of 25

Who files fire reports with Alberta's Fire Commissioner?

Fire safety codes officers and insurance firms
The security guard on duty at the time
Any neighbour or passer-by who saw the fire
The building's tenants and their landlord

Show answer

Answer: A. Fire safety codes officers and insurance firms

Reports come from safety codes officers certified in the fire discipline and from insurance industry members who handle fire claims.

Question 9 of 25

Medicine Hat Fire Service treats which situation as a "temporary shutdown" of a fire protection system?

Only a shutdown ordered by the fire chief
Any interruption for inspection, testing or repair
Only a shutdown that lasts longer than a week
Only a shutdown that was caused by a fire

Show answer

Answer: B. Any interruption for inspection, testing or repair

Medicine Hat's fire watch duties say any interruption for inspection, testing, maintenance or repairs is a temporary shutdown.

Question 10 of 25

Under Medicine Hat's fire watch duties, when must a fire watch start after a fire protection system is shut down or impaired?

Only if the fire department visits
After 24 hours
Immediately
The next business day

Show answer

Answer: C. Immediately

Medicine Hat says a fire watch must start immediately when any building fire protection system is shut down or impaired.

Question 11 of 25

According to Medicine Hat's fire watch duties, where should a building's alternative measures for a shutdown be written?

On the front door only
In the building's lease
In the building's Fire Safety Plan
On the guard's personal phone

Show answer

Answer: C. In the building's Fire Safety Plan

Medicine Hat says the alternative measures belong in the building's Fire Safety Plan.

Question 12 of 25

In Medicine Hat, when must the fire service be called about a fire alarm or detection system that is not working?

Only if a fire starts
Never; the monitoring company handles it
Only if it is out for a full week
If it is out of service for more than 2 hours

Show answer

Answer: D. If it is out of service for more than 2 hours

Medicine Hat asks for a call if the fire alarm or detection system, or part of it, is inoperative for more than 2 hours for any reason.

Question 13 of 25

Where does Medicine Hat say to post signs while a fire protection system is out of order?

Only on the outside of the main door
In common areas, with the evacuation procedures
Only in the guard office, to avoid worry
Only on the roof, where crews can see them

Show answer

Answer: B. In common areas, with the evacuation procedures

Medicine Hat says to post signs in common areas stating which system is out and to display the evacuation procedures from the Fire Safety Plan.

Question 14 of 25

How often does Medicine Hat's fire watch guide say to tour the entire building?

Every hour
Only when an alarm sounds
Every 4 hours
Once per shift

Show answer

Answer: A. Every hour

Medicine Hat's fire watch duties say to tour the entire building every hour.

Question 15 of 25

Under Medicine Hat's fire watch duties, how many hours a day must at least one qualified person do fire watch in the unprotected area?

8 hours
Only during business hours
12 hours
24 hours

Show answer

Answer: D. 24 hours

Medicine Hat requires at least one qualified person to perform fire watch duties 24 hours a day in the unprotected area.

Question 16 of 25

What must you write on Medicine Hat's fire watch log for each round?

Only problems found, never an all clear
The weather forecast for the next shift
The time of each round and your initials
The names of everyone in the building

Show answer

Answer: C. The time of each round and your initials

Medicine Hat says to record the time of each round on the Fire Watch Log Sheet and sign or initial each entry.

Question 17 of 25

Besides looking for smoke and fire, what does Medicine Hat say a fire watch person should listen for?

Traffic noise from the street outside
Music playing in tenants' units
The elevator bell on each floor
Smoke detectors sounding inside rooms

Show answer

Answer: D. Smoke detectors sounding inside rooms

A fire watch person looks for smoke and fire and listens for in-room smoke detectors sounding.

Question 18 of 25

Medicine Hat's fire watch duties say hot work, such as welding, is not allowed where sprinklers are impaired unless what?

The welder works quickly
It is done at night
Approved precautions are in place
The guard holds the extinguisher

Show answer

Answer: C. Approved precautions are in place

Medicine Hat says hot work is prohibited where sprinkler protection is impaired unless approved precautions are in place.

Question 19 of 25

Which part of Alberta's OHS Code covers fire and explosion hazards, including hot work?

Part 18
Part 28
Part 12
Part 10

Show answer

Answer: D. Part 10

Part 10 of the OHS Code is "Fire and Explosion Hazards." Section 169 in that Part deals with hot work.

Question 20 of 25

An uncontrolled fire at an Alberta work site could have seriously injured workers. What must the employer do?

Call the OHS Contact Centre as soon as possible
Send a letter to the city within a month
Nothing, since no one was actually hurt
Post a notice about it on social media

Show answer

Answer: A. Call the OHS Contact Centre as soon as possible

Alberta requires a call to the OHS Contact Centre as soon as possible when an unplanned or uncontrolled fire causes, or could cause, serious injury or illness.

Question 21 of 25

After a reportable fire at an Alberta work site, when may the scene be disturbed before an officer gives permission?

To help an injured person or prevent more injuries
To hide damaged equipment from the inspectors
To clean up before the next customers arrive
Whenever the site manager decides it is fine

Show answer

Answer: A. To help an injured person or prevent more injuries

Alberta's rules allow the scene to be disturbed only to attend to injured people, prevent further injuries, protect endangered property, or with permission from an OHS officer or police.

Question 22 of 25

Under Medicine Hat's fire watch duties, when may a fire watch be cancelled?

After 12 quiet hours with no smoke or alarms
When the tenants ask for it to stop
Only after the system is confirmed fully working
When the guard's shift ends for the day

Show answer

Answer: C. Only after the system is confirmed fully working

Medicine Hat says to cancel the fire watch only after confirming the system is fully operational, then call the fire service and, if the system is monitored, the monitoring station.

Question 23 of 25

Who must arrange the permanent repair of a shut-down fire protection system, according to Medicine Hat's fire watch duties?

The local fire department's inspector
The guard who is doing the fire watch
The alarm monitoring station's staff
The owner, operator or management company

Show answer

Answer: D. The owner, operator or management company

A fire watch is short term only. Medicine Hat says the owner, operator or management firm must arrange permanent corrective measures.

Question 24 of 25

You find smoke coming from a storage room during a fire watch. The alarm system is out. What should you do first?

Phone the building owner and wait for them
Alert the occupants with your air horn or whistle
Open the door to look inside the room
Finish your round and write it in the log

Show answer

Answer: B. Alert the occupants with your air horn or whistle

When the alarm is out, the fire watch must alert occupants first, then call 911 from a safe area.

Question 25 of 25

During a fire watch, when should you try to put out a fire yourself?

Never, even if the fire is tiny
Always, before you call 911 for help
Only when the building owner tells you to
Only if it is small and safe to do so

Show answer

Answer: D. Only if it is small and safe to do so

Medicine Hat says to attempt to fight small fires only if it is safe, after alerting occupants and calling 911.

Alberta Fire Watch Course 2026

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