Which fire code applies in Quebec?

Chapter VIII – Building of the Safety Code, adopted by the RBQ, consists of the National Fire Code of Canada 2020 with Quebec amendments. Many cities also have fire prevention bylaws, often based on the 2010 code as modified for Quebec.

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

The code and the city bylaws in this course do not set one frequency for everyone. Get the frequency in writing from your site and follow the instructions of the local fire safety service.

Can I reset the fire alarm if it is a false alarm?

No. Bylaws such as Saguenay's forbid resetting or silencing an alarm until the cause is found and the fire safety service has confirmed it. Leave it to the fire service and the responsible persons.

What can firefighters ask me to do at a fire?

Under section 40 of the Fire Safety Act, firefighters may prohibit access, order an evacuation and require the help of any person able to assist. Follow their instructions.

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.

Quebec Fire Watch Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

Which Quebec law sets out the roles of the province, municipalities and others in fire prevention and firefighting?

The Fire Safety Act
The Highway Safety Code
The Private Security Act
The Civil Code of Québec

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Answer: A. The Fire Safety Act

The roles of the different actors in fire prevention, planning and firefighting are set out in the Fire Safety Act, chapter S-3.4.

Question 2 of 25

Which provincial body adopts Quebec's Safety Code, including Chapter VIII – Building?

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ)
The SAAQ
The Bureau de la sécurité privée
The Sûreté du Québec

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Answer: A. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ)

Section 31 of the Building Act says the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) adopts a safety code. Chapter VIII – Building holds the fire safety rules for many existing buildings.

Question 3 of 25

According to the RBQ, what does Chapter VIII – Building of the Safety Code now consist of?

Montreal's fire bylaw, applied across the whole province
The Ontario Fire Code, exactly as written for Ontario
The National Building Code of 1995, with no changes
The National Fire Code of Canada 2020, with Quebec amendments

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Answer: D. The National Fire Code of Canada 2020, with Quebec amendments

The RBQ says Chapter VIII consists of the National Fire Code of Canada 2020 with Quebec amendments, after a change on April 17, 2025.

Question 4 of 25

Since when has Chapter VIII – Building of Quebec's Safety Code been in force?

October 6, 2021
January 1, 1990
July 1, 2000
March 18, 2013

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Answer: D. March 18, 2013

The RBQ says Chapter VIII – Building has been in force since March 18, 2013, and was modified on April 17, 2025.

Question 5 of 25

Can a Quebec municipality adopt fire safety rules stricter than the Safety Code?

Only if every owner in the city agrees
No, only the federal government can
No, municipalities have no fire role
Yes, for buildings in its own territory

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Answer: D. Yes, for buildings in its own territory

The RBQ says a municipality may adopt more stringent standards for buildings in its territory, so always check the local bylaw.

Question 6 of 25

Montreal's By-law concerning fire safety, adopted in 2012, was made to conform to which code?

The Ontario Fire Code of 2007
The US Life Safety Code of 2015
The National Fire Code of Canada 2010
The National Building Code of Canada 1995

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Answer: C. The National Fire Code of Canada 2010

The Montreal fire department says the by-law, adopted on January 24, 2012, was amended to conform to the National Fire Code – Canada 2010.

Question 7 of 25

Who runs the fire safety service (service de sécurité incendie) in a Quebec community?

The building's security company
The CNESST
The municipality
The Bureau de la sécurité privée

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Answer: C. The municipality

Municipalities manage their fire safety service, which assesses risks, does prevention, fights fires and investigates their causes.

Question 8 of 25

Under the Safety Code, which of these must a building owner keep in good and safe working order?

Vending machines and coffee makers
Parking meters and bike racks
Sprinklers and fire alarm systems
Lobby music and decorative lights

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Answer: C. Sprinklers and fire alarm systems

The RBQ lists keeping sprinklers, fire alarms, door closers and emergency equipment in good and safe operating condition as an owner duty.

Question 9 of 25

How often does the RBQ say fire evacuation drills must be held under the Safety Code?

Never; drills are optional
Every 10 years
Only after a real fire
At least once a year

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Answer: D. At least once a year

The RBQ says owners must make sure appropriate fire evacuation and rescue drills are held at least once a year.

Question 10 of 25

Where does the RBQ say inspection results and repair records for fire safety systems must be kept?

In the guard's personal notebook
Nowhere; they can be thrown away
At the nearest police station
In the building's register

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Answer: D. In the building's register

The RBQ says inspection, verification, maintenance and repair records for fire safety systems must be kept in the building's register.

Question 11 of 25

Under Quebec's modified fire code, how often must a fire safety plan be reviewed?

At least every 5 years
Only when the fire department asks
Only when the building is sold
At least every 12 months

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Answer: D. At least every 12 months

The modified code, reproduced in bylaws such as Beaconsfield's and Baie-D'Urfé's, says the plan is reviewed at intervals of at most 12 months.

Question 12 of 25

Besides when needed, when must a fire safety plan be updated under Quebec's modified fire code?

Only when the owner changes
Only after a fire
After every fire drill
Every time a guard changes shifts

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Answer: C. After every fire drill

The modified code says the fire safety plan must be updated as needed and following every fire drill.

Question 13 of 25

According to Quebec's modified fire code, when must firefighters be called?

In all cases, as soon as the alert signal starts
Only after the guard has searched the whole building
Only during business hours on weekdays
Only if the fire is still burning after 30 minutes

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Answer: A. In all cases, as soon as the alert signal starts

A note in the modified code says that in all cases firefighters must be called at the onset of the alert signal.

Question 14 of 25

Under Saguenay's fire prevention bylaw, which of these must happen before anyone resets or silences a fire alarm system?

The guard on duty has decided it is a false alarm
Ten minutes have passed since the alarm started
The fire safety service has confirmed the cause
The occupants have complained about the noise

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Answer: C. The fire safety service has confirmed the cause

Saguenay's bylaw (article 49) forbids resetting or silencing the alarm until the cause is found, occupants are safe and the fire safety service has confirmed the cause.

Question 15 of 25

Under Saguenay's bylaw, what must happen before a sprinkler (water-based) system is shut off after it activates?

The insurance company must be called first
Nothing; anyone may shut it off at any time
The cause is found and the fire department is told
The guard must wait 24 hours before acting

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Answer: C. The cause is found and the fire department is told

Saguenay's bylaw says no one may shut off a water-based system until the exact cause is found and the fire department is told the probable cause.

Question 16 of 25

Under Saguenay's bylaw, whose names and phone numbers must be posted on or near the fire alarm panel?

Only the security guard on duty that night
Every tenant who lives in the building
The mayor and the city's fire chief
Two responsible persons reachable at all times

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Answer: D. Two responsible persons reachable at all times

Saguenay's bylaw requires owners to post the names and numbers of two responsible persons, reachable at all times, on or near the alarm panel.

Question 17 of 25

Montreal has a bylaw on unfounded fire alarms. What is an unfounded alarm?

A fire drill that was announced in advance
An alarm set off by a real fire in the building
An alarm set off with no need, such as by a fault
An alarm in a building that has no sprinklers

Show answer

Answer: C. An alarm set off with no need, such as by a fault

Montreal's fire department defines an unfounded alarm as one triggered without need, such as from poor installation, malfunction, poor maintenance or wrong handling.

Question 18 of 25

Under the fire code and the city bylaws in this course, what sets how often you patrol on a Quebec fire watch?

The Private Security Act, which says every hour
The guard on duty, who decides alone
The Safety Code, which says every 5 minutes
The site's arrangements and the local fire service

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Answer: D. The site's arrangements and the local fire service

The texts reviewed set no single patrol frequency. Get the frequency in writing from your site and follow the local fire safety service.

Question 19 of 25

Under section 6 of the Fire Safety Act, what must an owner do after a formal notice from the municipality about fire hazards that threaten public safety?

Take the measures needed to protect people and property
Sell the building within one year of the notice
Post a warning sign and take no other action
Wait until a fire actually happens in the building

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Answer: A. Take the measures needed to protect people and property

Section 6 says the owner must, on receiving a formal notice, take the measures necessary to protect persons and property.

Question 20 of 25

Under section 5 of the Fire Safety Act, a person whose activities or property are a high or particular fire hazard must report it to the local municipality. How long do they have after becoming subject to the regulation?

Three months
24 hours
7 days
Five years

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Answer: A. Three months

Section 5 says the hazard must be reported to the local municipality within three months of becoming subject to the regulation.

Question 21 of 25

Under section 40 of the Fire Safety Act, which of these may firefighters do during a fire?

Arrest the guard who reported the fire
Seize the building's insurance papers
Require help from any person able to assist
Fine the owner on the spot for the fire

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Answer: C. Require help from any person able to assist

Section 40 lets firefighters enter premises, prohibit access, order evacuation, order energy shut off and require the help of any capable person.

Question 22 of 25

Under section 43 of the Fire Safety Act, who must find the point of origin and probable causes of a fire?

The fire chief or a qualified person they name
The building owner's insurance company
The security guard who found the fire
The tenant of the unit where it started

Show answer

Answer: A. The fire chief or a qualified person they name

Section 43 makes the fire chief, or a qualified person the chief designates, responsible for finding the origin, probable causes and circumstances.

Question 23 of 25

Quebec's modified fire code requires a fire risk management program on construction sites for wood-frame residential buildings of more than four storeys. Which activity do its notes list for the program to cover?

Parking for workers' vehicles
Hot work such as welding and cutting
Snow removal from the sidewalks
Painting the site office walls

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Answer: B. Hot work such as welding and cutting

The code (article 5.6.1.2 and its note, as reproduced in bylaws such as Beaconsfield's) lists hot work, including welding, cutting and hot roofing or tar work.

Question 24 of 25

You find smoke coming from a storage room during a fire watch in Montreal. Which number do you call?

514 872-3800, the by-law information line
No one until the end of your shift
9-1-1
The building manager's office line

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Answer: C. 9-1-1

For a fire, always call 9-1-1. Montreal lists 514 872-3800 for questions about its fire safety by-law, not for emergencies.

Question 25 of 25

Which of these buildings does the RBQ list as covered by the Buildings chapter of the Safety Code?

A private car in a driveway
A single-family home with one storey
A store (mercantile occupancy) over 300 m²
A garden shed behind a house

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Answer: C. A store (mercantile occupancy) over 300 m²

The RBQ lists mercantile occupancies over 300 m² among the buildings covered, along with hotels, schools, hospitals and larger apartment buildings.

Quebec Fire Watch Course 2026

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