Fire code(s) for homes converted to residential units.
If the building was originally a single home and the owner has converted it into separate apartments there are specific things the owner should have done to legalize the conversion. The process includes obtaining various approvals and permits from city zoning, planning, building and fire departments.
If the property has been properly approved and inspected, the owner has the obligation to maintain the property to a minimum standard in accordance with a City of Burlington Property Standards bylaw. In addition to that bylaw, the owner also has obligations to maintain the building in accordance with the fire code. If the building was approved for units there would be items such as maintaining fire separations (walls and floors) to ensure there are no openings that would allow smoke or fire to easily spread from one unit to the other. There is also a requirement for smoke alarms to be installed and maintained in each unit, and possibly on other levels of the building as well. There are specific requirements for the type and number of exits from the units and any common areas of the building. These, and other possible fire code requirements would be addressed prior to occupancy of the apartment units.
With consideration of all the information above, the main question is to determine if the building is approved as multiple units. If you have specific concerns about fire safety it would be best to find out if the building is legally designated as multi-tenant.
If you require additional information please send an email to firedepartment@burlington.ca or call (905) 637-9536.