LRI Engineering Can Help You Comply—Safely and Cost-Effectively
Effective January 1, 2026, medical laboratories across Ontario, including hospital pathology labs must comply with new Ontario Fire Code (OFC) requirements for the storage of flammable and combustible liquids used in specimen preservation.
What’s Changing?
Under OFC Sentence 5.5.5.2.(3), labs must ensure that specimen containers:
- Are properly sized,
- Are stored in rooms built to blast-resistant standards, and
- Are protected against breakage and spillage.
These rooms must meet OFC Subsection 4.2.9, requiring damage-limiting construction and explosion venting in accordance with NFPA 68.
The Challenge for Existing Labs
These requirements present significant challenges for existing facilities, particularly those with pathology labs located in:
- Basements, or
- Landlocked areas of above-grade floorplates.
In such cases, installing explosion vents on exterior walls may be physically unfeasible. Additionally, most existing lab partitions are not blast resistant, and retrofitting them to meet the new standards is often cost prohibitive.
LRI’s Alternative Solution
Many pathology laboratories are in basements or landlocked areas, making it physically or financially unfeasible to install explosion vents or upgrade to blast-resistant construction.
LRI Engineering offers a practical, code-compliant alternative:
- Explosion Prevention Systems designed for occupied spaces
- Fully compliant with NFPA 69
- Developed and submitted as Alternative Solutions for AHJ approval
Why Choose LRI Engineering?
- Deep expertise in fire code compliance and healthcare facilities
- Proven track record with Alternative Solutions
- Collaborative approach with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
- Cost-effective strategies tailored to your facility’s constraints
Let’s Get Ahead of the Deadline
We’re ready to help you assess your facility and develop a compliance strategy. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our services.
Fire Code Shake-Up: Is Your Lab Ready?
Big changes are coming to Ontario’s Fire Code… and labs need to be ready.
Join our experts on November 26, 2025, for a live session that breaks down what’s changing, what it means for your facility, and how to navigate compliance without breaking the bank.
