Fire safety boxes

If you own or manage a building in Waterloo, you may need a fire safety box and an approved lockbox. 

These tools give firefighters fast, safe access to your building information during an emergency.

On this page:

1. Who needs a fire safety box
2. What to include in your fire safety box
3. How to set up a lockbox
4. Fire safety box vs fire safety plan
5. Contact us

Who needs a fire safety box

Building owners must have a fire safety box and an approved lockbox if their property requires a fire safety plan.

• if you already have an approved lockbox, you can keep using it
• the owner or contact person must be able to arrive at the fire scene within 45 minutes when an alarm is activated

These requirements come from Section 2.8 of the Ontario Fire Code and the Fire Safety Box Bylaw. Read the Fire Safety Box Bylaw for complete requirements.

What to include in your fire safety box

Your fire safety box should contain:

• contact information for the owner or designated contact
• current building schematics or drawings
• a replacement lock for the fire safety box in case firefighters need to cut the existing one

How to set up a lockbox

A lockbox is a small, secure box mounted on the outside of your building. 

It holds the keys and tools firefighters need for safe, quick entry during an emergency, including a key to the fire safety box inside your building.

Lockbox requirements:

• include the fire safety box key inside the lockbox
• label each key clearly
• only our responders have keys for the lockbox
• the lockbox must be approved by Waterloo Fire Rescue – currently, only Supra brand lockboxes are accepted

For help buying or installing a lockbox, contact G&A Lock and Security.

Fire safety box vs. fire safety plan

Fire safety box

The fire safety box is a quick-reference resource for responders and includes:

• the owner’s contact information
• building schematics

The fire safety box helps firefighters respond quickly.

Fire safety plan

The fire safety plan is a detailed document maintained by the building owner and includes:

• evacuation procedures
• potential hazards
• sprinkler and alarm system details
• instructions for shutting off equipment and other systems

The fire safety plan helps owners and occupants stay safe and meet fire code requirements.