With more than 3900 CFAA-registered fire alarm technicians and trainees across the country, we have a skilled workforce that Canadians can depend on to help protect life and property from fire: Suzanne Alfano of Canadian Fire Alarm Association

“CFAA’s Fire Alarm Technology Program was established more than 40 years ago and continues to be updated to include new technologies and advancements in the safety, design, installation, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.”

 The Canadian Fire Alarm Association, or CFAA, was founded in 1973 and incorporated nationally as a not-for-profit corporation in 1977. CFAA began as a manufacturers’ association, and over the years it gradually grew and developed. Much work was done by the founding members to promote the effective use of fire alarm systems across Canada. There were also efforts to establish and influence codes and standards and to develop and deliver education programs aimed at helping installers and service technicians become competent and proficient to help improve the quality, effectiveness, and reliability of fire alarm systems.

The Canadian Fire Alarm Association celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.

The Silicon Review reached out to Suzanne Alfano, Executive Director of the Canadian Fire Alarm Association, and here’s what she had to say.

Interview Highlights

Q. What are CFAA’s key focus areas?

The CFAA focuses on education and training related to fire alarm systems across Canada. We have over 440 member organizations and individuals and 3900+ CFAA-registered fire alarm technicians and trainees. Our training is taken by many stakeholder groups involved in the fire protection industry, including technicians, equipment manufacturers, fire alarm service companies, engineering firms, building and fire officials, building owners and property managers, and insurance companies.

Q. How does CFAA promote collaboration between fire alarm technicians, fire prevention officers, and property managers? How does it ensure public safety?

CFAA seeks to engage with various municipal, provincial, and federal agencies in support of our members, technicians, and public safety as it relates to fire prevention. The CFAA National Board of Directors and our nine active chapters across Canada are represented by volunteers, and they help to advocate on various industry and public safety issues. Many of our member companies are also represented on various National and Provincial/Territorial Codes and Standards Committees across Canada to maximize the effectiveness and use of fire alarm systems in the protection of life and property in Canada. We are doing more outreach to building owners and property managers to invite them to be members of the CFAA and join our training events to build greater awareness and compliance related to their obligations for the installation, inspection, and maintenance of their fire alarm systems.

Q. Can you provide us with one or two success stories, detailing specific public challenges and how CFAA’s solutions contributed to their safety?

Personally, I feel the largest public safety challenge is the concerning increase in fire deaths in homes. It is important to note than fire incidents have steadily declined since the 1960s in the Canada and the US by more than 60 percent, though fire deaths have increased in recent years. For example, deaths per million people have increased 8 percent since 2020, with the highest number of deaths in almost a decade. Homes have consistently accounted for the largest share of the reported structure fires and most of the reported fire deaths and injuries. In this context, the term home includes one- and two-family homes, as well as manufactured homes, apartments, and other multi-family housing. New materials used in home construction, along with home furnishings, have more flammable properties than in the past causing fire and smoke to spread more quickly. This reduces the time that people can safely exit the home in the event of a fire. Lithium-ion batteries are used in many products such as tools, scooters, e-bikes, cell phones and electric vehicles and we are seeing an increase in residential fires related to battery failure. And tragically too many homes do not have working smoke alarms to alert occupants quickly.

What is CFAA doing in this area? We support research and provide technical expertise to improve residential smoke alarm safety standards, along with many other standards related to fire alarm systems. We also sponsor National Fire Prevention Week aimed to improve public safety against fire. Our member organizations are continually improving their products and services. Canada and the US have recently made significant changes to the design requirements of residential smoke alarms to help reduce the occurrence of false alarms with more precision in smoke detection, including options for innovative 10-year tamperproof battery alarms and interconnected home smoke alarm systems. Statistics have shown that approx. 40 percent of all home fires did not have a working smoke alarm and this is a huge public safety challenge. Fire alarm service companies and building owners are required to regularly test and inspect fire alarm systems in most all multi-unit/highrise residential buildings. Though in one- and two family homes it is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure their smoke alarms are in good working order. And this is where the largest fire problem lies.

In terms of a success story, CFAA’s Fire Alarm Technology Program was established more than 40 years ago and continues to be updated to include new technologies and advancements in the safety, design, installation, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems. It is the only national program designed by industry specifically to qualify and register technicians to perform work on fire alarm systems in Canada. With more than 3900 CFAA-registered fire alarm technicians and trainees across the country, we have a skilled workforce that Canadians can depend on to help protect life and property from fire. We collaborate with other fire and life safety professionals in our field to contribute to public safety.

We are proud of our accomplishments over the last fifty years to help improve the quality, effectiveness, and reliability of fire alarm systems that play a key role in fire protection and aim to reduce injuries, deaths, and property losses in Canada.

Q. Will CFAA be expanding, bringing on any new services that we should be aware of?

CFAA’s vision is to be recognized nationally as the definitive resource for fire alarm-related information, education, qualifications, expertise, and industry support, with active chapters throughout Canada. The CFAA Fire Alarm Technology Program will be expanded, and the Association has partnered with 18 colleges across Canada to increase its availability.

In recent years, we have begun a digital transformation of our education program, and now all CFAA core courses, exams, and continuing education can be taken in person or live online. We continue to expand our online course options and develop new courses and content each year. In 2023, we had over 2700 attendees at our live technical seminar events, with a total of over 43,000 hours of CFAA training taken to become a new technician or for continuing education credits.

About | Suzanne Alfano

Suzanne Alfano is the Executive Director of the Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA). Her educational background is in electrical and electronic engineering, along with a Master of Business Administration degree. Suzanne has a unique 30-year plus background in association management, with a focus on fire and electrical safety. She has worked for various associations in Canada and the USA in technical management, consulting, and leadership roles. Her experience includes advocating for legislative and regulatory requirements that support industry and public safety.

“We are proud of our accomplishments over the years to help improve the quality, effectiveness, and reliability of fire alarm systems that play a key role in fire protection and aim to reduce injuries, deaths, and property losses in Canada.”

 “CFAA’s vision is to be recognized nationally as the definitive resource for fire alarm-related information, education, qualifications, expertise, and industry support, with active chapters throughout Canada.”