The owner of a London fitness club that closed earlier this year was handed a $35,000 fine Tuesday (July 31) for violating the provincial fire code.
Premier Fitness (Highbury) Inc. was convicted in London’s provincial offence court on the charge of failing to remove chains and a lock from an exit door at the now closed Premier Fitness club at 1295 Highbury Ave.
The London Fire Department charged the club with the fire code violation in December of 2011 after receiving a complaint about the locked exit door from one of the club’s customers on Nov. 9, 2011.
The Ontario Fire Code states people must be able to open exit doors “without requiring keys, special devices or specialized knowledge of the door opening mechanism.”
The club’s owner returns to court on Nov. 22 to answer to 15 more fire code violation charges.
They include:
• Failing to make records and retain originals or copies at the building premises for examination by the chief fire official.
• Failing to ensure closures in fire separations are not obstructed, blocked, wedged open, or altered in any way that would prevent the intended operation of the closure.
• Failing to maintain internally illuminated exit signs.
• Failing to test emergency lighting units monthly and annually.
• Failing to provide instructions to supervisory staff on fire emergency procedures.
• Failing to have a fire safety plan in the building in an approved location.
• Failing to provide updated information and changes made to the London Fire Department.
• Failing to provide instructions to occupants on how to respond during a fire emergency.
• Failing to conduct fire drills.
• Failing to provide records of fire drills.
• Failing to inspect portable extinguishers monthly.
• Failing to inspect and test the fire alarm system.
• Failing to keep a description of the fire alarm system as required.
• Failing to have fire department connections inspected.
• Failing to provide water flow tests.
Last month, the London Fire Department announced that more than $100,000 in fines had been handed out to two property management companies operating in London and a London restaurant for fire code violations.
