Safety Notices, Recalls and Buyer Beware
May 13, 2021 - The OAFC’s Fire Prevention and Public Education Committee, comprised of volunteers from the OAFC, the Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE), the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officer’s Association (OMFPOA), and the Ontario Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM), recently partnered with Health Canada on the issue of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms being sold online in Ontario without complying with the appropriate Canadian and Ontarian standards.
Research conducted by the OFMEM showed that some online retailors are listing and selling smoke and CO alarms through third party vendors in Ontario without meeting the appropriate standards - missing the appropriate certification marks. Below are some pictures of Canadian Starndard markings.
On behalf of the OAFC, we would like to thank all the volunteers on the OAFC's Fire Prevention and Public Education Committee and Health Canada for their efforts in making this public education campaign happen.
April 21, 2021 - With more people spending more time at home due to COVID-19 Lockdowns, individuals are seeking new activities and hobbies to try. One such hobby that has been growing in popularity, is fractal wood burning, or controling Lichtenberg figures, through the use of Lichtenberg Generators.
A Lichtenberg figure is a type of branching electrical discharge that sometimes appears on the surface or interior of insulating materials. Modern artists are attempting to control Lichtenberg figures or these eletrical discharges and results, in their artwork by building homemade Lichtenberg Generators - devices capable of creating and controling high voltages which they direct to their artwork.
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is warning against using high voltage energy sources such as microwave oven transformers or similar components to manufacture Lichtenberg generators. Lichtenberg Generators utilize high voltage to "create art", by burning patterns into various materials such as wood or acrylic.