In a letter to residents of an Airdrie apartment complex where two carbon monoxide leaks occurred in one week, the City of Airdrie has informed them that they must have their boilers and associated venting checked and serviced.

The letter goes on to say the residents must also provide documentation of the inspection to the city by March 12th or risk the possibility of legal action.  

The complex, located at 700 Willowbrook Road, had to be evacuated twice in a one week period because of carbon monoxide leaks.  The first incident on February 4th tragically took the life of 12-year-old Trai Schlichter who died as a result of carbon monoxide exposure. 

Investigations into the leaks determined that both were the result of improper ventilation of on-demand hot water heaters. 

The letter from the city is dated February 15th and is to the attention of occupants and owners of 700 Willowbrook Road and is regarding Laars Mascot HT 330 and Baxi Luna HT 380 Condensing Boilers and associated Venting.

It states that the purpose of the letter is:

"The Safety Codes Act under Part 4, clause 48 (1) allows for a Safety Codes Office to investigate an unsafe condition, accident, or fire to determine its cause and circumstances and make recommendations related to safety.  The investigation completed with respect to the incident which occurred on February 4, 2018 at 2105, 700 Willowbrook Road NW, determined the fatality was caused by a fautly boiler unit and its venting.

As such, the purpose of this notice is to inform owners/occupants of units that have the above mentioned boilers to have their heating units checked and serviced by a person (or persons) that is certified, properly trained, and qualified to perform such functions, and that person or company has a current Business Licence with the City of Airdrie.

Due to the potential risk involved, we are requiring that these units and venting be inspected, and the documentation of such be forwarded to the City of Airdrie by March 12, 2018.

Under section 35(2) of the Safety Codes Act, if a person on whom a demand is made under subsection (1) refuses or fails to comply, the Safety Codes Officer may apply to a judge or the court of Queen's Bench and the judge may make any order that the judge considers necessary to enforce compliance with subsection (1)."

The letter is signed Darrell Ryckman, Safety Codes Officer for Plumbing, Gas and Building with the City of Airdrie.  

Crown Shores, the owners of the building say that they have sourced a licensed technician for the owners and occupants of the units with the systems in question to schedule the inspections in the coming days.  

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