Walk into almost any Toronto restaurant, hotel lobby or daycare and you'll spot artificial plants — towering ficus trees in corners, plastic foliage cascading from ledges, silk flower centrepieces on every table. They look like harmless decoration. To a fire inspector, they're the #1 reason commercial venues fail Ontario Fire Code inspections.
Why Fake Plants Are a Serious Fire Hazard
Most artificial plants on the commercial market are manufactured from polyethylene plastic, PVC and silk-like polyester — materials that burn intensely, drip flaming melted plastic onto surrounding surfaces, and emit thick toxic smoke containing hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide and dioxins. A single untreated artificial ficus in a corner can ignite from a dropped match or candle flame and reach full involvement in under 30 seconds.
Real-world commercial fires triggered by artificial plant ignition have killed dozens of people in North American restaurants and venues over the past decade. Insurance investigators and fire marshals identify artificial plants as a top-five ignition source category in commercial fires.
For these reasons, Toronto Fire Services and every other GTA fire department actively check for flame retardant treatment of decorative plants and plastic decorations during inspections — and write up venues that cannot produce documentation.
Ontario Fire Code Requirements for Decorative Materials
The Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07), Section 2.3.2.1 explicitly requires that "decorative materials shall be flame resistant, certified flame resistant or rendered flame resistant" in places of assembly, hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities, schools and daycares. Artificial plants and plastic decorations are decorative materials under this definition.
Acceptable compliance pathways:
- Inherently flame-resistant plants — some commercial-grade artificial plants are manufactured with FR-treated materials from the factory. These require manufacturer documentation referencing NFPA 701.
- Professional flame retardant treatment — most artificial plants on the market require post-purchase NFPA 701 treatment. This is what we do.
Venues That Commonly Fail Inspection
- Restaurants with table centrepiece arrangements, lobby plants, patio decorations and bar-area greenery
- Hotels with lobby palms, ballroom centrepieces, hallway plant installations and conference room decorations
- Event venues with ceremony plants, photo backdrop florals, ceiling installations and aisle decorations
- Daycares with classroom plants, holiday decorations, sensory area greenery and seasonal displays
- Offices with reception area plants, conference room decorations and break room greenery
- Retail stores with seasonal displays, window decorations and product backdrop greenery
Our Treatment Process
- 1. Onsite InventoryWe catalogue every artificial plant installation — quantity, location, plant type, material composition. Bulk-volume properties get itemized inventory pricing.
- 2. Pre-Treatment InspectionEach item is wiped clean of dust and grease (flame retardant bonds best to clean surfaces). We test inconspicuous areas on dyed plants to confirm no discoloration.
- 3. NFPA 701-Compliant TreatmentPlants are sprayed with calibrated equipment using NFPA 701-tested flame retardant. Coverage is verified visually and with sample flame-testing.
- 4. Written Certificate IssuedInspection-ready compliance certificate naming the property and items treated. Validity typically 2-3 years; renewal reminders provided.
Combined Drapery + Plant Treatment
Most venues that need plant flameproofing also need drapery flameproofing — the two compliance requirements often arrive together via the same inspection. We offer combined treatment service with a single integrated certificate covering all decorative materials at significant savings versus separate visits.