Kai Mallari's Notes'

Emergency & Shutoff Master Sheet (Home Systems)

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Emergency & Shutoff Master Sheet

Grab this page first. One sheet, all the critical information — shutoff locations, emergency protocols, and who to call. Fill the FILL fields before an emergency, not during one.

The shutoffs — know these cold, before an emergency

SystemWhat to shut offHowWhere (FILL)Notes
Water — fixtureSingle fixture (toilet, sink, dishwasher, washer, water heater)Quarter-turn lever perpendicular to pipe (ball valve), OR clockwise rotation until stopped (compression knob)Behind / below each fixtureFirst response in 90% of water events. Try this before the main.
Water — in-suite mainAll water inside your unitBall valve: lever perpendicular to pipe = OFF. Gate valve: clockwise until it stops.FILL: ___________________ (e.g. “mechanical closet off hallway, left of water heater, red lever ball valve”)Use when fixture shutoff is seized, broken, or the leak isn’t at a fixture. After shutoff: open a faucet on the lowest level to drain residual pressure.
Water — building mainAll water to the buildingStrata-operated — call the strata managerCommon mechanical room or parkade — strata controlledLast resort. Call strata immediately — don’t wait for them to call you.
Gas — meterAll gas to the unit (furnace, stove, water heater, fireplace, dryer)Quarter-turn wrench: lug perpendicular to pipe = CLOSEDFILL: ___________________ (e.g. “utility room P1 parkade, bank of 12 meters, second row left — labeled unit 401”)Keep a crescent wrench at or near the meter. NEVER restore gas yourself — FortisBC or a licensed contractor must inspect and relight.
Electrical — main breakerAll power to the unitFlip the large double-width breaker at top (or bottom) of panel firmly to OFFFILL: ___________________ (e.g. “laundry closet, hallway”)Service-entrance terminals remain live even with main breaker off — never touch inside the panel. Use when water is near electrical outlets or wiring.

The water hierarchy — always work from smallest to largest:

  1. Fixture angle stop (behind/below the leaking fixture) → isolates just that one fixture
  2. In-suite main → isolates all water to your unit
  3. Building main (strata) → only if in-suite main fails or the leak is in common-property piping

→ emergency-shutoffs (Home Systems) · shutoff-valves (Home Systems) · gas-meter-shutoff (Home Systems) · electrical-panel (Home Systems)

Emergency protocols — what to do, in order

Smell gas

  1. Stop. Do NOT touch any electrical switch, light, phone, doorbell, or thermostat — any spark is an ignition risk.
  2. Do NOT light any flame.
  3. Leave immediately. Leave doors open as you exit to ventilate. Do not stop for belongings.
  4. Once outside: if you can safely reach the gas meter without re-entering the building AND the smell is mild, shut the meter — turn the lug a quarter-turn so it is perpendicular (crosswise) to the pipe.
  5. Call FortisBC emergency from outside: 1-800-663-9911 (24 hours, 7 days). Or call 911. State your address and unit.
  6. Do not re-enter until FortisBC or emergency responders clear the building.
  7. Do NOT restore gas yourself under any circumstances — FortisBC or a TSBC-licensed contractor must inspect every appliance and relight pilots. Turning gas back on yourself risks filling the space with unburned gas.

→ gas-meter-shutoff (Home Systems) · gas-lines (Home Systems)

Burst pipe or indoor flood

  1. Shut the nearest water shutoff — fixture angle stop first, then the in-suite main if the angle stop is seized or unreachable. Every second of flow is more damage and more deductible exposure.
  2. If water is near electrical outlets, fixtures, or wiring — flip the main breaker first before touching anything wet.
  3. Open a faucet on the lowest level of the unit to drain residual pressure away from the failure point.
  4. Document immediately — photograph and video the source, the spread, any damage. Your phone timestamps automatically. This is your insurance and strata evidence log.
  5. Call the strata manager’s after-hours emergency line now — not in the morning. FILL: ___________________
  6. Call your personal insurer the same day to report the incident, even if you are unsure of the extent.
  7. Do not let anyone tear out walls or dispose of materials until you have documented everything.

→ emergency-shutoffs (Home Systems) · supply-lines (Home Systems) · insurance-warranties (Home Systems)

Fire

  1. Get out. If a smoke alarm sounds or you see smoke — evacuate immediately. Do not collect belongings. Do not use the elevator.
  2. In a strata: pull the hallway alarm on the way out if you can do so safely.
  3. Call 911 from outside.
  4. Small, contained fire only: if the fire is no larger than a wastebasket, contained to one fuel source, not spreading, and you have a clear exit behind you — use the extinguisher (PASS: Pull, Aim low at the base, Squeeze, Sweep side to side). If the fire does not start diminishing within the first few seconds of discharge — stop and evacuate.
  5. Meeting point: FILL: ___________________ (a specific outdoor landmark, not another building)
  6. Strata muster point: FILL: ___________________ (from the strata’s fire safety plan)

→ fire-extinguishers (Home Systems) · evacuation-plan (Home Systems) · fire-sprinkler (Home Systems)

Power outage

  1. Locate your flashlight (in the grab-and-go bag near the front door).
  2. Unplug sensitive electronics (computers, TVs) — voltage spikes on restoration can damage them.
  3. Freezer hold time: a full freezer holds safe temperature for approximately 48 hours if kept closed; a half-full freezer for ~24 hours. Fridge holds ~4 hours. Do not open unless necessary.
  4. No generator indoors or in the garage — CO poisoning is silent and fatal. Run any generator at least 6 metres away from all doors, windows, and vents.
  5. Do not backfeed the grid — connecting a generator to a home circuit without a transfer switch puts utility workers at risk.
  6. Call BC Hydro for outage reporting and restoration status: 1-800-224-9376.
  7. If the outage follows a visible flash at your panel or a burning smell — that is a panel fault, not a utility issue. Do not re-energize. Call a licensed electrician.

→ electrical-panel (Home Systems)

Earthquake (BC south coast)

During shaking:

  1. Drop to hands and knees.
  2. Cover your head and neck with one arm. Move under a sturdy table or desk if close; otherwise press against an interior wall away from windows.
  3. Hold On until shaking completely stops. Count 60 seconds before moving. Do not run outside during shaking — falling glass and facade debris are concentrated at exits.

After shaking stops:

  1. Check yourself and others for injuries. Control bleeding before anything else.
  2. Smell gas or see sparks? → Do not touch any switches. Evacuate with your grab-and-go bag. Call FortisBC from outside: 1-800-663-9911.
  3. No smell of gas? → Check the gas visually for broken pipes anyway. When in doubt, shut the meter.
  4. Check for water leaks — sounds of running water with no tap open. If present, shut the in-suite water main.
  5. Flickering lights or burning smell at the panel after a quake → shut the main breaker and call an electrician.
  6. Do NOT restore gas yourself after any shutoff. Call FortisBC.
  7. Listen to battery-powered or hand-crank radio for emergency broadcasts.

→ evacuation-plan (Home Systems) · gas-meter-shutoff (Home Systems) · emergency-shutoffs (Home Systems)

Who to call (FILL)

Fill these in before you need them. A phone that has lost cell service is useless — keep a printed copy.

WhoNumber / ContactNotes
FortisBC gas emergency (24h)1-800-663-9911Pre-save in your phone now. Call from outside. Also 911 for fire/explosion risk.
BC Hydro outage line1-800-224-9376Electrical outages and meter emergencies.
Strata manager — after-hours emergencyFILL: ___________________First call in any water event. Get the emergency line, not just the office.
Licensed plumberFILL: ___________________For burst pipes, seized valves, water damage repairs.
Licensed gas fitter (TSBC Class B)FILL: ___________________For any gas work after FortisBC restores service. Strata owners cannot pull homeowner gas permits — all gas work requires a licensed contractor.
Licensed electricianFILL: ___________________For any panel fault, arc, or wiring damage.
Water restoration / remediationFILL: ___________________For water-damage extraction and drying after a flood.
Personal insurer — 24h claims lineFILL: ___________________Call same day as any water, fire, or earthquake event — even if extent is unclear.

→ vendor-roster (Home Systems) · insurance-warranties (Home Systems)

The pre-emergency checklist — do these now

  • Find and photograph the in-suite water main shutoff. Write its location in the FILL field above. Test it — turn it to closed and confirm water stops, then return to open. If it is seized, call a plumber before you need it.
  • Find and photograph the gas meter shutoff. Write its location in the FILL field above. Confirm a crescent wrench or dedicated gas shutoff wrench is stored within reach of the meter or in your emergency kit.
  • Find and photograph the electrical panel. Write its location in the FILL field above. Identify and label the main breaker.
  • Test every fixture angle stop once — one slow turn to closed and back to open. Any that are stiff or seized: flag for a plumber before they seize completely.
  • Label each shutoff with a strip of masking tape: “IN-SUITE MAIN — LEVER PERPENDICULAR = OFF.”
  • Know the building main shutoff location — ask the strata manager. You cannot operate it yourself, but knowing where it is saves minutes when you call.
  • Save FortisBC (1-800-663-9911) and BC Hydro (1-800-224-9376) in your phone now.
  • Fill in the strata emergency line in the FILL field above.
  • Assemble a grab-and-go bag — water (4 L/person/day × 3 days), food, flashlight, battery radio, cash, document copies, medications. Keep it near the front door.
  • Print one copy of this sheet. A phone with a dead battery or no signal cannot be read.
  • Confirm with your insurance broker in writing that your personal policy covers a strata deductible chargeback from water, fire, or gas damage — some policies exclude “liability assumed by contract.”

→ evacuation-plan (Home Systems) · shutoff-valves (Home Systems) · insurance-warranties (Home Systems)

What this is NOT

This sheet is a quick-action reference, not a replacement for the underlying component notes. It aggregates shutoff locations and crisis protocols only. For maintenance schedules, failure signs, cost ranges, strata liability detail, and full procedural SOPs, go to the component notes:

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