Each year, there are approximately 24,000 house fires, where an average of 3,0478 injuries and 377 deaths occur. Fires not only damage the climate but are a direct threat to our survival. Due to the increased levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as well as other chemicals in a confined space, fires often lead to respiratory illnesses like bronchitis.
To combat this, we invented the fire alarm. A system dedicated to warning us about potential danger, fire alarms are now required in every single home under the Ontario Human Rights Code. It has even been reported that 1/3 of house fires across Canada could have been prevented if standard fire alarms were put in place.
However, in 2017, Statistics Canada reported that 6.2 million Canadians aged 15 and over had a disability. The number of individuals with disabilities (e.g. hearing loss) has only continued to grow. With this in mind, it has become imperative to ensure that both public and private spaces are accessible to all Canadians.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Individuals with disabilities face multiple issues as it relates to accessibility. However, one very serious area that affects them is the lack of accessible fire alarms. Though the Ontario Building Code requires visual fire alarms (which are the primary type of fire alarm for those with hearing loss), at least 10% of buildings do not follow this protocol. Instead, these existing Ontario buildings follow the **Ontario Fire Code which does not explicitly require visual alarms.
By not accommodating individuals with a disability, public spaces are no longer safe.