Strobes to bridge gap between fire safety and the deaf community

A petition calling for a nationwide change to make fire alarms visual in all public buildings has almost reached its target.

The ‘Make Visual Alarms Mandatory’ petition currently has 408 signatures, and although  it is aiming for 500 signatures, the petition will be presented to the New Zealand House of Representatives regardless of the total number of signatures.

The issue arose after a fire warden yelled at deaf university student Dean Buckley, who didn’t know a fire drill was in progress.

Despite the relatively low number of signatures, Deaf Action New Zealand’s chair person  Kim Robinson said it had an impact.

“A petition opens up the dialogue to create change, whether it’s 500 or 50,000.

“We have been getting positive feedback everywhere. Our petition highlights how important it is to have visual fire alarms,” said Mr Robinson.

Deaf Action New Zealand’s petition is pushing for the change in fire alarms to include a visual or physical addition to the noise of the alarm.

New Zealand Fire Service recommends hardwired, interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms fitted with strobe lights.

“What is beyond me is that almost all public buildings’ fire alarms have not been up to the deaf community’s standards for too many years,” said Mr Buckley.

“This issue needs to be taken seriously, everyone wants to feel safe and protected.”

Mr Buckley's incident is not a one-off. Lynette Southey-Ray was in a shopping mall bathroom when a fire alarm went off.

“Mum was in a panic, and told them I was in the toilet. At first they wouldn’t let her through until she told them I was deaf. Imagine if there had been an actual fire,” said Ms Southey-Ray.

“If there had been a visual alarm, especially on the ceiling, I would have noticed and evacuated immediately.”

National Foundation of the Deaf chief executive Louise Carroll told Te Waha Nui its position is one of “fully supporting the petition in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.

Deaf Action New Zealand has an aim in sight. “The ultimate goal is to have all public buildings in New Zealand installed with visual fire alarms,” said Mr Robinson.