Smoke detectors for hearing impaired hotel/motel patrons in Santa Rosa
Under an ordinance recently passed by the Santa Rosa (Calif.) City Council, hotels and motels must have available smoke detectors specially designed for the hearing impaired. The ordinance applies to the city’s 29 existing hotels and motels, each which must have at least one detector (portable or permanently installed) for every 50 dwelling units.
To enable these establishments to comply with the law-, says Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Pini, the city purchased 51 strobe light detectors. Hotels and motels are responsible for maintaining and replacing the detectors.
Pini says the ordinance stemmed from involvement one of the department’s inspectors had with a group of hearing impaired people, who told him of the devices available for those with little or no hearing. The council liked the idea and unanimously passed the ordinance. Several hearing impaired citizens testified on the need for these detectors during public hearings on the ordinance.