CAN-ASC-5.1: Emergency Measures - Notice of intent

Standards development organization

Accessibility Standards Canada

Contact information

Email: 

Info.Accessibility.Standards-Normes.Accessibilite.Info@canada.gc.ca

Mailing address:

320, St-Joseph Boulevard
Suite 246
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3

Telephone:

1-833-854-7628

Work program

The work program lists all of Accessibility Standards Canada’s in-progress and completed standards. It is available online at: Work program – Accessibility Standards Canada.

Designation number

CAN-ASC-5.1

Standard type

National Standard of Canada – Domestic 

Standard development activity

New standard

International Classification for Standards (ICS) codes

• 01.080 Graphical symbols 
• 13.200 Accident and disaster control 
• 13.220 Protection against fire
• 91.120 Protection of and in buildings 

Comment period start date

November 22, 2022.

Comment period end date

December 13, 2022.

Scope

The purpose of standard CAN-ASC-5.1 is to ensure the technical requirements for an emergency measures standard are equity-based. This requires going beyond minimum technical specifications. 

There are common areas that can impact the barriers that persons with disabilities face related to emergency measures. For example:

• emergency planning
• inclusivity (need for people with disabilities to participate in all aspects of emergency measures)
• guidance (such as emergency preparedness guides for people with disabilities)
• training (This is training for those who create or implement emergency measures. This includes policy-makers, employers, and first responders.)
• communication (methods, technology)
• emergency shelters
• services (such as service animals and assistive devices)
• evacuation measures (such as from a building)
• types of emergencies (such as natural disasters or those caused by technology or people)
• medical assistance (such as medical supplies, equipment, and devices and land-based medical evacuations)
• transportation measures
• stages of emergencies (before, during, and after)
• collaboration and coordination between organizations (such as federal, provincial, and territorial governments and non-governmental organizations)
• data (collecting and sharing data, identifying people with disabilities and their needs within a community)
• performance measurement and responsive change. This involves collecting and analyzing data. It also involves adjusting emergency measures based on input from persons with disabilities.

Project need

Accessibility Standards Canada was created under the Accessible Canada Act. Its mandate is to prevent, identify, and remove barriers to accessibility in Canada for people with disabilities. To do this, it develops standards. These are based on the needs of people with disabilities. These needs are identified by consulting Canadians with disabilities. This includes the members of the Accessibility Standards Canada Board of Directors. Most Board members are people with disabilities. The Board has approved the development of this standard. 

Accessibility Standards Canada standards are developed following the principle of “nothing without us.” This means that people with disabilities are involved in the development process:

• Its standards are developed using research that is led by people with disabilities or with lived experience.
• People with disabilities are members of on the organization’s technical committees. These committees produce equity-based requirements for standards. These take into account the needs and perspectives of people with disabilities. 
• The public review process for this standard will be accessible. This will allow even more people with disabilities to be part of the development process.

Date posted

This notice of intent was posted to the Accessibility Standards Canada website on November 24, 2021.

Date Updated

February 3, 2023