A recent article in the Toronto Sun reported on a condo owner who was asked to remove a Christmas wreath from the door to his unit, as this was a breach of the condo corporation’s rules. At a casual glance hanging a wreath on the door seems harmless. However, in response to the article, Fred Collins, Chief Instructor at the Ontario Fire College wrote to the Sun explaining that in the event of a fire, one wreath could within seconds fill the condo corridor with toxic gases sufficient to kill all the residents of the floor who would use that corridor as a means of escape. Mr. Collins stated: “The prohibition of such decorations or door and hall hangings has its roots in the Ontario Fire Code and is there to try to protect the lives of the residents of those buildings. Such a prohibition on decorations in the halls of apartment and condo buildings is not a vendetta against any resident.” Condo boards and managers should be aware of these safety concerns in the event that any residents try to pressure the condo corporation to amend its rules to permit door decorations.
