Issue

Risk

General / State of Repair

System Failure due to end of life

Life Safety

Fire Safety: Lack of sprinklers and again fire alarm systems place these buildings at risk

Health & Comfort

Fresh Air Supply: Ventilation Systems designed in the 1960s have been found to provide inadequate fresh air to units, presenting issues of comfort (smells and odours) and increasingly health and hygiene due to cross contamination. Return and supply ducts have been found to be obstructed, and fans equipment not functioning. To overcome lack of adequate supply, fresh air is to open windows, which causes challenges for interior comfort and energy performance in winter months.

Overheating: 96% of towers lack cooling in summer. Overheating in apartments has been found to result in heat related death by public health authorities.

Mould: Lack of insulation and failing windows allows interior surface temperatures to fall below 10C in window (often to below 5C) creating condensation and mould risk. Pervasive mould have been found in cases throughout the stock. Current solution to mould mitigation is overheating units, contributing to climate impact.

Climate Impact

Heavy Emitter of GHGs: The average energy intensity of this housing stock is 337 kWh/m2, double that of current building codes. With a heavy reliance on natural gas, these buildings are collectively responsible for over 3MT of GHGs annually.

Resilience & Social Inclusion

Risk to shelter in place during shocks: Power failure; heat waves; core system failure (elevators); overheating events; current pandemic crisis; Challenge for aging in place

Affordability

Loss of affordable stock: Continued deterioration can push stock offline (Example of 650 Parliament in Toronto)