3.1.8.

(1) Any wall, partition or floor assembly required to be a fire separation shall,

(a) except as permitted by Sentence (2), be constructed as a continuous element, and

(b) as required in this Part, have a fire-resistance rating as specified.

(2) Openings in a fire separation shall be protected with closures, shafts or other means in conformance with Articles 3.1.8.4. to 3.1.8.18. and Subsections 3.1.9. and 3.2.8.

(1) Combustible construction that abuts on or is supported by a noncombustible fire separation shall be constructed so that its collapse under fire conditions will not cause the collapse of the fire separation.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence 3.6.4.2.(2), a horizontal service space or other concealed space located above a required vertical fire separation, including the walls of a vertical shaft, shall be divided at the fire separation by an equivalent fire separation within the service space.

(2) The fire separation required by Sentence (1) shall terminate so that smoke-tight joints are provided where it abuts on or intersects,

(a) a floor,

(b) a roof slab, or

(c) a roof deck.

(3) Except as required by Subsection 3.6.3. for a shaft penetrating a roof assembly, a shaft, including an exit enclosure, that penetrates a fire separation, shall,

(a) extend through any horizontal service space or any other concealed space, and

(b) terminate so that smoke-tight joints are provided where the shaft abuts on or intersects,

(i) a floor,

(ii) a roof slab, or

(iii) a roof deck.

(4) The continuity of a fire separation shall be maintained where it abuts another fire separation, a floor, a ceiling, or an exterior wall assembly.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and 3.1.8.14.(1)v1, the fire-protection rating for a closure shall be determined on the basis of the results of tests conducted in conformance with the appropriate provisions in,

(a) CAN4-S104-M, “Fire Tests of Door Assemblies”,

(b) CAN4-S106-M, “ Fire Tests of Window and Glass Block Assemblies”, or

(c) CAN/ULC-S112-M, “Fire Test of Fire-Damper Assemblies”.

(2) Except as permitted by Sentence 3.1.8.10.(1)v1, the fire-protection rating of a closure shall conform to Table 3.1.8.4. for the required fire-resistance rating of the fire separation.

(1) Except where fire dampers, window assemblies and glass block are used as closures, closures of the same fire-protection rating installed on opposite sides of the same opening are deemed to have a fire-protection rating equal to the sum of the fire-protection ratings of the closures.

(2) Except as otherwise specified in this Part, every door, window assembly or glass block used as a closure in a required fire separation,

(a) shall be installed in conformance with NFPA 80, “Standard for Fire Doors and Fire Windows”, and

(b) where required to have a fire-protection rating, shall have labels or classification marks to identify the testing laboratory.

(3) If a door is installed so that it could damage the integrity of a fire separation if its swing is unrestricted, door stops shall be installed to prevent the damage.

(1) The size of an opening in an interior fire separation required to be protected with a closure shall be not more than 11 m², with no dimension more than 3.7 m, if a fire compartment on either side of the fire separation is not sprinklered.

(2) The size of an opening in an interior fire separation required to be protected with a closure shall be not more than 22 m², with no dimension more than 6 m, provided the fire compartments on both sides of the fire separation are sprinklered.

(1) Except as permitted by Article 3.1.8.8., a duct that penetrates an assembly required to be a fire separation shall be equipped with a fire damper.

(1) Fire dampers need not be provided in noncombustible branch ducts that have a melting point above 760°C and that penetrate a required fire separation provided the ducts,

(a) serve only air-conditioning units or combined air-conditioning and heating units discharging air not more than 1 200 mm above the floor and have a cross-sectional area not more than 0.013 m², or

(b) are connected to exhaust duct risers that are under negative pressure and in which the air flow is upward as required by Article 3.6.3.4. and are carried up inside the riser not less than 500 mm.

(2) A continuous noncombustible duct penetrating a vertical fire separation not required to have a fire-resistance rating need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation.

(3) A noncombustible duct that penetrates a horizontal fire separation not required to have a fire-resistance rating need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation.

(4) A noncombustible duct that penetrates a fire separation that separates a vertical service space from the remainder of the building need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation provided,

(a) the duct has a melting point above 760°C, and

(b) each individual duct exhausts directly to the outside at the top of the vertical service space.

(5) A continuous noncombustible duct having a melting point above 760°C that penetrates a vertical fire separation as required by Sentence 3.3.1.1.(1) between suites of other than residential or care or detention occupancy need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation.

(6) A duct that serves commercial cooking equipment and penetrates a required fire separation need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation.

(7) In elementary and secondary schools, a continuous noncombustible duct having a melting point above 760°C that pierces a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of 30 min need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation.

(8) In a Group B, Division 3 occupancy that contains sleeping accommodation for not more than 10 persons and not more than 6 occupants require assistance in evacuation in case of an emergency and which is equipped with a fire-alarm system, a duct need not be provided with a fire-damper at a fire separation provided duct-type smoke detectors have been installed to control smoke circulation as described in Article 3.2.4.12.

(1) A fire damper shall be arranged to close automatically upon the operation of a fusible link conforming to ULC-S505, “Fusible Links for Fire Protection Service”, or other heat-actuated or smoke-actuated device.

(2) A heat-actuated device referred to in Sentence (1) shall,

(a) be located where it is readily affected by an abnormal rise of temperature in the duct, and

(b) have a temperature rating approximately 30°C above the maximum temperature that would exist in the system either with the system in operation or shut down.

(3) A fire damper shall be installed in the plane of the fire separation so as to stay in place should the duct be dislodged during a fire.

(4) A fire damper tested in the vertical or horizontal position shall be installed in the manner in which it was tested.

(5) A tightly fitted access door shall be installed for each fire damper to provide access for the inspection of the damper and the resetting of the release device.

(1) A door assembly having a fire-protection rating not less than 20 min is permitted to be used as a closure in,

(a) a fire separation not required to have a fire-resistance rating more than 1 h, located between,

(i) a public corridor and a suite,

(ii) a corridor and adjacent sleeping rooms, or

(iii) a corridor and adjacent classrooms, offices and libraries in Group A, Division 2 major occupancies, or

(b) a fire separation not required to have a fire-resistance rating more than 45 min, located in a building not more than 3 storeys in building height.

(2) The requirements for noncombustible sills and combustible floor coverings in NFPA 80, “Fire Doors and Fire Windows”, do not apply to a door described in Sentence (1).

(3) A door described in Sentence (1) shall have a clearance not more than 6 mm at the bottom and not more than 3 mm at the sides and top.

(4) In elementary and secondary schools, a door assembly conforming to Articles 9.10.13.2.v1 and 9.10.13.3. is permitted to be used as a closure in a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of 30 min.

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (5) and 3.3.3.2.(5)v1v2, every door in a fire separation shall be equipped with a self-closing device designed to return the door to the closed position after each use.

(2) Self-closing devices need not be provided on doors to freight elevators and dumbwaiters.

(3) In a building that is not more than 3 storeys in building height, a self-closing device is not required on a door that is located between a classroom and a corridor providing access to exit from the classroom, except that a self-closing device is required on a door between a hazardous classroom and the corridor in an elementary or secondary school.

(4) In a building that is not more than 3 storeys in building height, a self-closing device is not required on a door between a public corridor and an adjacent room or suite of business and personal services occupancy if the door is not located in,

(a) a dead-end portion of the corridor, or

(b) a corridor that serves a hotel.

(5) Within a fire compartment in a hospital or nursing home that complies with the requirements of Article 3.3.3.5.v1, a self-closing device is not required on a door that is located between,

(a) a patient’s or resident’s sleeping room and a corridor serving the patient’s or resident’s sleeping room, or

(b) a patient’s or resident’s sleeping room and an adjacent room that serves the patient’s or resident’s sleeping room.

(1) A hold-open device is permitted on a door in a required fire separation, other than an exit door in a building more than 3 storeys in building height, and on a door for a vestibule required by Article 3.3.5.7., provided the device is designed to release the door in conformance with Sentences (2) to (7).

(2) Except as required by Sentences (3), (5), (6) and (7), a hold-open device permitted by Sentence (1) shall be designed to release by a signal from,

(a) an automatic sprinkler system,

(b) a heat-actuated device,

(c) fusible link, or

(d) a smoke detector located as described in Appendix B of NFPA 80, “Fire Doors and Fire Windows”.

(3) Except as required by Sentences (4), (5), (6) and (7), a hold-open device permitted by Sentence (1) shall be designed to release upon a signal from a smoke detector located as described in Appendix B of NFPA 80, “Fire Doors and Fire Windows”, if used on,

(a) an exit door,

(b) a door opening into a public corridor,

(c) an egress door referred to in Sentence 3.4.2.4.(2),

(d) a door serving,

(i) an assembly occupancy,

(ii) a care or detention occupancy, or

(iii) a residential occupancy, or

(e) a door required to function as part of a smoke control system.

(4) Except as required by Sentence (5), (6) and (7), a hold-open device permitted by Sentence (1) shall be designed to release upon a signal from the building fire alarm system if a fire alarm system is provided, except that this requirement does not apply to,

(a) a hold-open device on a door located between a corridor used by the public and an adjacent sleeping room in a hospital or nursing home, or

(b) a hold-open device that is designed to release by a heat-actuated device or a fusible link in conformance with Sentence (2).

(5) Sentences (2) and (3) do not apply in a hospital or nursing home to,

(a) a door located between a corridor used by the public and an adjacent sleeping room, or

(b) paired doors described in Sentence 3.3.3.3.(4).

(6) A hold-open device on a door in Clause (5)(a) shall be designed to release the door upon a signal from,

(a) a smoke detector as required by Sentence 3.2.4.11.(1) for sleeping rooms in Group B occupancies, and

(b) the fire alarm system when an alert signal is initiated within the same fire compartment in Sentence 3.3.3.5.(2)v1.

(7) A hold-open device on a door in Clause (5)(b) shall be designed to release the door upon a signal from the fire alarm system when an alert signal is initiated within the same fire compartment in Sentence 3.3.3.5.(2)v1.

(8) A rolling steel fire door installed as a closure in a fire separation shall be equipped with a hold-open device designed to release the shutter as described in Sentence (2).

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence 3.3.3.2.(5)v1v2 and Article 3.3.3.5.v1, a swing-type door in a fire separation shall be equipped with a positive latching mechanism designed to hold the door in the closed position after each use.

(1) Except as permitted by Articles 3.1.8.16. and 3.1.8.17. for the separation of exits, an opening in a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not more than 1 h is permitted to be protected with fixed wired glass assemblies or glass blocks installed in conformance with NFPA 80, “Fire Doors and Fire Windows”.

(2) Wired glass assemblies permitted by Sentence (1) and described in Supplementary Standard SB-2, are permitted to be used as closures in vertical fire separations without being tested in accordance with Sentence 3.1.8.4.(1).

(3) Glass blocks permitted by Sentence (1) shall be installed in accordance with Subsection 4.3.2. and reinforced with steel reinforcement in each horizontal joint.

(1) Except as permitted by Article 3.1.8.17., the maximum temperature rise on the opaque portion of the unexposed side of a door used as a closure in a fire separation in a location shown in Table 3.1.8.15., shall conform to the Table when tested in conformance with Sentence 3.1.8.4.(1).

(1) Except as permitted by Article 3.1.8.17., the maximum area of wired glass in a door used in the locations shown in Table 3.1.8.15. shall conform to the Table.

(2) Except as permitted by Article 3.1.8.17., the maximum area of glass block and wired glass panels not in a door, used in the locations shown in Table 3.1.8.15., shall conform to the Table.

(1) The temperature rise limits and glass area limits required by Articles 3.1.8.15. and 3.1.8.16. are waived for a closure between an exit enclosure and an enclosed vestibule or corridor provided,

(a) the vestibule or corridor is separated from the remainder of the floor area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 45 min,

(b) the fire separation required by Clause (a) contains no wired glass or glass block within 3 m of the closure into the exit enclosure, and

(c) the vestibule or corridor contains no occupancy.

(1) A sprinkler protected glazed wall assembly shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of ULC/ORD C263.1, “Sprinkler-Protected Windows Systems”.

(2) A sprinkler protected glazed wall assembly shall not be installed in,

(a) fire separations requiring a fire resistance rating of more than 2 hours,

(b) a firewall,

(c) a high hazard industrial occupancy, or

(d) any part of an exit serving,

(i) a floor area subject to the requirements of Subsection 3.2.6.v1,

(ii) a care and detention occupancy, or

(iii) a residential occupancy.

(3) Where a sprinkler protected glazed wall assembly is installed in an exit fire separation permitted in Sentence (2),

(a) the building shall be sprinklered, and

(b) the exits protected with the sprinkler protected glazed wall assemblies shall not comprise more than one half of the required number of exits from any floor area.