3.2.6.3.

(1) In a building of Group C major occupancy classification, the requirements of Sentence 3.2.6.2.(2) are waived in buildings where occupants above the first storey can enter and be safely accommodated in floor areas or parts of floor areas that are designated as areas of refuge on the plans and are identified as such in the building.

(2) Except as required in Sentence (3), the areas of refuge referred to in Sentence (1) shall be located on every fifth storey.

(3) The areas of refuge referred to in Sentence (1) shall be located on every storey if the building is more than 75 m high, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey.

(4) The areas of refuge referred to in Sentence (1) shall,

(a) provide not less than 0.5 m² of floor space per ambulatory occupant and 1.5 m² of floor space per non-ambulatory occupant,

(b) have access corridors and doors leading to each designated part of a floor area on the same storey sufficient to provide 3.67 mm of width for every person who may have to use these passages to reach the designated part of a floor area,

(c) have access stairs from intervening storeys leading to each designated part of a floor area sufficient to provide 5.5 mm of width for every person who may have to use these stairs to reach the designated part of a floor area, and

(d) not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from the fire floor during a period of 2 h after the start of a fire, assuming an outdoor temperature equal to the January design temperature on a 2.5% basis determined in conformance with Supplementary Standard SB-1.

(1) If a building described in Article 3.2.6.1. is connected to any other building, measures shall be taken to limit movement of contaminated air from one building into another during a fire.