3.3.1.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and (3), each suite in other than business and personal services occupancies shall be separated from adjoining suites by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.

(2) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separation required by Sentence (1) is permitted to be less than 1 h but not less than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for,

(a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or

(b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above.

(3) Occupancies that are served by public corridors conforming to Clause 3.3.1.4.(4)(b)v1 in a building that is sprinklered, are not required to be separated from one another by fire separations provided the occupancies are,

(a) suites of business and personal services occupancy,

(b) fast food vending operations that do not provide seating for customers,

(c) suites of mercantile occupancy, or

(d) any combination of these occupancies.

(1) Except as provided in Subsection 3.3.5., the storage, handling and use of the hazardous substances shall be in conformance with,

(a) the Fire Code made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, or

(b) the National Fire Code of Canada, in the absence of regulations referred to in Clause (a).

(2) Cooking equipment, not within a dwelling unit, used in processes producing grease-laden vapours shall be designed and installed in conformance with Part 6.

(3) A fuel-fired appliance shall not be installed in a corridor serving as an access to exit.

(1) Access to exit within floor areas shall conform to Subsections 3.3.2. to 3.3.5., in addition to the requirements of this Subsection.

(2) If a podium, terrace, platform or contained open space is provided, egress requirements shall conform to the appropriate requirements of Sentence 3.3.1.5.(1) for rooms and suites.

(3) Means of egress shall be provided from every roof that is intended for occupancy, and from every podium, terrace, platform or contained open space.

(4) At least two separate means of egress shall be provided from a roof, used or intended for an occupant load more than 60, to stairs designed in conformance with the exit stair requirements of Section 3.4.

(5) A rooftop enclosure shall be provided with an access to exit that leads to an exit,

(a) at the roof level, or

(b) on the storey immediately below the roof.

(6) A rooftop enclosure that is more than 200 m² in area shall be provided with at least 2 means of egress.

(7) Two points of egress shall be provided for a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1.(9) if,

(a) the area is more than 200 m², or

(b) the travel distance measured from any point in the service space to a point of egress is more than 25 m.

(8) Except as permitted by Sentences 3.3.4.4.(6)v1 and (7), each suite in a floor area that contains more than one suite shall have,

(a) an exterior exit doorway, or

(b) a doorway,

(i) into a public corridor, or

(ii) to an exterior passageway.

(9) Except as permitted by this Section and by Sentence 3.4.2.1.(2)v1, at the point where a doorway referred to in Sentence (8) opens onto a public corridor or exterior passageway, it shall be possible to go in opposite directions to each of 2 separate exits.

(10) Means of egress from a roof for personnel servicing roof top equipment or for a below ground service room that is not normally occupied, is permitted to be provided by stairways or fixed ladders.

(1) Except as otherwise required by this Part or as permitted by Sentence (4), a public corridor shall be separated from the remainder of the storey by a fire separation.

(2) Except as permitted by Sentence (3) and Clauses (4)(a) and (4)(b), the fire separation between a public corridor and the remainder of the storey shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 45 min.

(3) If a storey is sprinklered, no fire-resistance rating is required for a fire separation between a public corridor and the remainder of the storey provided the corridor does not serve a care occupancy or detention occupancy or a residential occupancy.

(4) No fire separation is required in a sprinklered floor area  between a public corridor and,

(a) except as required by Sentences 3.3.3.5.(10)v1 and 3.3.4.2.(1)v1 and notwithstanding Sentences 3.4.2.4.(2), the remainder of a storey provided the travel distance from any part of the floor area to an exit is not more than 45 m.,

(b) a room or suite provided the public corridor complies with Sentence 3.3.1.9.(6) and Clause 3.4.2.5.(1)(d), or

(c) a space containing plumbing fixtures required by Subsection 3.7.4. provided the space and the public corridor are separated from the remainder of the storey by a fire separation that has a fire-resistance rating not less than that required between the public corridor and the remainder of the storey.

(5) The sprinkler system in Sentences (3) and (4) shall be electrically supervised in conformance with Sentence 3.2.4.9.(2) and, upon operation, shall cause a signal to be transmitted to the fire department in conformance with Sentence 3.2.4.7.(4) when the corridor serves a Group E or Group F, Division 1 or 2 occupancy.

(1) Except for dwelling units, a minimum of 2 egress doorways located so that one doorway could provide egress from the room or suite as required by Article 3.3.1.3.v1 if the other doorway becomes inaccessible to the occupants due to a fire that originates in the room or suite, shall be provided for every room and every suite,

(a) whose area is more than 15 m² and is used for,

(i) a high hazard industrial occupancy, or

(ii) a hazardous room,

(b) intended for an occupant load more than 60,

(c) in a floor area that is not sprinklered if,

(i) the area of a room or suite is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.A., or

(ii) the travel distance within the room or suite to the nearest egress doorway, is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.A.,

(d) in a floor area that is sprinklered and does not contain a high hazard industrial occupancy if,

(i) the travel distance to an egress doorway is more than 25 m, or

(ii) the area of the room or suite is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.B., or

(e) where the area of the room is more than 100 m² and it is a hazardous classroom in elementary or secondary school.

(2) Except for a mezzanine within a dwelling unit, every mezzanine that is not required to terminate at a vertical fire separation in Article 3.2.8.2.v1v2 shall have 2 egress facilities placed in such a manner that one facility could provide egress from the mezzanine if the other facility becomes inaccessible to the occupants of the mezzanine due to a fire that might originate in the room or suite in which the mezzanine is located,

(a) where the occupancy of the mezzanine, room or suite is classified as Group F, Division 1,

(b) where the mezzanine is intended for an occupant load of more than 60 persons,

(c) in a floor area that is not sprinklered if,

(i) the area of a mezzanine is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.A., or

(ii) the travel distance to an egress doorway or an egress facility is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.A., or

(d) in a floor area that is sprinklered if,

(i) the travel distance to an egress doorway or an egress facility is more than 25 m, or

(ii) the area of the mezzanine is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.B.

(3) For the purpose of Clause (2)(c) and Clause 2(d),

(a) if the room or suite in which the mezzanine is located is permitted to have one egress doorway, the travel distance is measured from any point on the mezzanine to that doorway, or

(b) if the room or suite in which the mezzanine is located is required to have more than one egress doorway, the travel distance is measured from any point on the mezzanine to the nearest egress facility leading from the mezzanine.

(4) Except for a mezzanine which is not considered as a storey in calculating building height in Sentence 3.2.1.1.(4), where the space below a mezzanine is enclosed, an egress facility from the mezzanine shall not lead into the enclosed space.

(1) If more than one egress doorway is required from a room or suite referred to in Article 3.3.1.5., the travel distance within the room or suite to the nearest egress doorway shall not exceed the maximum travel distances specified in Clauses 3.4.2.5.(1)(a), (b), (c) and (f) for exits.

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), every floor area above or below the first storey that has a barrier-free path of travel shall,

(a) be served by an elevator,

(i) conforming to Sentences 3.2.6.9.(4)v1 to (6),

(ii) protected against fire in conformance with Clauses 3.2.6.9.(3)(b)v1 or (c), and

(iii) in a building over 3 storeys in building height, protected against smoke movement so that the hoistway will not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from a 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, or

(b) be divided into at least 2 zones by fire separations conforming to Sentences (4) to (6) so that,

(i) persons with physical disabilities can be accommodated in each zone,

(ii) the travel distance from any point in one zone to a doorway leading to another zone shall be not more than the value for travel distance permitted by Sentence 3.4.2.5.(1) for the occupancy classification of the zone, and

(iii) a barrier-free path of travel is provided to an exit.

(2) In residential occupancies, the requirements of Sentence (1) are waived if a balcony conforming to Sentence (7) is provided for each suite, except for suites on the storey containing the barrier-free entrance described in Article 3.8.1.2.

(3) The requirements of Sentences (1) and (2) are waived when the building is sprinklered.

(4) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), the fire separations referred to in Clause (1)(b) shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.

(5) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separations referred to in Clause (1)(b) is permitted to be less than 1 h but not less than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for,

(a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or

(b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above.

(6) A door acting as a closure in a fire separation referred to in Clause (1)(b) shall be weatherstripped or otherwise designed and installed to retard the passage of smoke.

(7) A balcony required by Sentence (2) shall,

(a) be provided with a door way having a clear width of not less that 800 mm when the door is in the open position,

(b) have no projection above the walking surface more than 13 mm,

(c) be not less than 1500 mm deep from the outside face of the exterior wall to the inside edge of the balcony, and

(d) provide not less than 0.5 m² for each occupant of the suite.

(1) Except within the floor area of a storage garage, the minimum headroom clearance in every access to exit shall conform to the requirements of Article 3.4.3.6. for exits.

(1) The minimum width of a public corridor shall be 1 100 mm.

(2) Except as required by Sentences 3.3.3.3.(2) and (3), the minimum unobstructed width shall be 1 100 mm for every,

(a) corridor used by the public,

(b) corridor serving classrooms, and

(c) corridor in a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy where the corridor

(i) serves a service room,

(ii) serves an administrative area,

(iii) will not be used by non-ambulatory outpatients, or

(iv) will not be used by non-ambulatory residents.

(3) Except as permitted by Sentence (4), obstructions located within 1 980 mm of the floor shall not project more than 100 mm horizontally in a manner that would create a hazard for a person with a visual disability traveling adjacent to the walls in,

(a) an exit passageway,

(b) a public corridor,

(c) a corridor used by the public,

(d) a corridor serving classrooms, or

(e) a corridor serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms in a Group B, Division 2 or Division 3 occupancy.

(4) The horizontal projection of an obstruction referred to in Sentence (3) is permitted to be more than 100 mm provided the clearance between the obstruction and the floor is less than 680 mm.

(5) If a corridor contains an occupancy, the occupancy shall not reduce the unobstructed width of the corridor to less than its required width.

(6) If a public corridor conforming to Clause 3.4.2.5.(1)(d) contains an occupancy,

(a) the occupancy shall be located so that for pedestrian travel there is an unobstructed width not less than 3 m at all times adjacent and parallel to all rooms and suites that front onto the public corridor, and

(b) the combined area of all occupancies in the public corridor shall be not more than 15% of the area of the public corridor.

(7) Except as provided in Sentence 3.3.3.3.(1), a dead end corridor shall conform to Sentences (8) to (14).

(8) A dead end corridor is permitted in an assembly occupancy where there is a second and separate egress doorway from each room or suite not leading into a dead end corridor.

(9) In a residential occupancy, except for corridors served by a single exit as described in Sentence 3.3.4.4.(7)v1, a dead end public corridor is permitted provided it is not more than 6 m long.

(10) Dead end corridors in Sentence (9) shall contain no door openings to service rooms containing fuel-fired appliances or rooms that may be considered a hazard.

(11) A dead end public corridor is permitted in a business and personal services occupancy where,

(a) the dead end corridor,

(i) serves an occupant load of not more than 30 persons,

(ii) is not more than 9 m long, and

(iii) is provided with doors having self-closing devices, or

(b) there is a second and separate egress doorway from each room or suite not leading into a dead end corridor.

(12) A dead end corridor is permitted in a mercantile occupancy where,

(a) the dead end corridor,

(i) serves an occupant load of not more than 30 persons,

(ii) is not more than 9 m long, and

(iii) is provided with doors having self-closing devices, or

(b) there is a second and separate egress doorway from each room or suite not leading into a dead end corridor.

(13) A dead end corridor is permitted in a low or medium hazard industrial occupancy where,

(a) the dead end corridor

(i) serves an occupant load of not more than 30 persons,

(ii) is not more than 9 m long, and

(iii) is provided with doors having self-closing devices, or

(b) there is a second and separate egress doorway from each room or suite not leading into a dead end corridor.

(14) A dead end corridor is permitted in a high hazard industrial occupancy where there is a second and separate egress doorway from each room or suite not leading into a dead end corridor.

(15) Except as otherwise required by this Section, aisles shall be provided in conformance with the Fire Code made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.

(1) Except as permitted by Article 3.3.1.11., a door that opens into a corridor or other facility providing access to exit from a suite, or a room not located within a suite, shall swing on a vertical axis.

(2) Except as permitted by Article 3.3.1.11., a door that opens into a corridor or other facility providing access to exit from a room or suite shall swing in the direction of travel to the exit if the room or suite is used or intended for,

(a) an occupant load more than 60,

(b) a high hazard industrial occupancy, or

(c) a hazardous classroom in an elementary or secondary school.

(3) Every door that divides a corridor that is not wholly contained within a suite shall swing on a vertical axis in the direction of travel to the exit where the corridor provides access to exit for,

(a) an occupant load more than 60,

(b) a high hazard industrial occupancy,

(c) a hazardous classroom in an elementary or secondary school, or

(d) a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy.

(4) If a pair of doors is installed in a corridor that provides access to exit in both directions, the doors shall swing in opposite directions, with the door on the right hand side swinging in the direction of travel to the exit.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), a sliding door provided in the locations described in Article 3.3.1.10. shall,

(a) be designed and installed to swing on the vertical axis in the direction of travel to the exit when pressure is applied, and

(b) be identified as a swinging door by means of a label or decal affixed to it.

(2) In a Group B, Division 1 occupancy, or in an impeded egress zone in other occupancies, sliding doors used in an access to exit need not conform to Sentence (1) and Article 3.3.1.10.

(3) Movable partitions used to separate a public corridor from an adjacent business and personal services occupancy or a mercantile occupancy need not conform to Sentence (1) and Sentences 3.3.1.10.(1) and (2) provided the partitions are not located in the only means of egress

(1) A door that opens into or is located within a public corridor or other facility that provides access to exit from a suite shall,

(a) provide a clear opening of not less than 800 mm if there is only one door leaf,

(b) in a doorway with multiple leaves, have the active leaf providing a clear opening of not less than 800 mm, and

(c) not open onto a step.

(2) A door in an access to exit shall be readily openable in travelling to an exit without requiring keys, special devices or specialized knowledge of the door opening mechanism, except that this requirement does not apply to a door serving a contained use area, or an impeded egress zone, provided the locking devices conform to Sentence (6).

(3) Except as permitted by Sentence (4), door release hardware shall be operable by one hand and the door shall be openable with not more than one releasing operation.

(4) An egress door from an individual dwelling unit or from a suite of residential occupancy is permitted to be provided with additional devices that require a releasing operation additional to the main door release hardware, provided the devices are readily operable from the inside without the use of keys, special devices or specialized knowledge.

(5) Door release hardware shall be installed not more than 1 200 mm above the finished floor.

(6) An egress door in an access to exit serving a contained use area or an impeded egress zone is permitted to be equipped with locking devices that can be released either locally or remotely in conformance with Sentence (7) or Sentence (8).

(7) Local locking devices permitted by Sentence (6) shall be operable by a key from both sides of the door.

(8) Controls for the remote release of door locking devices permitted by Sentence (6) shall be located in an area readily available to security personnel.

(9) Locking devices permitted by Sentence (6) that are electrically operated shall be,

(a) designed to operate on emergency power, and

(b) capable of manual release by security personnel.

(10) A door in an access to exit is permitted to be equipped with an electromagnetic locking device conforming to Sentence 3.4.6.15.(4)v1, except that this permission does not apply to a door,

(a) in an elementary or secondary school,

(b) a door leading from a Group F, Division 1 occupancy, or

(c) except as provided in Sentence (11), requiring a latch release device by Article 3.3.2.6.

(11) A door in an access to exit in a gaming premise is permitted to be equipped with an electromagnetic locking device conforming to Sentences 3.4.6.15.(4)v1 and (7).

(12) Except as required in Article 3.3.3.4., in a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy, every door that opens into or is located within a corridor or other facility that provides access to exit shall comply with Sentences (1) and (2) where the door,

(a) serves a service room,

(b) serves an administrative area,

(c) will not be used by non-ambulatory outpatients,

(d) is located within a patient’s or resident’s sleeping room, or

(e) is in a nursing home or home for the aged that will accommodate only ambulatory residents.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), Article 3.3.4.7.v1, and Subsection 3.3.2., ramps and stairways that do not serve as exits shall conform to the dimensional, guard, handrail and slip-resistance requirements for exit ramps and stairways of Sentence 3.4.3.2.(7)v1, and Articles 3.4.3.5., and 3.4.6.1. to 3.4.6.8.

(2) Ramps and stairways that do not conform to the requirements of Sentence (1) and are intended only for occasional use for servicing equipment and machinery are permitted,

(a) to serve service rooms and service spaces, and

(b) in industrial occupancies.

(1) An exterior passageway leading to a required exit shall conform to the requirements of Section 3.4. for exterior exit passageways.

(1) A curved or spiral stair is permitted in a stairway not required as an exit provided the stair has,

(a) treads with,

(i) a minimum run not less than 150 mm, and

(ii) an average run not less than 200 mm, and

(b) risers in conformance with Sentence 3.4.6.7.(2).

(1) The capacity of an access to exit shall be based on the occupant load of the portion of the floor area served.

(2) In an access to exit the required width of ramps with a slope not more than 1 in 8, doorways, and corridors shall be based on not less than 6.1 mm per person.

(3) In an access to exit the required width of a ramp with a slope more than 1 in 8 shall be based on not less than 9.2 mm per person.

(4) In an access to exit from a floor area used or intended to be used for patients or residents in a Group B, Division 2 or Division 3 occupancy, the required width of corridors, doorways, and ramps shall be based on not less than 18.4 mm per person.

(5) The capacity of stairs in an access to exit shall conform to the requirements for stairs in Article 3.4.3.2.(1)v1 to (3).

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (6) and Articles 3.3.2.8. and 3.3.4.7v1, a guard not less than 1 070 mm high shall be provided,

(a) around each roof to which access is provided for other than maintenance,

(b) at openings into smoke shafts referred to in Subsection 3.2.6.v1 that are less than 1 070 mm above the floor, and

(c) at each raised floor, mezzanine, balcony, gallery, interior or exterior vehicular ramp, and at other locations where the difference in level is more than 600 mm.

(2) Except as provided in Sentence (3) and Sentence 3.3.2.8.(4), openings through any guard that is required by Sentence (1) shall be of a size that will prevent the passage of a sphere having a diameter more than 100 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard.

(3) Openings through any guard that is required by Sentence (1) and that is installed in a building of industrial occupancy shall be of a size which will prevent the passage of a sphere having a diameter more than 200 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard.

(4) Openings through any guard that is not required by Sentence (1) and that serves a building of other than industrial occupancy, shall be of a size that,

(a) will prevent the passage of a sphere having a diameter more than 100 mm, or

(b) will permit the passage of a sphere having a diameter more than 200 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings that exceed these limits do not represent a hazard.

(5) Unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings do not present a hazard, a guard shall be designed so that no member, attachment or opening located between 140 mm and 900 mm above the level protected by the guard will facilitate climbing.

(6) Sentence (1) does not apply at the front edges of stages, floor pits in repair garages and loading docks.

(1) Except for dwelling units and as permitted by Sentence (4), a glass or transparent door shall be designed and constructed so that the existence and position of the door is readily apparent, by attaching non-transparent hardware, bars or other permanent fixtures to it.

(2) A glass door shall be constructed of,

(a) laminated or tempered safety glass conforming to CAN/CGSB-12.1-M, “Tempered or Laminated Safety Glass”, or

(b) wired glass conforming to CAN/CGSB-12.11-M, “Wired Safety Glass”.

(3) Except as permitted by Sentence (4), transparent panels used in an access to exit that, because of their physical configuration or design, could be mistaken as a means of egress shall be made inaccessible by barriers or railings.

(4) Sliding glass partitions that separate a public corridor from an adjacent occupancy and that are intended to be open during normal working hours need not conform to Sentences (1) and (3), provided the partitions are suitably marked to indicate their existence and position.

(5) Glass in doors and in sidelights that could be mistaken for doors, within or at the entrances to dwelling units and in public areas, shall conform to the requirements of Article 9.6.6.2.v1

(6) A window in a public area that extends to less than 1 070 mm above the floor and is located above the second storey in a building of residential occupancy, shall be protected by a barrier or railing from the floor to not less than 1 070 mm above the floor, or the window shall be non-openable and designed to withstand the lateral design loads for balcony guards required by Article 4.1.5.15.v1

(1) An exhaust ventilation system designed in conformance with the appropriate requirements of Part 6 shall be provided in a building or part of a building in which dust, fumes, gases, vapour or other impurities or contaminants have the potential to create a fire or explosion hazard.

(2) Explosion relief devices, vents or other protective measures conforming to Subsection 6.2.2. shall be provided for a space in which substances or conditions that have the potential to create an explosion hazard are present as a result of the principal use of a building.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and (3), a room or space within a floor area for the storage of janitorial supplies shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.

(2) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separation required by Sentence (1) is permitted to be not less than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for,

(a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or

(b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above.

(3) The fire separation required by Sentence (1) is not required to have a fire-resistance rating if the floor area in which the room or space is located is sprinklered.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and (3), in a building of residential occupancy, a laundry room in a floor area that is not within a dwelling unit shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.

(2) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separation required by Sentence (1) is permitted to be not less than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for,

(a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or

(b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above.

(3) The fire separation required by Sentence (1) is not required to have a fire-resistance rating if the floor area in which the laundry room is located is sprinklered.

(1) No obstruction shall be permitted in any occupancy that would restrict the width of a normal means of egress from any part of a floor area to less than 750 mm unless an unobstructed alternative means of egress is provided adjacent to, accessible from, and plainly visible from the obstructed means of egress.

(1) Illuminated signs conforming to Sentences 3.4.5.1.(3)v1 and (5) shall be provided to indicate the direction to egress points in a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1.(9).

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), welding and cutting operations shall be located in a room,

(a) separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, or

(b) protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system.

(2) Sentence (1) does not apply to an industrial occupancy where the welding and cutting operations do not present a fire or explosion hazard to adjacent areas.