3.3.4.

(1) This Subsection applies to residential occupancies.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and 3.2.2.9.(2), suites of residential occupancy shall be separated from each other and 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 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) Floor assemblies within a dwelling unit need not be constructed as fire separations provided,

(a) the distance between the lowest floor level and the uppermost floor level within the dwelling unit is not more than 6 m, and

(b) the dwelling unit is separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than,

(i) 45 min if the building is sprinklered and is not more than 3 storeys in building height,

(ii) 1 h if the building is sprinklered and is more than 3 storeys in building height

(iii) 1 h if the building is not sprinklered and is not more than 6 storeys in building height, or

(iv) 2 h if the building is not sprinklered and is more than 6 storeys in building height.

(4) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separation located between a dwelling unit and an attached storage garage need not conform to that required by Sentence 3.3.5.6.(1) provided,

(a) the storage garage contains not more than 5 vehicles,

(b) the dwelling unit and the attached storage garage are sprinklered,

(c) the dwelling unit is separated from the remainder of the building in conformance with Sentences (1) to (3),

(d) there are no air duct systems connecting the storage garage and the dwelling unit,

(e) the construction between the storage garage and the dwelling unit provides an effective barrier to gas and exhaust fumes, and

(f) every door between the storage garage and the dwelling unit is,

(i) tight fitting and weather-stripped to provide an effective barrier against the passage of gas and exhaust fumes,

(ii) fitted with a self-closing device, and

(iii) not located in a room intended for sleeping.

(5) The fire separation required by Sentence 3.3.5.6.(1) is not required between a dwelling unit and an attached storage garage, serving that dwelling unit only, provided,

(a) the dwelling unit and its attached storage garage are separated from the remainder of the building in conformance with Sentences (1) to (3),

(b) there are no air duct systems connecting the storage garage and the dwelling unit,

(c) the construction between the storage garage and the dwelling unit provides an effective barrier to gas and exhaust fumes, and

(d) every door between the storage garage and the dwelling unit is,

(i) tight fitting and weather-stripped to provide an effective barrier against the passage of gas and exhaust fumes,

(ii) fitted with a self-closing device, and

(iii) not located in a room intended for sleeping.

(1) Sprinklers shall be installed in a storage room provided for the use of tenants in a residential occupancy within a floor area but not contained within a suite.

(2) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), a storage room referred to in Sentence (1) shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.

(3) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separation required by Sentence (2) 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.

(1) Single storey dwelling units in an apartment building need not lead to a public corridor or exterior passageway on the same storey provided the dwelling units are served by private stairways leading directly to a public access to exit on the storey,

(a) immediately above, and

(b) immediately below.

(2) Except as permitted by Sentences (3) to (5), a dwelling unit containing more than one storey shall have an exit door or an egress door opening directly into a public access to exit from the uppermost storey and from the lowest storey of the dwelling unit so that each storey is served by an exit or egress door located not more than 1 500 mm above or below its floor level.

(3) A single exit is permitted from a dwelling unit provided the exit is an exterior doorway not more than 1 500 mm above adjacent ground level and,

(a) it is not necessary to travel up or down more than one storey to reach the exit door, or

(b) the uppermost floor level opens to a balcony not more than 6 m above adjacent ground level.

(4) An egress door from either the uppermost storey or the lowest storey in a dwelling unit, as required in Sentence (2), need not be provided,

(a) if that storey is served by a stairway that,

(i) leads to a public access to exit,

(ii) has no direct access to any other storey in the dwelling unit, and

(iii) is separated from the other storeys in the dwelling unit by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 45 min,

(b) if the dwelling unit has not more than 2 storeys above the first storey of the building, or

(c) if it is not necessary to travel either more than 18 m, or more than 1 storey up or down to reach the egress door.

(5) An egress door from either the uppermost storey or the lowest storey in a dwelling unit, as required in Sentence (2), need not be provided,

(a) on the uppermost storey of a dwelling unit having not more than 2 storeys above the first storey of the building,

(b) on each storey from which it is not necessary to travel either more than 18 m or more than 1 storey up or down within the dwelling unit to reach an egress door, or

(c) where that storey is,

(i) provided with a balcony conforming to Sentence (8),

(ii) not more than 2 storeys above or below the dwelling unit egress door, and

(iii) in a building that is not more than 6 storeys in building height.

(6) In a building of residential occupancy not more than 3 storeys in building height, a doorway from a dwelling unit is permitted to open directly into an exit stairway provided the dwelling unit has a second and separate means of egress.

(7) If a dwelling unit has a second and separate means of egress, one means of egress from a dwelling unit is permitted to pass through,

(a) an interior corridor served by a single exit,

(b) an exterior balcony served by a single exit stairway, or

(c) an exterior passageway served by a single exit stairway.

(8) Where a balcony is provided to meet the requirements of Sentence (3) or (5), the balcony shall have,

(a) a solid floor having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for a floor assembly between suites, and

(b) an area providing not less than 1.5 m² per suite occupant, based on occupant load, and a minimum dimension of 1 200 mm.

(1) Except for hotels, a door opening onto a public corridor that provides access to exit from a suite shall be designed not to lock automatically.

(1) Sound transmission class ratings of building assemblies shall conform to Section 5.9.

(1) Stairs, handrails and guards within a dwelling unit shall conform to the appropriate requirements in Section 9.8.