3.4.4.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2), (4), 3.3.5.4.(3), 3.4.4.2.(2), 3.4.4.3.(1) and 3.13.3.1.(3)v1, every exit shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required by Subsection 3.2.2., but not less than 45 min, for,

(a) the floor assembly above the storey, or

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

(2) The fire-resistance rating of the fire separation referred to in Sentence (1) need not be more than 2 h.

(3) If an exit stair in an assembly hall or theatre serves more than one balcony level, the exit stair shall be separated from the remainder of the building in conformance with Sentence (1).

(4) The path of exit travel may lead from an exit door or exit enclosure through open air parking that is located below a roof or floor assembly that is part of the building served by the exit door or exit enclosure where,

(a) the portion of the path of exit travel that leads through the open air parking is not more than 9 m in length measured from the exit door to a point at ground level at the perimeter of the building,

(b) measures are taken to prevent vehicles intended to park in spaces adjacent to the path of exit travel from encroaching on the path of exit travel, and

(c) an alternate means of egress not leading through the open air parking is available from the interior side of the door opening onto the path of exit travel through the open air parking area.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), no exit from a floor area above or below the first storey shall lead through a lobby.

(2) Not more than one exit from a floor area is permitted to lead through a lobby provided,

(a) the lobby floor is not more than 4.5 m above grade,

(b) the path of travel through the lobby to the outdoors is not more than 15 m,

(c) the adjacent rooms or premises having direct access to the lobby do not contain a residential occupancy or an industrial occupancy, except that dwelling units may open directly onto the lobby where,

(i) from the interior of the exit stair that opens onto the lobby there is alternate means of egress not leading through the lobby and such means of egress is entirely within the same storey as the lobby, or

(ii) the floor area is sprinklered,

(d) except as required by Clause (g), the lobby is not located within an interconnected floor space other than as described in Sentence 3.2.8.2.(6)v1v2,

(e) the lobby conforms to the requirements for exits, except that,

(i) rooms other than service rooms and storage rooms are permitted to open onto the lobby,

(ii) the fire separation between the lobby and a room used for the sole purpose of control and supervision of the building need not have a fire-resistance rating,

(iii) the fire separation between the lobby and adjacent occupancies that are permitted to open onto the lobby need not have a fire-resistance rating provided the lobby and adjacent occupancies are sprinklered, and

(iv) passenger elevator entrances are permitted to open onto the lobby provided the elevator entrance doors are designed to remain closed except while loading and unloading,

(f) a fire separation, constructed in accordance with Sentence 3.4.4.1.(1), is maintained between the lobby and any exit permitted by this Sentence to lead through the lobby, and

(g) that if the exit serves a hotel, the lobby is not located within an interconnected floor space.

(1) The requirements of Sentences 3.4.4.1.(1) and 3.2.3.13.(1) and (3) do not apply to an exterior exit passageway provided,

(a) not less than 50% of the exterior side is open to the outdoors, and

(b) an exit stair is provided at each end of the passageway.

(1) A fire separation that separates an exit from the remainder of the building shall have no openings except for,

(a) standpipe and sprinkler piping,

(b) electrical wires and cables, totally enclosed noncombustible raceways and noncombustible piping that serve only the exit,

(c) openings required by the provisions of Subsection 3.2.6.,

(d) exit doorways, and

(e) wired glass and glass block permitted by Article 3.1.8.14.v1

(2) Exits within scissors stairs and other contiguous exit stairways shall be separated from each other by a smoke-tight fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the floor assembly through which they pass.

(3) Fire separations separating contiguous stairs described in Sentence (2) shall not be pierced by doorways, ductwork, piping or any other openings that affect the continuity of the separation.

(4) A fuel-fired appliance shall not be installed in an exit.

(5) An exit shall not be used as a plenum for a heating, ventilating or air-conditioning system.

(6) An exit shall be designed for no purpose other than for exiting, except that an exit is permitted also to be designed to serve as an access to a floor area.

(7) A service room shall not open directly into an exit.

(8) Storage rooms, washrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms and similar ancillary rooms shall not open directly into an exit.

(9) Service spaces referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1.(9) shall not open directly into an exit.

(10) In elementary and secondary schools, an exit shall be designed so that it does not serve as an access from one portion of a floor area to another portion of the same floor area.