9.10.14.

(1) Except as permitted in Subsection 9.10.15., this Subsection applies to all buildings.

(1) The area of an exposing building face shall be,

(a) taken as the exterior wall area facing in one direction on any side of a building, and

(b) calculated as,

(i) the total area measured from the finished ground level to the uppermost ceiling, or

(ii) the area for each fire compartment where a building is divided into fire compartments by fire separations with fire-resistance ratings not less than 45 min.

(2) For the purpose of using Table 9.10.14.4.v1 to determine the maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings permitted in an irregularly-shaped or skewed exterior wall, the location of the exposing building face shall be taken as a vertical plane located so that there are no unprotected openings between the vertical plane and the line to which limiting distance is measured.

(3) For the purpose of using Table 9.10.14.5. to determine the required type of construction, cladding and fire-resistance rating for an irregularly-shaped or skewed exterior wall,

(a) the exposing building face is permitted to be divided into any number of portions and the fire-resistance rating, type of cladding and percentage of unprotected openings limitations is permitted to be determined individually for each portion based on the limiting distance for each portion so divided,

(b) the exposing building face shall be taken as the projection of the exterior wall onto a vertical plane located so that no portion of the exterior wall of the building is between the vertical plane and the line to which the limiting distance is established in Clause (a), and

(c) for the purpose of determining the actual area of unprotected openings permitted in an exterior wall, the unprotected openings shall be projected onto the vertical plane established in Clause (b).

(4) The required limiting distance for an exposing building face is permitted to be measured to a point beyond the property line that is not the centre line of a street, lane or public thoroughfare if,

(a) the owners of the properties on which the limiting distance is measured and the municipality enter into an agreement in which such owners agree that,

(i) each owner covenants that, for the benefit of land owned by the other covenantors, the owner will not construct a building on his or her property unless the limiting distance for exposing building faces in respect of the proposed construction is measured in accordance with the agreement,

(ii) the covenants contained in the agreement are intended to run with the lands, and the agreement shall be binding on the parties and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns,

(iii) the agreement shall not be amended or deleted from title without the consent of the municipality, and

(iv) they will comply with such other conditions as the municipality considers necessary, including indemnification of the municipality by the other parties, and

(b) the agreement referred to in Clause (a) is registered against the title of the properties to which it applies.

(5) Where an agreement referred to in Sentence (4) is registered against the title of a property, the limiting distance for exposing building faces in respect of the construction of any buildings on the property shall be measured to the point referred to in the agreement.

(1) Where there is no fire department or where a fire department is not organized, trained and equipped to meet the needs of the community, the required limiting distance determined from Sentences 9.10.14.4.(2)v1, (5) and (6) and Sentence 9.10.14.5.(6), shall be doubled for a building that is not sprinklered.

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (3) to (7) and Sentence 9.10.14.6.(1), the maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings in an exposing building face shall,

(a) conform to Table 9.10.14.4.,

(b) conform to Subsection 3.2.3., or

(c) be equal to or less than,

(i) the limiting distance squared, for residential occupancies, business and personal services occupancies and low hazard industrial occupancies, and

(ii) twice the limiting distance squared, for mercantile occupancies and medium hazard industrial occupancies.

(2) Openings in a wall having a limiting distance of less than 1.2 m shall be protected by closures, of other than wired glass or glass block, whose fire protection rating is in conformance with the fire-resistance rating required for the wall.

(3) The maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings shall be not more than twice the area determined according to Sentence (1) where the unprotected openings are glazed with,

(a) wired glass in steel frames as described in Article 9.10.13.5., or

(b) glass blocks, as described in Article 9.10.13.7.

(4) Where the building is sprinklered, the maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings shall be not more than twice the area determined according to Sentence (1) provided all rooms, including closets and bathrooms, that are adjacent to the exposing building face and that have unprotected openings are sprinklered, notwithstanding any exemptions in the sprinkler standards referenced in Article 3.2.5.13.

(5) The maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings in an exposing building face of a storage garage need not comply with Sentence (1) where,

(a) all storeys are constructed as open-air storeys, and

(b) the storage garage has a limiting distance of not less than 3 m.

(6) The maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings in an exposing building face of a storey that faces a street and is the same level as the street need not comply with Sentence (1) where the limiting distance is not less than 9 m.

(7) The limits on area of unprotected openings need not apply to the exposing building face of a detached garage or accessory building facing a dwelling unit, where,

(a) the detached garage or accessory building serves a single dwelling unit,

(b) the detached garage or accessory building is located on the same property as that dwelling unit, and

(c) the dwelling unit served by the detached garage or accessory building is the only major occupancy on the property.

(1) Except as permitted in Sentences (2) to (7), each exposing building face and any exterior wall located above an exposing building face that encloses an attic or roof space shall be constructed in conformance with Table 9.10.14.5. and Subsection 9.10.8.

(2) Cladding on exposing building faces and exterior walls located above exposing building faces need not conform to the type of cladding required by Table 9.10.14.5. where,

(a) the exposing building face is constructed with no unprotected openings,

(b) the limiting distance is not less than 0.6 m, and

(c) the cladding,

(i) conforms to Subsection 9.27.13.,

(ii) is installed without furring members over not less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum sheathing or over masonry,

(iii) has a flame-spread rating not more than 25 when tested in accordance with Sentence 3.1.12.1.(2), and

(iv) is not more than 2 mm in thickness exclusive of fasteners, joints and local reinforcements.

(3) Except as provided in Sentence (4), where a garage or accessory building serves a single dwelling unit and is detached from any building, the exposing building face,

(a) need not conform to the minimum required fire-resistance rating in Table 9.10.14.5., where the limiting distance is 0.6 m or more,

(b) shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 45 min where the limiting distance is less than 0.6 m, and

(c) need not conform to the type of cladding required in Table 9.10.14.5. regardless of the limiting distance.

(4) The requirements for fire-resistance rating, type of construction and type of cladding need not apply to the exposing building faces of a dwelling unit and a detached garage or accessory building that face each other, where,

(a) the detached garage or accessory building serves a single dwelling unit,

(b) the detached garage or accessory building is located on the same property as that dwelling unit, and

(c) the dwelling unit served by the detached garage or accessory building is the only major occupancy on the property.

(5) Except for buildings containing 1 or 2 dwelling units only, combustible projections on the exterior of a wall that are more than 1 000 mm above ground level, such as balconies, platforms, canopies, eave projections and stairs, and that could expose an adjacent building to fire spread, shall not be permitted within,

(a) 1.2 m of a property line or the centre line of a public way, or

(b) 2.4 m of a combustible projection on another building on the same property.

(6) Heavy timber and steel columns need not conform to the requirements of Sentence (1) provided the limiting distance is not less than 3 m.

(7) Non-loadbearing wall components need not have a minimum fire-resistance rating where,

(a) the building is 1 storey in building height,

(b) the building is of noncombustible construction,

(c) the building is classified as low hazard industrial occupancy and is used only for low fire load occupancies such as power generating plants or plants for the manufacture or storage of noncombustible materials, and

(d) the exposing building face has a limiting distance of 3 m or more.

(1) An opening in an exposing building face not more than 130 cm² shall not be considered an unprotected opening.