9.8.8.

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), every surface to which access is provided for other than maintenance purposes, including but not limited to flights of steps and ramps, exterior landings, porches, balconies, mezzanines, galleries and raised walkways, shall be protected by a guard on each side that is not protected by a wall for the length where,

(a) there is a difference in elevation of more than 600 mm between the walking surface and the adjacent surface, or

(b) the adjacent surface within 1.2 m from the walking surface has a slope of more than 1 in 2.

(2) Guards are not required,

(a) at loading docks,

(b) at floor pits in repair garages, or

(c) where access is provided for maintenance purposes only.

(3) When an interior stair has more than 2 risers or an interior ramp rises more than 400 mm, the sides of the stair or ramp and the landing or floor level around the stairwell or ramp shall be protected by a guard on each side that is not protected by a wall.

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (5), guards shall be designed to resist the loads specified in Table 9.8.8.2.

(2) Where the width and spacing of balusters in guards within dwelling units, and exterior guards serving not more than 2 dwelling units is such that 3 balusters can be engaged by a load imposed over the 300 mm width, the load shall be imposed so as to engage 3 balusters.

(3) None of the loads specified in Table 9.8.8.2. need be considered to act simultaneously.

(4) For guards within dwelling units and for exterior guards serving not more than 2 dwelling units, Table 9.8.8.2. need not apply where the guard construction has been demonstrated to provide effective performance.

(5) Guards constructed in accordance with the requirements in Supplementary Standard SB-7 shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of Sentence (1).

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (4), all guards shall be not less than 1 070 mm high.

(2) All guards within dwelling units shall be not less than 900 mm high.

(3) Exterior guards serving not more than one dwelling unit shall be not less than 900 mm high where the walking surface served by the guard is not more than 1 800 mm above the finished ground level.

(4) Guards for flights of steps, except in required exit stairs, shall be not less than 900 mm high.

(5) The height of guards for flights of steps shall be measured vertically from a line drawn through the leading edge of the treads served by the guard.

(1) Except for floors of garages referred to in Section 9.35., where garage floors or ramps are 600 mm or more above the adjacent ground or floor level, every opening through a garage floor and the perimeter of floors and ramps that have no exterior walls shall be provided with,

(a) a continuous curb not less than 150 mm in height, and

(b) a guard not less than 1 070 mm above the floor level.

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), openings through any guard that is required by Article 9.8.8.1. shall be of a size that will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 100 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard.

(2) Openings through any guard that is required by Article 9.8.8.1. and that is installed in a building of industrial occupancy shall be of a size that will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 200 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of such openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard.

(3) Unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings that do not comply with the following limits do not represent a hazard, openings through any guard that is not required by Article 9.8.8.1. and that serves a building of other than industrial occupancy, shall be of a size that,

(a) will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 100 mm, or

(b) will permit the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 200 mm.

(1) Guards required by Article 9.8.8.1., except those in industrial occupancies and where it can be shown that the location and size of openings do not represent a hazard, shall be designed so that no member, attachment or opening will facilitate climbing.

(2) Guards shall be deemed to comply with Sentence (1) where any elements protruding from the vertical and located within the area between 140 mm and 900 mm above the floor or walking surface protected by the guard,

(a) are located more than 450 mm horizontally and vertically from each other,

(b) provide not more than 15 mm horizontal offset,

(c) do not provide a toe-space more than 45 mm horizontally and 20 mm vertically, or

(d) present more than a 1-in-2 slope on the offset.

(1) Glass in guards shall be,

(a) safety glass of the laminated or tempered type 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”.