Part 3: Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility
Article 3.1.4.2. - Protection of Foamed Plastics
New
In combustible buildings, walk-in coolers or freezers made of factory assembled panels containing foamed plastic insulation are permitted.
New limitations are provided on the flame spread rating for doors containing foam plastic.
Article 3.1.5.5. - Combustible Components for Exterior Walls
Clarification
For noncombustible buildings, testing requirements of exterior wall assemblies with combustible components have been clarified.
Article 3.1.5.5A. - Factory Assembled Panels
New
For factory assembled panels containing foamed plastic insulation in noncombustible buildings, existing requirements are combined, and new provisions added for walk-in coolers and freezers.
Articles 3.1.5.12. - Combustible Insulation and 3.1.5.12A. - Foamed Plastics Insulation
Reorganization
Requirements for combustible insulation and foamed plastics insulation have been separated into two Articles.
Articles 3.1.8.4. - Determination of Ratings and 3.1.8.5. - Installation of Closures
New
Limiting smoke movement is now required in additional types of buildings.
New standards have been introduced for the leakage rates of smoke dampers and combination smoke/fire dampers used as closures, as well as a leakage-rate for door assemblies installed in fire separations.
In addition, a new standard also addresses installation requirements for smoke dampers used as closures and leakage-rated door assemblies in required fire separations.
Article 3.1.8.7. - Location of Fire Dampers and Smoke Dampers
New
A new provision requires air transfer openings or ducts that penetrate certain fire separations to be equipped with smoke dampers or combination fire/smoke dampers.
Articles 3.1.8.8 - Fire Dampers Waived and 3.1.8.8A. - Smoke Dampers Waived
New
Article 3.1.8.8. has been rewritten to clarify where fire dampers can be waived.
A new Article 3.1.8.8.A has been added to address where smoke dampers can be waived.
Article 3.1.8.9A - Installation of Smoke Dampers
New
A new Article has been added to establish rules for the installation of a smoke damper.
Article 3.1.8.12 - Hold-open Devices
New
This Article has been expanded to include most closures.
Article 3.1.9.3A. – Penetration by Outlet Boxes
New
A new Article to address firestopping for all outlet boxes that penetrate a fire separation or a fire-rated assembly. The Article also specifies conditions where noncombustible outlet boxes are not required to be fire stopped.
Article 3.1.11.7 - Fire Block Material
New
This Article now includes Structural Composite Lumber products as fire block materials. The Article now references a new standard, ASTM D5456, Evaluation for Structural Composite Lumber Products.
Article 3.1.15.2. - Roof Coverings
New
This Article now excludes noncombustible roofing covering materials for steel building systems described in Article 4.3.4.3., from required roof classifications, A, B and C.
Subsection 3.1.21. - Electric Vehicle Charging
Deletion
All provisions related to electric vehicle charging have been deleted from the Building Code. This change took effect on May 2, 2019.
Article 3.2.3.6. - Combustible Projections
New
A new Sentence has been added to address that the face of the roof soffit may project to a property line where it faces a street lane or public thoroughfare.
Article 3.2.4.6. - Integrated Fire Protection and Life Systems
Deletion
This Article has been deleted. The testing of life safety systems is now addressed under Article 3.2.10.1.
Article 3.2.4.22A. - Residential Fire Warning Systems
New
A new Article has been added to permit the use of a residential warning system in lieu of interconnected smoke alarm system.
Articles 3.2.4.23. - Two-Way Voice Communication Systems and 3.2.4.24. - One-Way Voice Communication Systems
Reorganization
Voice communication systems have now been separated into two Articles.
Article 3.2.6.2. - Limits to Smoke Movement
New
A new Sentence has been added which requires air handling systems providing make-up air to a public corridor serving high-rise residential suites to remain operational after the activation of the fire alarm to maintain corridor pressurization.
Article 3.2.7.3. - Emergency Lighting
New
This Article now requires emergency lighting in washrooms for public use.
Article 3.2.7.10. - Protection of Electrical Conductors
New
A new Sentence has been added to this Article to address protection measures for the distribution panel controlling the emergency lighting units and the electrical conductors leaving this panel.
Article 3.2.10.1. - Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
New
This Article now references a new CSA standard for testing the integration between fire protection and life safety systems, and other systems associated with fire protection and life safety functions.
Articles 3.3.1.12 - Doors and Door Hardware and 3.4.6.11. - Doors
New
A new requirement has been added to these Articles to set limits on the height of door thresholds, other than for doors required in a barrier-free path of travel.
Article 3.3.1.16. - Capacity of Access to Exits and 3.4.2.6. - Principal Entrance
New
In non-sprinklered buildings, the principal entrance for dance halls and licensed beverage establishments with a high occupant load shall be calculated based on a minimum of one-half of the required exit width.
Article 3.4.6.18. - Emergency Crossover Access to Floor Areas
New
Crossover floor requirements are now applicable to buildings that are 6 storeys or less and where there are multiple levels below grade.
This Article has also been amended to require better signage so that the occupants can locate unlocked doors more rapidly.
Article 3.6.3.5. - Grease Duct Enclosures
New
New requirements related to grease duct enclosures used in commercial cooking operations have been added.
Article 3.7.4.2. - Plumbing Fixtures, General
New
New provisions have been added to clarify requirements for manual controls for faucets used for lavatories.
Article 3.7.5.2. - Medical Gas Piping Systems
New
A change has been made to the requirements for the design, construction, installation and testing of medical gas piping systems.
Section 3.8. – Accessibility
There have been several changes within Section 3.8. of the Building Code that provide clarification and enhance accessibility and safety. These include the following:
Article 3.8.1.5.(1) - Controls
New
This Sentence has been amended regarding location and operation of accessible controls related to building services and safety devices.
Article 3.8.3.3. - Doorways and Doors
Reorganization
Requirements related to power door operators in Sentence (16) and (17) have been clarified and integrated into one sentence.
Article 3.8.3.8. - Water Closet Stall
Clarification
Design requirements for water closet stalls have been revised for clarification.
Article 3.8.3.9. - Water Closets
New
This Article has been revised for clarification and updated to add location and operational criteria for flush controls where there is no automatic flush.
Article 3.8.3.10. - Urinals
Clarification
This Article has been revised for clarification and some duplications related to controls have been removed.
Article 3.8.3.11. - Lavatories
Clarification
This Article has been revised to provide additional clarification on accessibility requirements for lavatories, mirrors and washroom accessories.
Article 3.8.3.12. - Universal Washrooms
Clarification
A change has been made to clarify the requirement for power door operators and self-closing devices in universal washrooms.
Article 3.8.3.13. - Showers and Bathtubs
New
This Article was revised to clarify and enhance accessibility and safety for showers and bathtubs including requirements for grab bars, clear floor spaces, shower heads and faucets, and individual bathtub requirements in some institutional occupancies.