Fire protection syllabus
The Building Code
The exam covers the following sections of the Building Code.
Division A – Compliance, Objectives and Functional Statements, as follows:
- Part 1 – Compliance and General:
- except 1.3.3.1A. Application of Part 2
- except 1.3.3.2A. Application of Part 8
- except 1.3.3.5. Designated Structures
- Part 2 – Objectives
- Part 3 – Functional Statements
Division B – Acceptable Solutions, as follows:
- Part 1 – General:
- except 1.1.3.2. Depth of Frost Penetration
- Part 2 – Farm Buildings, only:
- 2.1.1. Scope
- 2.1.2. Application
- 2.1.4. Classification of Farm Buildings by Major Occupancy
- 2.2.1. General
- 2.2.2. Building Size and Construction Relative to Major Occupancy
- 2.2.3. Fire Alarm and Detection Systems
- 2.2.4. Provisions for Firefighting
- 2.2.5. Emergency Lighting
- 2.2.6. Safety within Farm Buildings
- 2.2.7. Exits
- 2.2.8. Hazardous Substances, Processes and Equipment
- 2.4.3. Heating Appliances
- Part 3 – Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility, only:
- 3.1. General, only:
- 3.1.1.1. Scope
- 3.1.2. Classification or Buildings or Parts of Buildings by Major Occupancy
- 3.1.3.1. Separation of Major Occupancies
- 3.1.3.2.(1) Prohibition of Occupancy Combinations
- 3.1.3.2.(2) Prohibition of Occupancy Combinations
- 3.1.3.2.(4) Prohibition of Occupancy Combinations
- 3.1.4.1. Combustible Materials Permitted
- 3.1.4.3. Wires and Cables
- 3.1.4.4. Non-metallic Raceways
- 3.1.5.1. Noncombustible Materials
- 3.1.5.2. Minor Combustible Components
- 3.1.5.19. Combustible Piping Materials
- 3.1.5.21. Wires and Cables
- 3.1.5.22. Combustible Travelling Cables for Elevators
- 3.1.5.23. Non-metallic Raceways
- 3.1.5.25. Wires in Computer Room Floors
- 3.1.5.28. Combustible Solar Collector Systems
- 3.1.7. Fire- Resistance Ratings
- 3.1.8. Fire Separations and Closures
- 3.1.9. Penetrations in Fire Separations and Fire-Rated Assemblies
- 3.1.10.1.(4) Prevention of Firewall Collapse
- 3.1.10.2. Rating of Firewalls
- 3.1.10.3. Continuity of Firewalls
- 3.1.11. Fire Blocks in Concealed Spaces
- 3.1.17. Occupant Load
- 3.2. Building Fire Safety, only:
- 3.2.1. General
- 3.2.2.4. Buildings with Multiple Major Occupancies
- 3.2.2.5. Applicable Building Height and Area
- 3.2.2.6. Multiple Major Occupancies
- 3.2.2.7. Superimposed Major Occupancies
- 3.2.2.8. Exceptions for Major Occupancies
- 3.2.2.9. Crawl Spaces
- 3.2.2.10. Streets
- 3.2.2.13. Occupancy on Roof
- 3.2.2.17. Roof Assemblies and Mezzanines in Gymnasiums, Swimming Pools, Arenas and Rinks
- 3.2.2.18. Automatic Sprinkler System Required
- 3.2.2.19. Buildings Containing Impeded Egress Zones
- 3.2.2.20. to 3.2.2.93. Construction Requirements
- 3.2.4. Fire Alarm and Detection Systems
- 3.2.5. Provisions for Firefighting
- 3.2.6. Additional Requirements for High Buildings
- 3.2.7. Lighting and Emergency Power Systems:
- except 3.2.7.1. Minimum Lighting Requirements
- 3.2.8. Mezzanines and Openings through Floor Assemblies, only:
- 3.2.8.3. Sprinklers
- 3.2.8.4. Vestibules
- 3.2.8.5. Protected Floor Space
- 3.2.8.6. Draft Stops
- 3.2.8.7. Mechanical Exhaust System
- 3.2.8.8. Combustible Content Limits
- 3.2.9. Testing of Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
- 3.3. Safety Within Floor Areas, only:
- 3.3.1.1. Separation of Suites
- 3.3.1.2. Hazardous Substances, Equipment and Processes
- 3.3.1.3. Means of Egress
- 3.3.1.4. Public Corridor Separations
- 3.3.1.5. Egress Doorways
- 3.3.1.6. Travel Distance
- 3.3.1.7. Protection on Floor Areas with a Barrier- Free Path of Travel
- 3.3.1.13. Doors and Door Hardware
- 3.3.1.20.(1) Transparent Doors and Panels
- 3.3.1.20.(2) Transparent Doors and Panels
- 3.3.1.20.(3) Transparent Doors and Panels
- 3.3.1.20.(4) Transparent Doors and Panels
- 3.3.1.20.(5) Transparent Doors and Panels
- 3.3.1.20.(6) Transparent Doors and Panels
- 3.3.1.20.(7) Transparent Doors and Panels
- 3.3.1.21. Exhaust Ventilation and Explosion Venting
- 3.3.1.25. Signs in Service Spaces
- 3.3.2.1. Scope
- 3.3.2.2. Fire Separations
- 3.3.2.6. Corridors
- 3.3.2.7. Doors
- 3.3.2.14. Stages for Theatrical Performances
- 3.3.2.16. Storage Rooms
- 3.3.3.1. Scope
- 3.3.3.2. Fire Separations
- 3.3.3.3. Corridors
- 3.3.3.4. Doorway Width
- 3.3.3.5. Hospitals and Long-Term Care Homes
- 3.3.3.6. Protection for Special Care and Treatment Facilities
- 3.3.3.7. Contained Use Areas
- 3.3.4.1. Scope
- 3.3.4.2. Fire Separations
- 3.3.4.3. Storage Rooms
- 3.3.4.4. Egress from Dwelling Units
- 3.3.4.5. Automatic Locking Prohibition
- 3.3.4.11. Retirement Home
- 3.3.5.1. Scope
- 3.3.5.2. Fire Extinguishing Systems
- 3.3.5.3. Basements
- 3.3.5.7. Vestibules
- 3.3.6. Design of Hazardous Areas
- 3.4. Exits, only:
- 3.4.1. General
- 3.4.2. Number and Location of Exits from Floor Areas
- 3.4.4. Fire Separation of Exits
- 3.4.5. Exit Signs
- 3.4.6.1. Surface Finish of Ramps and Stairs
- 3.4.6.2. Minimum Number of Risers
- 3.4.6.3. Maximum Vertical Rise of Stair Flights and Required Landings
- 3.4.6.11. Doors
- 3.4.6.12. Direction of Door Swing
- 3.4.6.13. Self- Closing Devices
- 3.4.6.14. Sliding Doors
- 3.4.6.15. Revolving Doors
- 3.4.6.16. Door Release Hardware
- 3.4.6.18. Emergency Crossover Access to Floor Areas
- 3.4.6.19. Floor Numbering and Identification of Stair Shafts
- 3.4.7.1. Scope
- 3.4.7.3. Access to Fire Escapes
- 3.4.7.4. Protection of Fire Escapes
- 3.5. Vertical Transportation, only:
- 3.5.3. Fire Separations
- 3.6. Service Facilities, only:
- 3.6.1.1. Scope
- 3.6.2. Service Rooms:
- except 3.6.2.7. Electrical Equipment Vaults
- 3.6.3. Vertical Service Spaces and Service Facilities:
- except 3.6.3.4. Exhaust Duct Negative Pressure
- 3.6.4.1. Scope
- 3.6.4.2. Fire Separations for Horizontal Service Spaces
- 3.6.4.3. Plenum Requirements
- 3.7. Health Requirements, only:
- 3.7.5.1. Electrical Systems
- 3.8. Barrier-Free Design, only:
- 3.8.1.5. Controls
- 3.8.3.7. Assistive Listening Devices
- 3.9. Portable Classrooms, only:
- 3.9.1.1. Application
- 3.9.3.3. Fire Alarm Systems
- 3.9.3.4. Provisions for Fire Fighting
- 3.9.3.5. Portable Fire Extinguishers
- 3.10. Self-Service Storage Buildings, only:
- 3.10.1. Scope
- 3.10.2.1. Occupancy Classification
- 3.10.2.2. Occupant Load
- 3.10.3. Additional Requirements for Buildings Containing More than 1 Storey:
- except 3.10.3.2. Spatial Separations
- 3.10.4. Additional Requirements for 1 Storey Buildings:
- except 3.10.4.3. Spatial Separations
- 3.11. Public Pools, only:
- 3.11.1.1.(1) Application
- 3.11.1.1.(2) Application
- 3.11.2. Designations of Public Pools
- 3.11.10. Emergency Provisions for All Public Pools
- 3.11.11. Service Rooms and Storage for All Public Pools
- 3.12. Public Spas, only:
- 3.12.1.1.(1) Application
- 3.12.1.1.(5) Application
- 3.12.5. Emergency Provisions for All Public Spas
- 3.12.6. Service Rooms and Storage for All Public Spas
- 3.13. Rapid Transit Stations, only:
- 3.13.1. Scope and Definitions
- 3.13.3.1. Application
- 3.13.3.4. Leased Areas
- 3.13.3.5. Vehicle Terminal
- 3.13.3.6. Access to Adjacent Building
- 3.13.3.7. Emergency Lighting
- 3.13.4. Means of Egress
- 3.13.5. Fire Safety Provisions
- 3.13.7. Emergency Ventilation
- 3.13.8.4. Emergency Operation of Elevators
- 3.14. Tents and Air-Supported Structures, only:
- 3.14.1.1. Application
- 3.14.1.2. General
- 3.14.1.3. Means of Egress
- 3.14.1.6. Flame Resistance
- 3.14.1.9. Provisions for Fire Fighting
- 3.14.1.10. Electrical Systems
- 3.14.2.1. Application
- 3.14.2.5. Flame Resistance
- 3.14.2.6. Emergency Air Supply
- 3.14.2.7. Electrical Systems
- 3.16. Shelf and Rack Storage Systems, only:
- 3.16.1.1. Application
- 3.16.1.4. Signs
- 3.16.1.5. Lighting
- 3.16.1.6. Sprinkler System
- 3.16.1.7. Exits and Means of Egress
- 3.16.2. Storage of Class I, II, III and IV Commodities
- 3.16.3. Storage of Group A, B and C Plastics and Rubber Tires
- 3.18. Additional Requirements for Existing Buildings
- 3.1. General, only:
- Part 6 – Heating, Ventilating and Air- Conditioning, only:
- 6.2. Design and Installation
- 6.3. Ventilation Systems, only:
- 6.3.1.6. Commercial Cooking Equipment
- 6.3.2.7.(5) Interconnection of Systems
- 6.9. Fire Safety Systems, only:
- 6.9.1.2. Hazardous Gases, Dusts or Liquids
- 6.9.2.1. Fire Dampers
- 6.9.2.2. Smoke Detectors
- 6.9.2.4. Ducts in Exits
- 6.9.3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Part 7 – Plumbing, only:
- 7.2. Materials and Equipment, only:
- 7.2.11. Water Service Pipes and Fire Service Mains
- 7.6. Potable Water Systems, only:
- 7.6.2.4. Backflow from Fire Protection Systems
- 7.2. Materials and Equipment, only:
- Part 9 – Housing and Small Buildings, only:
- 9.1. General, only:
- 9.1.1.1. Application
- 9.1.1.3. Self-Service Storage Buildings
- 9.1.1.4. Tents and Air-Supported Structures
- 9.1.1.9. Site Assembled and Factory-Built Buildings
- 9.1.1.11. Shelf and Rack Storage Systems
- 9.7. Windows, Doors and Skylights, only:
- 9.7.2.2.(2) Other Requirements for Windows, Door and Skylights
- 9.7.2.2.(3) Other Requirements for Windows, Door and Skylights
- 9.7.2.2.(6) Other Requirements for Windows, Door and Skylights
- 9.7.2.2.(7) Other Requirements for Windows, Door and Skylights
- 9.7.2.2.(9) Other Requirements for Windows, Door and Skylights
- 9.9. Means of Egress, only:
- 9.9.1. General
- 9.9.2.1. Types of Exits
- 9.9.2.2. Purpose of Exits
- 9.9.2.3. Elevators, Slide Escapes and Windows as Means of Egress
- 9.9.2.4. Principle Entrances
- 9.9.4. Fire Protection of Exits
- 9.9.5. Obstructions and Hazards in Means of Egress
- 9.9.6.7. Door Latching, Locking and Opening Mechanisms
- 9.9.6.8. Effort Required to Open
- 9.9.7. Access to Exits
- 9.9.8. Exits from Floor Areas
- 9.9.9. Egress from Dwelling Units
- 9.9.10. Egress from Bedrooms
- 9.9.11. Signs
- 9.9.12. Lighting
- 9.10. Fire Protection:
- except 9.10.9.19.(4) Separation of Repair Garages
- except 9.10.9.21. Central Vacuum Systems
- except 9.10.14. Spatial Separation Between Buildings
- except 9.10.15. Spatial Separation Between Houses
- except 9.10.17. Flame Spread Limits
- except 9.10.21.5. Spatial Separations
- except 9.10.21.6. Flame-Spread Ratings
- except 9.10.22. Fire Protection for Gas, Propane and Electric Cooktops and Ovens
- 9.18. Crawl Spaces, only:
- 9.18.7. Fire Protection
- 9.32. Ventilation, only:
- 9.32.3.9. Application of Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- 9.33. Heating and Air- Conditioning
- 9.34. Electrical Facilities, only:
- 9.34.1.5. Wiring and Cables
- 9.34.3. Emergency Lighting
- 9.37. Cottages, only:
- 9.37.1. Scope
- 9.37.2.4. Smoke Alarms
- 9.1. General, only:
- Part 11 – Renovation, only:
- 11.5. Compliance Alternatives, including Compliance Alternatives listed in Tables
- Tables 11.5.1.1.-A, 11.5.1.1.-B, 11.5.1.1.-C, 11.5.1.1.-D/E, and 11.5.1.1.-F. which cross-reference requirements in the remainder of the “Fire Protection” syllabus.
- Part 12 – Resource Conservation, only:
- 12.1. General
- 12.2. Energy Efficiency, Carbon Dioxide Equivalents and Peak Electric Demand, only:
- 12.2.4. Motion Sensors
Division C – Administrative Provisions, only:
- Part 1 General, only:
- 1.1. Application
- 1.2. Design and General Review, only:
- 1.2.1.2.(2) Design by Architect or Professional Engineer
- 1.2.1.2.(3) Design by Architect or Professional Engineer
- 1.2.1.2.(4) Design by Architect or Professional Engineer
- 1.3. Permits and Inspections, only:
- 1.3.1.1. Requirements for Permits
- 1.3.1.4. Permits Under Section 10 of the Act
- 1.3.2.1. Permit Posting
- 1.3.2.2. Documentation on Site
- 1.3.3. Occupancy of Buildings
- 1.3.5.1. Prescribed Notices
- 1.3.6.1. Application
- Part 2 – Alternative Solutions, Disputes, Rulings and Interpretations, only:
- 2.1. Alternative Solutions
- 2.4. Rulings and Interpretations
Supplementary Standards
The following Supplementary Standards may be covered in the exam:
- Supplementary Standard SA-1 – Objectives and Functional Statements Attributed to the Acceptable Solutions
- Supplementary Standard SB-1 – Climatic and Seismic Data
- Supplementary Standard SB-2 – Fire Performance Ratings
- Supplementary Standard SB-3 – Fire and Sound Resistance Tables
- Supplementary Standard SB-4 – Measures for Fire Safety in High Buildings
Updated: January 21, 2026
Published: January 12, 2026