Part 9 fire protection for services

(1)Emergency lighting shall be provided in

(a)exits.

(b)principal routes providing access to exit in an open floor area,

(c)corridors used by the public,

(d)underground walkways, and

(e)public corridors.

(2)Emergency lighting required in Sentence (1) shall be provided from a source of energy separate from the electrical supply for the building.

(3)Lighting required in Sentence (1) shall be designed to be automatically actuated for a period of at least 30 min when the electric lighting in the affected area is interrupted.

(4)Illumination from lighting required in Sentence (1) shall be provided to average levels of not less than 10 lx at floor or tread level.

(5)The minimum value of the illumination required by Sentence (4) shall be not less than 1 1x.

(6)Where incandescent lighting is provided, lighting equal to 1 W/m² of floor area shall be considered to meet the requirement in Sentence (4).

(7)Where self-contained emergency lighting units are used, they shall conform to CSA C22.2 No. 141, "Emergency lighting equipment."

(1)Tents, air-supported structures, transformer vaults, walkways, elevators and escalators shall conform to Part 3.

(2)Where rooms or spaces are intended for an assembly occupancy, such rooms or spaces shall conform to Part 3.

(3)Basements containing more than 1 storey or exceeding 600 m² in area shall conform to Part 3.

(4)Where rooms or spaces are intended for the storage, manufacture or use of hazardous or explosive material, such rooms or spaces shall conform to Part 3.

(5)Reserved.

(6)Openings through floors that are not protected by shafts or closures shall be protected in conformance with Subsection 3.2.8. (See also Sentence 9.9.4.7.(1))

(7)Chutes and shafts shall conform to Subsection 3.6.3. except where they are entirely contained within a dwelling unit.

(8)Sprinkler systems shall be designed, constructed and installed in conformance with Articles 3.2.5.12. to 3.2.5.15. and 3.2.5.17. (See Note A-9.10.1.3.(8) and (9))

(9)Standpipe and hose systems shall be designed, constructed and installed in conformance with Articles 3.2.5.8. to 3.2.5.11. and 3.2.5.17. (See Note A-9.10.1.3.(8) and (9))

(10)Fire pumps shall be installed in conformance with Articles 3.2.5.17. and 3.2.5.18.

(11)Where fuel-fired appliances are installed on a roof, such appliances shall be installed in conformance with Article 3.6.1.5.

(1)In kitchens containing commercial cooking equipment used in processes producing grease-laden vapours, the equipment shall be designed and installed in conformance with Article 6.3.1.6. (See Note A-9.10.1.4.(1))

(1)Except as required by Sentence (2) and Articles 9.10.9.7. and 9.10.9.8. and as permitted by Article 9.10.9.9., penetrations of a required fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to be a fire separation shall be

(a)sealed by a firestop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," has an F rating not less than the required fire-resistance rating for the fire separation,

(b)tightly fitted or cast in place, provided the penetrating item is made of steel, ferrous, copper, concrete or masonry, or

(c)sealed to maintain the integrity of the fire separation. (See Note A-9.10.9.6.(1))

(2)Penetrations of a firewall shall be sealed at the penetration by a firestop that, when subjected to the fire test method in "CAN/ULC-S115, "Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating for the fire separation.

(1)Combustible totally enclosed raceways that are embedded in a concrete floor slab are permitted in an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating, provided the concrete cover between the raceway and the bottom of the slab is not less than 50 mm.

(2)Totally enclosed raceways are permitted to penetrate a fire separation, provided they are sealed at the penetration by a firestop conforming to Clause 9.10.9.6.(1)(a).

(3)Sprinkler piping is permitted to penetrate a fire separation, provided the fire compartments on each side of the fire separation are sprinklered.

(4)Sprinklers are permitted to penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without having to meet the firestop requirements of Article 9.10.9.6. and Clause 9.10.9.8.(6)(a), provided the annular space created by the penetration of a fire sprinkler is covered by a metal escutcheon plate in accordance with NFPA 13, "Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems."

(5)Fire dampers are permitted to penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without having to meet the firestop requirements of Sentence 9.10.9.6.(1), provided the fire damper is

(a)installed in conformance with NFPA 80, "Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives,"

(b)specifically designed with a firestop, or

(c)provided in conformance with Sentence 9.10.5.1.(3). (See also Note A-3.1.9.2.(1).)

(1)Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (5), outlet boxes are permitted to penetrate the membrane of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating, provided they are sealed at the penetration by a firestop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating of the fire separation. (See Note A-9.10.9.8.(1))

(2)Except as provided in Sentence 9.10.9.6.(2), noncombustible outlet boxes that penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating need not conform to Sentence (1), provided

(a)they do not exceed

(i)0.016 m² in area, and

(ii)an aggregate area of 0.065 m² in any 9.3 m² of surface area, and

(b)the annular space between the membrane and the noncombustible outlet boxes does not exceed 3 mm.

(3)Except as provided in Sentence 9.10.9.6.(2), combustible outlet boxes that penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating need not conform to Sentence (1), provided

(a)the outlet boxes are

(i)separated from the remainder of the space within the assembly by an enclosure of not more than 0.3 m² in area made of fire block material conforming to Article 9.10.16.3., or (See Note A-9.10.9.8.(3) (a)(i))

(ii)located in a space within the assembly that is filled with preformed fibre insulation processed from rock or slag conforming to CAN/ULC-S702.1, "Standard for Mineral Fibre Thermal Insulation for Buildings, Part 1: Material Specification," and having a mass per unit area of not less than 1.22 kg/m² of wall surface such that the exposed sides and back of the outlet box are encapsulated by the noncombustible insulation, and

(b)the outlet boxes do not exceed an aggregate area of 0.016 m² in any individual enclosure as described in Subclause (a)(i) or any individual insulated space as described in Subclause (a)(ii).

(4)Noncombustible outlet boxes conforming to Sentence (2) are permitted to be located on opposite sides of a vertical fire separation having a fire-resistance rating and need not conform to Sentence (1), provided they are

(a)separated from each other by a horizontal distance of not less than 600 mm,

(b)separated from each other and the remainder of the wall space by an enclosure conforming to Subclause (3)(a)(i), or

(c)located in an insulated wall space in accordance with Subclause (3)(a)(ii).

(5)Combustible outlet boxes conforming to Sentence (3) are permitted to be located on opposite sides of a vertical fire separation having a fire-resistance rating and need not conform to Sentence (1).

(6)Service equipment is permitted to penetrate a horizontal fire separation conforming to Sentence 9.10.9.12.(2), provided the penetration is sealed by

(a)a firestop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," has an FT rating not less than the required fire-resistance rating for the fire separation,

(b)a firestop conforming to Clause 9.10.9.6.(1)(a), where the service equipment is located entirely within the cavity of a wall assembly above and below the horizontal fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating, or

(c)a firestop conforming to Clause 9.10.9.6.(1)(a), where the penetration is

(i)contained within the concealed space of a floor or ceiling assembly having a fire-resistance rating,

(ii)located above a ceiling membrane providing a horizontal fire separation, or

(iii)contained within a horizontal service space conforming to Sentence 9.10.9.12.(2) that is directly above or below a floor or ceiling.

(1)Where a vertical service space contains an exhaust duct that serves more than one fire compartment, the duct shall have a fan located at or near the exhaust outlet to ensure that the duct is under negative pressure.

(2)Individual fire compartments referred to in Sentence (1) shall not have fans that exhaust directly into the duct in the vertical service space.

(1)Except as permitted by Sentence 9.10.18.7.(1), a central vacuum system shall serve not more than one suite.

(1)Central vacuum cleaning systems serving more than one suite or storey in a building equipped with a fire alarm system shall be designed to shut down upon activation of the fire alarm system.

(1)Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Articles 9.10.10.5. and 9.10.10.6., service rooms shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 h when the floor area containing the service room is not sprinklered.

(2)Where a room contains a limited quantity of service equipment and the service equipment does not constitute a fire hazard, the requirements in Sentence (1) shall not apply.

(1)Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3) and Article 9.10.10.5., fuel-fired appliances shall be located in a service room separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having not less than a 1 h fire-resistance rating.

(2)Except as required in the appliance installation standards referenced in Sentences 6.2.1.5.(1) and 9.10.10.5.(1), fuel-fired space-heating appliances, space-cooling appliances and service water heaters need not be separated from the remainder of the building as required in Sentence (1),

(a)where the appliances serve

(i)not more than one room or suite, or

(ii)a building with a building area of not more than 400 m² and a building height of not more than 2 storeys, or

(b)where the appliances

(i)serve a house with a secondary suite including their common spaces, and

(ii)are located in a service room where both sides of any wall assemblies and the underside of any floor-ceiling framing separating this room from both dwelling units or their common spaces are protected by a continuous smoke-tight barrier consisting of not less than 15.9 mm thick Type X gypsum board.

(3)Sentence (1) does not apply to fireplaces and cooking appliances.

(1)Service rooms containing incinerators shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 h.

(2)The design, construction, installation and alteration of each indoor incinerator shall conform to NFPA 82, "Standard on Incinerators and Waste and Linen Handling Systems and Equipment."

(3)Every incinerator shall be connected to a chimney flue conforming to the requirements in Section 9.21. and serving no other appliance.

(4)An incinerator shall not be located in a room with other fuel-fired appliances.

(1)Rooms for the temporary storage of combustible refuse and materials for recycling in all occupancies or for public storage in residential occupancies shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having not less than a 1 h fire-resistance rating, except that a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of not less than 45 min is permitted where

(a)the fire-resistance rating of the floor assembly is not required to exceed 45 min, or

(b)the room is sprinklered.

(1)Where a generator intended to supply emergency power for lighting, fire safety and life safety systems is located in a building, it shall be located in a room that,

(a)is separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating not less than

(i)1 h, if the floor assembly is not required to have a fire-resistance rating of more than 1 h, and

(ii)2 h, if the floor assembly is required to have a fire-resistance rating of more than 1 h, and

(b)contains only the generating set and equipment that is related to the emergency power supply system.

(1)Except as provided in Article 9.10.13.2., openings in required fire separations shall be protected with a closure conforming to Table 9.10.13.1. and shall be installed in conformance with NFPA 80, "Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives," unless otherwise specified in this Part. (See also Article 9.10.3.1.)

(1)Where hold-open devices are used on doors in required fire separations, they shall be installed in accordance with Article 3.1.8.14.

(1)Except as permitted in Sentences (2) to (5), 9.10.5.1.(3) and 9.10.9.9.(5), a duct that penetrates an assembly required to be a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating shall be equipped with a fire damper in conformance with Articles 3.1.8.4. and 3.1.8.10.

(2)A fire damper is not required where a noncombustible branch duct pierces a required fire separation provided the duct

(a)has a melting point not below 760°C,

(b)has a cross-sectional area less than 130 cm², and

(c)supplies only air-conditioning units or combined air-conditioning and heating units discharging air at not more than 1.2 m above the floor.

(3)A fire damper is not required where a noncombustible branch duct pierces a required fire separation around an exhaust duct riser in which the air flow is upward provided

(a)the melting point of the branch duct is not below 760°C,

(b)the branch duct is carried up inside the riser at least 500 mm, and

(c)the exhaust duct is under negative pressure as described in Article 9.10.9.20.

(4)Noncombustible ducts that penetrate a fire separation separating a vertical service space from the remainder of the building need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation provided

(a)the ducts have a melting point above 760°C, and

(b)each individual duct exhausts directly to the outside at the top of the vertical service space.

(5)A duct serving commercial cooking equipment and piercing a required fire separation need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation.

(1)Fire stop flaps in ceiling membranes required in Sentence 9.10.5.1.(3) shall

(a)conform to CAN/ULC-S112.2, "Standard Method of Fire Test of Ceiling Firestop Flap Assemblies," and

(b)activate at a temperature approximately 30°C above the normal maximum temperature that occurs in the ducts, whether the air duct system is operating or shut down.

(1)Where fire blocks are pierced by pipes, ducts or other elements, the effectiveness of the fire blocks shall be maintained around such elements.

(1)Reserved.

(2)Except as provided in Sentence (5), a fire alarm system shall be installed

(a)in every building that contains more than 3 storeys, including storeys below the first storey,

(b)where the total occupant load exceeds 300, or

(c)when the occupant load for any major occupancy in Table 9.10.18.2. is exceeded.

(3)Reserved.

(4)Reserved.

(5)A fire alarm system is not required in a residential occupancy where an exit or public corridor serves not more than 4 suites or where each suite has direct access to an exterior exit facility leading to ground level.

(1)Except as provided in Sentence (2), and as required by this Subsection, where fire alarm, fire detection and smoke detection devices and systems are installed, these devices and systems and their installation shall conform to Subsection 3.2.4., 3.2.7.8. and 3.2.7.10. (See Note A-9.10.18.3.(1))

(2)The following Articles in Subsection 3.2.4. regarding fire alarm systems do not apply to Part 9 buildings: Articles 3.2.4.1., 3.2.4.10., 3.2.4.11., 3.2.4.12., 3.2.4.20. and 3.2.4.22.

(1)Except as permitted by Article 9.10.19.8., smoke alarms conforming to CAN/ULC-S531, "Standard for Smoke Alarms," shall be installed in

(a)each dwelling unit,

(b)each sleeping room not within a dwelling unit, and

(c)ancillary spaces and common spaces not in dwelling units in a house with a secondary suite.

(2)Smoke alarms required in Sentence (1) shall have a visual signalling component conforming to the requirements in 18.5.3. (Light, Color and Pulse Characteristics) of NFPA 72, "National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code."

(3)The visual signalling component required in Sentence (2) need not

(a)be integrated with the smoke alarm provided it is interconnected to it,

(b)be on battery backup, or

(c)have synchronized flash rates, when installed in a house with a secondary suite or an individual dwelling unit.

(4)The luminous intensity for visual signalling components required in Sentence (2) that are installed in sleeping rooms shall be a minimum of 175 cd.

(1)Except as permitted in Article 9.10.19.8., within dwelling units, sufficient smoke alarms shall be installed so that

(a)there is at least one smoke alarm installed on each storey, including basements, and

(b)on any storey of a dwelling unit containing sleeping rooms, a smoke alarm is installed

(i)in each sleeping room, and

(ii)in a location between the sleeping rooms and the remainder of the storey, and if the sleeping rooms are served by a hallway, the smoke alarm shall be located in the hallway. (See Note A-9.10.19.3.(1))

(1.1)Except as permitted in Article 9.10.19.8., within a house with a secondary suite that contains an interior shared means of egress or common area, a smoke alarm shall be installed in each shared means of egress and common area.

(2)A smoke alarm required in Sentences (1) and (1.1) shall be installed in conformance with CAN/ULC-S553, "Standard for Installation of Smoke Alarms."

(3)Smoke alarms required in Article 9.10.19.1. and Sentences (1) and (1.1) shall be installed on or near the ceiling.

(4)A smoke alarm required in Sentences (1) and (1.1) shall have a visual signalling component conforming to the requirements in 18.5.3. (Light, Color and Pulse Characteristics) of NFPA 72, "National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code."

(5)The visual signalling component required in Sentence (4) need not

(a)be integrated with the smoke alarm provided it is interconnected to it,

(b)be on battery backup, or

(c)have synchronized flash rates, when installed in a house with a secondary suite or an individual dwelling unit.

(6)The luminous intensity for visual signalling components required in Sentence (4) that are installed in sleeping rooms shall be a minimum of 175 cd.

(1)Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), smoke alarms described in Sentence 9.10.19.1.(1) and 9.10.19.3.(1.1) shall

(a)be installed with permanent connections to an electrical circuit, (See Note A-3.2.4.20.(9) (a))

(b)have no disconnect switch between the overcurrent device and the smoke alarm, and

(c)in case the regular power supply to the smoke alarm is interrupted, be provided with a battery as an alternative power source that can continue to provide power to the smoke alarm for a period of not less than 7 days in the normal condition, followed by 4 minutes of alarm.

(2)Where the building is not supplied with electrical power, smoke alarms are permitted to be battery-operated.

(3)Suites of residential occupancy are permitted to be equipped with smoke detectors in lieu of smoke alarms, provided the smoke detectors

(a)are capable of independently sounding audible signals with a sound pressure level between 75 dBA and 110 dBA within the individual suites, (See also Note A-3.2.4.18.(4))

(b)except as permitted in Sentence (4), are installed in conformance with CAN/ULC-S524, "Standard for Installation of Fire Alarm Systems," and

(c)form part of the fire alarm system. (See Note A-9.10.19.5.(2))

(4)Smoke detectors permitted to be installed in lieu of smoke alarms as stated in Sentence (3) are permitted to sound localized alarms within individual suites, and need not sound an alarm throughout the rest of the building.

(1)Where more than one smoke alarm is required in a dwelling unit, the smoke alarms shall be wired so that the activation of one alarm will cause all alarms within the dwelling unit to sound.

(2)Smoke alarms in a house with a secondary suite shall be wirelessly interconnected or interconnected by hard-wiring so that the activation of any one smoke alarm causes all smoke alarms within the house with a secondary suite to sound. (See Note A-9.10.19.5.(2))

(1)Except as permitted in Sentence (2), a manually operated device shall be incorporated within the circuitry of a smoke alarm installed in a dwelling unit so that the signal emitted by the smoke alarm can be silenced for a period of not more than 10 min, after which the smoke alarm will reset and sound again if the level of smoke in the vicinity is sufficient to reactuate it.

(2)Suites of residential occupancy equipped with smoke detectors installed to CAN/ULC-S524, "Standard for Installation of Fire Alarm Systems," which are part of the fire alarm system in lieu of smoke alarms as permitted in Sentence 9.10.19.4.(3), need not incorporate the manually operated device required in Sentence (1).

(1)Portable extinguishers shall be installed in all buildings, except within dwelling units, in conformance with the provisions of the Fire Code made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.

(1)Equipment forming part of a fire protection system that may be adversely affected by freezing temperatures and that is located in an unheated area shall be protected from freezing.

(1)Every building in a camp for housing of workers providing sleeping accommodation for more than 30 persons shall be provided with a hose station that is protected from freezing and equipped with a hose of sufficient length so that every portion of the building is within the range of a hose stream.

(2)Hose stations required in Sentence (1) shall be located near an exit.

(3)Hoses referred to in Sentence (1) shall be not less than 19 mm inside diam and shall be connected to a central water supply or to a storage tank having a capacity of not less than 4,500 L with a pumping system capable of supplying a flow of not less than 5 L/s at a gauge pressure of 300 kPa.

(1)Every dwelling unit within the scope of this Section shall be provided with a smoke alarm in accordance with Subsection 9.10.19.