Part 9 fire protection for HVAC services

(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)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)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)The size of an opening in an interior fire separation, even where protected with a closure, shall not exceed 11 m², with no dimension greater than 3.7 m, if a fire compartment on either side of the fire separation is not sprinklered.

(2)The size of an opening in an interior fire separation, even where protected with a closure, shall not exceed 22 m², with no dimension greater than 6 m, when the fire compartments on both sides of the fire separation are sprinklered.

(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)Except as provided in Sentences (6) to (10) 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)where the limiting distance is not less than 1.2 m, 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)half the limiting distance squared, for mercantile occupancies and medium-hazard industrial occupancies.

(2)Except as provided in Sentence 9.10.14.6.(1), 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)Reserved.

(4)Reserved.

(5)Reserved.

(6)The maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings is permitted to be up to 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.

(7)Where the building is sprinklered, the maximum aggregate area of unprotected openings is permitted to be up to 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 3.2.5.12.

(8)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.

(9)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.

(10)Except as provided in Sentence (11), for garages or accessory buildings that serve a single dwelling unit only and are detached from any building, the maximum aggregate area of glazed openings shall comply with the requirements for unprotected openings.

(11)The limits on the area of glazed 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 only one 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 provided in Sentences (6) to (9), the maximum area of glazed openings in an exposing building face shall

(a)conform to Table 9.10.15.4.,

(b)conform to Subsection 3.2.3. as if the glazed openings were unprotected openings, or

(c)where the limiting distance is not less than 1.2 m, be equal to or less than the limiting distance squared.

(2)Where the limits on the area of glazed openings are determined for individual portions of the exposing building face, as described in Subclause 9.10.15.2.(1)(b)(iii), the maximum aggregate area of glazed openings for any portion shall be determined using the values in Table 9.10.15.4. corresponding to

(a)the maximum total area of exposing building face, which is equal to the sum of all portions of the exposing building face, and

(b)the limiting distance of each portion. (See Note A-9.10.15.4.(2))

(3)Reserved.

(4)Reserved.

(5)Reserved

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

(a)the detached garage or accessory building serves only one 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.

(7)The maximum aggregate area of glazed openings in an exposing building face is permitted to be up to twice the area determined in accordance with Sentence (1), where

(a)the glazed openings consist of glass blocks, as described in Article 9.10.13.7., or

(b)the building is sprinklered, provided all rooms, including closets, bathrooms and attached garages, that are adjacent to the exposing building face and that have glazed openings are sprinklered, notwithstanding any exemptions in the sprinkler standards referenced in Article 3.2.5.12.

(8)Except as provided in Sentence (9), 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.

(9)An opening in an exposing building face not more than 130 cm² need not be protected by a closure.

(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)Except as permitted in Sentence (2), fire blocks shall be provided to block off concealed spaces within wall assemblies, including spaces created by furring,

(a)at each floor level,

(b)at each ceiling level where the ceiling contributes to part of the required fire-resistance rating, and

(c)at other locations within the wall, so that the distance between fire blocks does not exceed 20 m horizontally and 3 m vertically.

(2)Fire blocks described in Sentence (1) are not required, provided

(a)the insulated wall assembly contains not more than one concealed air space whose horizontal thickness is not more than 25 mm,

(b)the exposed construction materials within the space are noncombustible, or

(c)the exposed construction materials within the space, including insulation, but not including wiring, piping or similar services, have a flame-spread rating of not more than 25, or

(d)the concealed wall space is filled with insulation.

(1)Light diffusers and lenses having flame-spread ratings that exceed those permitted for the ceiling finish, shall conform to the requirements of Sentence 3.1.13.4.(1).

(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)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)Except as provided in Subsection 9.10.15. and Articles 9.37.2.4. and 9.37.3.1., buildings used or intended to be used as seasonal recreational buildings need not comply with Sections 9.5. to 9.7. and 9.9. to 9.11.

(2)Flooring need not comply with Section 9.30., but tight-fitting floors shall be provided to support the live and dead loads.

(3)Except as provided in Sentence (4), thermal insulation, vapour barrier, air barrier construction, interior finishes, plumbing, heating, mechanical ventilation, air-conditioning and electrical facilities, need not be provided, but where any of these are provided, they shall comply with the requirements of this Part.

(4)Where heating and air-conditioning are provided, Article 9.33.3.1. need not be complied with.

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