3.1.9.1 — Fire Stops

(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), 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 fire stop that has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating of the fire separation when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, “Fire Tests of Firestop Systems”. (2) Except as provided in Sentences 3.1.9.1. (2) and (3), noncombustible outlet boxes that penetrate a vertical 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) 160 cm² in area, and (ii) an aggregate area of 650 cm² in any 9.3 m² of surface area, and (b) the annular space between the membrane and noncombustible electrical outlet boxes does not exceed 3 mm. (3) In addition to the requirements of Sentence (2), outlet boxes on opposite sides of a vertical fire separation having a fire-resistance rating shall be separated by, (a) a horizontal distance of not less than 600 mm, or (b) a fire block conforming to Article 3.1.11.7.

(1) A basement used primarily as a storage garage is permitted to be considered as a separate building for the purposes of Subsection 3.2.2. and Sentences 3.2.5.13. (2) and (3), provided the floor and roof assemblies above the basement and, except as permitted by Sentence (2), the exterior walls of the basement above the adjoining ground level are constructed as fire separations of, (a) masonry or concrete having a fire-resistance rating not less than 2 h, or (b) noncombustible construction having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 h, where the building conforms to Clauses 3.1.10.2. (4)(a) and (c) to (e). (2) The exterior wall of a basement that is required to be a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating in accordance with Sentence (1) is permitted to be penetrated by openings that are not protected by closures provided, (a) the storage garage is sprinklered, (b) every opening in the exterior wall is separated from storeys above the opening by a projection of the floor or roof assembly above the basement, extending not less than, (i) 1 m beyond the exterior face of the storage garage if the upper storeys are required to be of noncombustible construction, or (ii) 2 m beyond the exterior face of the storage garage if the upper storeys are permitted to be of combustible construction or encapsulated mass timber construction, or (c) the exterior walls of any storeys located above the floor or roof assembly referred to in Sentence (1) are recessed behind the outer edge of the assembly by not less than, (i) 1 m if the upper storeys are required to be of noncombustible construction, or (ii) 2 m if the upper storeys are permitted to be of combustible construction or encapsulated mass timber construction. (3) The floor or roof assembly projection referred to in Clause (2)(b) shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 2 h and shall have no openings within the projection.

(1) Except as provided in Article 3.6.3.5., a horizontal service space that penetrates a required vertical fire separation shall be separated from the remainder of the building it serves in conformance with Sentence (2). (2) If a horizontal service space or other concealed space is located above a required vertical fire separation other than a vertical shaft, this space need not be divided at the fire separation as required by Article 3.1.8.3. provided the construction between this space and the space below is a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating equivalent to that required for the vertical fire separation, except that the fire-resistance rating is permitted to be not less than 30 min if the vertical fire separation is not required to have a fire-resistance rating more than 45 min.