3.2.2.9 — Crawl Spaces

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence 3.2.2.42. (3), 3.2.2.43. (3), 3.2.2.44. (3), 3.2.2.45. (3), 3.2.2.46. (3), 3.2.2.47. (3) or 3.2.2.48. (3), a floor assembly immediately above a basement shall be constructed as a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating conforming to the requirements of Articles 3.2.2.20. to 3.2.2.83. for a floor assembly, but not less than 45 min. (2) All loadbearing walls, columns and arches supporting a floor assembly immediately above a basement shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than that required by Sentence (1) for the floor assembly.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2) and 3.2.2.15. (3), in a building in which an automatic sprinkler system is not required to be installed by Articles 3.2.2.20. to 3.2.2.83., every basement shall, (a) be sprinklered, or (b) be subdivided into fire compartments not more than 600 m2 in area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the floor assembly immediately above the basement. (2) An open-air storey need not conform to Sentence (1).