3.2.4.13 — Prevention of Smoke Circulation

(1) Except as permitted in Sentences (2) to (4), the requirement for fire dampers described in Sentence 3.1.8.7. (1) is permitted to be waived for, (a) ducts that serve commercial cooking equipment, (b) continuous noncombustible ducts having a melting point above 760°C that penetrate a vertical fire separation required by Sentence 3.3.1.1. (1) between suites of assembly, mercantile, low hazard industrial, medium hazard industrial or high hazard industrial occupancy, (c) ducts or air-transfer openings that penetrate a vertical fire separation not required to have a fire-resistance rating, and (d) noncombustible ducts or air-transfer openings that penetrate a horizontal fire separation not required to have a fire-resistance rating. (2) The requirement for fire dampers described in Sentence 3.1.8.7. (1) is permitted to be waived for noncombustible branch ducts having a melting point above 760°C that penetrate a fire separation, (a) provided the ducts, (i) have a cross-sectional area not more than 130 cm2 and serve only air-conditioning units or combined air-conditioning and heating units discharging air not more than 1.2 m above the floor, or (ii) extend not less than 500 mm inside exhaust duct risers that are under negative pressure and in which the airflow is upward as required by Article 3.6.3.4., or (b) provided the fire separation separates a vertical service space from the remainder of the building and provided each individual duct exhausts directly to the outdoors at the top of the vertical service space. (3) In elementary and secondary schools, a continuous noncombustible duct having a melting point above 760°C that pierces a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of 30 min need not be equipped with a fire damper at the fire separation. (4) In a Group B, Division 3 occupancy which contains sleeping accommodation for not more than 10 persons, which has not more than six occupants who require assistance in evacuation in case of an emergency and which is equipped with a fire alarm system, a duct need not be equipped with a fire damper at a fire separation, provided duct-type smoke detectors have been installed to control smoke circulation as described in Article 3.2.4.13.

(1) Floor areas containing patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms in a hospital or long-term care home shall conform to Sentences (2) to (12). (2) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), a floor area containing patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms in a hospital or long-term care home shall be divided into no fewer than two fire compartments, each not more than 1 000 m2 in area. (3) The floor area on either side of a horizontal exit conforming to Article 3.4.6.10. is permitted to be considered as a fire compartment in applying the requirements of this Article. (4) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), fire separations separating fire compartments required by Sentence (2) shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h. (5) The fire-resistance rating of a fire separation referred to in Sentence (4) is permitted to be less than 1 h but not less than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for, (a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or (b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above. (6) Reserved (7) The travel distance from any point within each fire compartment referred to in Sentence (2) to a door to an adjoining fire compartment shall be not more than 45 m. (8) Each fire compartment referred to in Sentence (2) shall be capable of accommodating, in addition to its own occupants, the occupants of the largest adjacent fire compartment based on a clear floor space of 2.5 m2 per patient or resident in the adjacent fire compartment. (9) Except as permitted by Sentences (10) and (11), walls between patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms and the remainder of the floor area shall be constructed as fire separations but are not required to have a fire-resistance rating unless a fire-resistance rating is required by other provisions in this Part. (10) The fire separation requirements of Sentence (9) do not apply to walls within a group of intercommunicating patients’ or residents’ rooms, provided the group of rooms does not (a) contain more than five patients or residents, or (b) include storage, bathing or toilet facilities serving persons not occupying the group of rooms. (11) A door in a fire separation required by Sentence (9) is permitted to be equipped with a roller latch. (12) A fire separation required by Sentence (9) shall not contain any grilles, louvres or other openings.

(1) Floor areas containing residents’ sleeping rooms in a retirement home shall conform to Sentences (2) to (12). (2) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), a floor area containing residents’ sleeping rooms in a retirement home where sleeping accommodation is provided for more than 10 residents shall be divided into no fewer than two fire compartments, each not more than 1 000 m2 in area. (3) The floor area on either side of a horizontal exit conforming to Article 3.4.6.10. is permitted to be considered as a fire compartment in applying the requirements of this Article. (4) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), fire separations separating fire compartments required by Sentence (2) shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h. (5) The fire-resistance rating of a fire separation referred to in Sentence (4) is permitted to be less than 1 h but not less than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for, (a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or (b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above. (6) A closure in a fire separation between fire compartments referred to in Sentence (2) shall be weatherstripped or otherwise designed and installed to retard the passage of smoke. (7) The travel distance from any point within each fire compartment referred to in Sentence (2) to a door to an adjoining fire compartment shall be not more than 45 m. (8) Each fire compartment referred to in Sentence (2) shall be capable of accommodating, in addition to its own occupants, the occupants of the largest adjacent fire compartment based on a clear floor space of 1.5 m2 per resident in the adjacent fire compartment. (9) The fire separation required by Sentence 3.3.5.5. (1) between a retirement home and a repair garage shall have no openings. (10) In a retirement home, a dead end public corridor is permitted provided it is not more than 3 m long. (11) The minimum clear width of doorways serving residents in a retirement home shall be 860 mm. (12) A voice communication system conforming to Article 3.2.4.23. shall be provided in a retirement home.