3.2.7.10 — Protection of Electrical Conductors

(1) A fire pump having a rated net head pressure greater than 280 kPa shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 20, “Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection”.

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), this Subsection applies to a building, (a) of Group A, D, E or F major occupancy classification that is more than, (i) 36 m high, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey, or (ii) 18 m high, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey, and in which the cumulative or total occupant load on or above any storey above grade, other than the first storey, divided by 1.8 times the width in metres of all exit stairs at that storey, exceeds 300, (b) containing a Group B major occupancy in which the floor level of the highest storey of that major occupancy is more than 18 m above grade, (c) containing a floor area or part of a floor area located above the third storey designed or intended as a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy, (d) containing a Group C major occupancy in which the floor level of the highest storey of that major occupancy is more than 18 m above grade, or (e) containing a retirement home, where the floor level of the highest storey of the retirement home is more than 18 m above grade. (2) This Subsection applies to a building or part of a building constructed in conformance with Article 3.2.2.49A. in which the floor level of the highest storey is more than 18 m above grade.

(1) A sprinklered building shall be designed in accordance with Sentences (2) to (5.1) and MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-4, “Measures for Fire Safety in High Buildings”, to limit the danger to occupants and firefighters from exposure to smoke in a building fire. (2) A building referred to in Sentence (1), shall be designed so that, during a period of 2 h after the start of a fire, each exit stair serving storeys below the lowest exit level will not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from the fire floor, assuming an outdoor temperature equal to the January design temperature on a 2.5% basis determined in conformance with MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-1, “Climatic and Seismic Data”. (3) Each stairway that serves storeys above the lowest exit level shall have a vent to the outdoors, at or near the bottom of the stair shaft, that, (a) has an openable area of 0.05 m2 for every door between the stair shaft and a floor area, but not less than 1.8 m2, (b) opens directly to the outdoors or into a vestibule that has a similar opening to the outdoors, and (c) has a door or closure that, (i) is openable manually, and (ii) can remain in the open position during a fire emergency. (4) Measures shall be taken to limit movement of smoke from a fire in a floor area below the lowest exit storey into upper storeys. (5) Except for exhaust fans in kitchens, washrooms and bathrooms in dwelling units, and except for fans used for smoke venting as required by Article 3.2.6.6., air moving fans in a system that serves more than 2 storeys shall be designed and installed so that in the event of a fire these fans can be stopped by means of a manually operated switch at the central alarm and control facility. (5.1) Except as provided in Article 3.2.4.13. or as otherwise provided in this Part, air handling systems used to provide make-up air to public corridors serving suites in a Group C major occupancy shall not shut down automatically upon actuation of the fire alarm so as to maintain corridor pressurization. (6) A building that is not sprinklered shall be designed in accordance with MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-4, “Measures for Fire Safety in High Buildings”, to limit the danger to occupants and firefighters from exposure to smoke in a building fire.

(1) If a building described in Article 3.2.6.1. is connected to any other building, measures shall be taken to limit movement of contaminated air from one building into another during a fire.

(1) Manual emergency recall shall be provided for all elevators serving storeys above the first storey. (2) Key-operated switches for emergency recall described by Sentence (1) shall be provided in a conspicuous location at, (a) each elevator lobby on the recall level, and (b) the central alarm and control facility required in Article 3.2.6.7. (3) In-car emergency service switches shall be provided in all elevator cars. (4) Keys to operate the switches required by Sentences (2) and (3) shall be, (a) provided in a suitably identified box conspicuously located on the outside of an elevator hoistway near the central alarm and control facility required by Article 3.2.6.7., and (b) kept at the central alarm and control facility. (5) In a building that is not sprinklered, automatic emergency recall operation shall be provided for all elevators serving storeys above the first storey. (6) The automatic emergency recall feature in Sentence (5) shall be actuated by, (a) smoke detectors installed in each elevator lobby on each storey, or (b) the building fire alarm system. (7) Smoke detectors in Sentence (6) shall be designed as part of the building fire alarm system.

(1) At least one elevator shall be provided for use by firefighters in conformance with Sentences (2) to (6). (2) The elevator referred to in Sentence (1) shall have a useable platform area not less than 2.2 m2 and shall be capable of carrying a load of 900 kg to the top floor that it serves from a landing on the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5. within 1 min. (3) Except where Measure K of MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-4, “Measures for Fire Safety in High Buildings”, is used, each elevator for use by firefighters shall, (a) be provided with a closure at each shaft opening so that the interlock mechanism remains mechanically engaged and electrical continuity is maintained in the interlock circuits and associated wiring for a period of not less than 1 h when the assembly is subjected to the standard fire exposure described in CAN/ULC-S104, “Fire Tests of Door Assemblies”, (b) be protected with a vestibule containing no occupancy and separated from the remainder of the floor area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 45 min, or (c) be protected with a corridor containing no occupancy and separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h. (4) Except as permitted in Sentence (5), an elevator referred to in Sentence (1) shall be capable of providing transportation from the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5. to every floor that is above grade in the building and that is normally served by the elevator system. (5) If it is necessary to change elevators to reach any floor referred to in Sentence (4), the system shall be designed so that not more than one change of elevator is required when travelling to any floor in the building from the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5. (6) Electrical conductors for the operation of the elevator referred to in Sentence (1) shall be, (a) installed in service spaces conforming to Section 3.6. that do not contain other combustible material, or (b) protected against exposure to fire from the service entrance of the emergency power supply, or the normal service entrance of the normal power supply, to the equipment served, to ensure operation for a period of 1 h when subjected to the standard fire exposure described in CAN/ULC-S101, “Fire Endurance Tests of Building Construction and Materials”.

(1) Means of venting each floor area to the outdoors shall be provided by windows, wall panels, smoke shafts or, except as provided by Sentence (5), the building exhaust system. (2) Fixed glass windows shall not be used for the venting required by Sentence (1) if the breaking of the windows could endanger pedestrians below. (3) Openable windows used for the venting required by Sentence (1) shall be permanently marked so that they are easily identifiable. (4) Elevator hoistways shall not be designed for the venting required by Sentence (1). (5) In a building that is not sprinklered, venting of floor areas required in Sentence (1) shall not be provided by the building exhaust system.

(1) A central alarm and control facility shall be provided on the storey containing the entrance for firefighter access referred to in Articles 3.2.5.4. and 3.2.5.5. in a location that, (a) is readily accessible to firefighters entering the building, and (b) takes into account the effect of background noise likely to occur under fire emergency conditions, so that the facility can properly perform its required function under such conditions. (2) The central alarm and control facility required in Sentence (1) shall include, (a) means to control the voice communication system required by Article 3.2.6.8., so that messages can be sent to, (i) all loudspeakers simultaneously, (ii) individual floor areas, and (iii) exit stairwells, (b) means to indicate audibly and visually alert signals and alarm signals and a switch to, (i) silence the audible portion of these signals, and (ii) indicate visually that the audible portion has been silenced, (c) means to indicate visually that elevators are on emergency recall, (d) an annunciator conforming to Article 3.2.4.9., (e) means to transmit alert signals and alarm signals to the fire department in conformance with Article 3.2.4.8., (f) means to release hold-open devices on doors to vestibules, (g) means to manually actuate alarm signals in the building selectively to any zone or zones, (h) means to silence the alarm signals referred to in Clause (g) in conformance with Sentences 3.2.4.23. (2) and (3), (i )means, as appropriate to the measure for fire safety provided in the building, to, (i) actuate auxiliary equipment identified in Articles 3.2.6.2., 3.2.6.3. and 3.2.6.6., or (ii) communicate with a continually staffed auxiliary equipment control centre, (j) means for two-way communications with every elevator car, (k) means to indicate visually, individual sprinkler system waterflow signals, (l) means to indicate audibly and visually, sprinkler and standpipe system supervisory signals and trouble signals, (m) a switch to silence the audible portion of a supervisory signal or a trouble signal, and (n) visual indication that the audible portion of a supervisory signal or a trouble signal has been silenced.

(1) A voice communication system conforming to Article 3.2.4.23. shall be provided in a building if, (a) the floor of the top storey is more than 36 m above grade, (b) a floor area or part of a floor area located above the third storey is designed or intended for use as a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy, or (c) a floor area or part of a floor area located more than 18 m above grade is designed or intended for use as a retirement home regulated under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 that is a Group C occupancy.

(1) Emergency lighting shall be provided to an average level of illumination not less than 10 lx at floor or tread level in, (a) exits, (b) principal routes providing access to exit in an open floor area and in service rooms, (c) corridors used by the public, (d) corridors serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms in a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy, (e) corridors serving classrooms, (f) underground walkways, (g) public corridors, (h) floor areas or parts of them where the public may congregate in, (i) Group A, Division 1 occupancies, or (ii) Group A, Divisions 2 and 3 occupancies having an occupant load of 60 or more, (i )floor areas or parts of them in day care centres where persons are cared for, (j) food preparation areas in commercial kitchens, (k) principal routes providing access to exit in a floor area that is not subdivided into rooms or suites of rooms served by corridors in a business and personal services occupancy, a mercantile occupancy or an industrial occupancy, (l) internal corridors or aisles serving as principal routes to exits in a business and personal services occupancy, a mercantile occupancy or an industrial occupancy that is subdivided into rooms or suites of rooms, and is not served by a public corridor, and (m) washrooms with fixtures for public use. (2) Emergency lighting to provide an average level of illumination of not less than 10 lx at floor or catwalk level shall be included, (a) in a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1. (9), and (b) on a shelf and rack storage system, in locations described in Sentence 3.16.1.5. (2). (3) The minimum value of the illumination required by Sentences (1) and (2) shall not be less than 1 lx. (4) In addition to the requirements of Sentences (1) to (3), the installation of battery-operated emergency lighting in health care facilities shall conform to the appropriate requirements of CSA Z32, “Electrical Safety and Essential Electrical Systems in Health Care Facilities”.

(1) A building that is more than 18 m in height, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey, and that contains an interconnected floor space, shall be designed to limit the passage of smoke from a fire into exit stairshafts opening into an interconnected floor space so that during a 2 h period after the start of fire, such stairshafts will not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from the fire floor, assuming an outdoor temperature equal to the January design temperature on a 2.5% basis. (2) Where a building containing an interconnected floor space is more than 75 m in height, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey, the exit stairshaft protection required in Sentence (1) shall be accomplished by the provision, between each floor area and each exit stairshaft, of a vestibule provided with a mechanical air supply or with a vent opening to the outdoors. (3) Where a vestibule protecting an exit stairshaft is incorporated into the design of the building to meet the requirements of Sentence (1) or (2), such vestibule shall, (a) be designed so that each doorway for a door opening into the vestibule is located at least 1 800 mm from a door or doors opening outward from the vestibule, (b) be separated from the remainder of the floor area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating at least equal to that required for the exit that it serves except that the fire-resistance rating of a fire separation between the vestibule and a public corridor need not exceed 45 min, and (c) not have a door or doors opening into more than one exit stairshaft. (4) Except where exits serving the floor area are at ground level, the increased travel distance to exits permitted by Clause 3.4.2.5. (1)(c) shall not apply to a floor area within an interconnected floor space. (5) Where a portion of a floor area is not within an interconnected floor space, required access to exit from such portion of a floor area shall not lead through an interconnected floor space. (6) Except as provided in Sentences (7) and (8), portions of an interconnected floor space that have floor levels more than 18 m above grade shall be served by exits that provide at least 0.3 m2 of area of treads, landings and floor surface for each occupant of such portions of an interconnected floor space. (7) The requirements of Sentence (6) need not be applied where a floor area that is a portion of an interconnected floor space and that has a floor level more than 18 m above grade is separated from the remainder of the interconnected floor space by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 h, except that no fire-resistance rating is required for such fire separation where all of the major occupancies contained within the interconnected floor space may be classified as light hazard occupancies in conformance with Appendix A of NFPA 13 “Installation of Sprinkler Systems”. (8) The requirements of Sentence (6) need not be applied where the exit stairs that serve interconnected floor spaces are designed so that the required width of each stair is cumulative.

(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), where an elevator shaft opens into an interconnected floor space and into storeys that are above such space and that have floor levels more than 18 m above grade, either the elevator doors opening into the interconnected floor space or the elevator doors opening into the storeys above the interconnected floor space shall be protected by vestibules that, (a) are designed to restrict the passage of contaminated air to the limit described in Sentence 3.2.8.4. (1), and (b) conform to the requirements of Sentence 3.2.8.4. (3). (2) Where elevator doors opening into an interconnected floor space are protected by vestibules in conformance with Sentence (1), the elevator doors opening into the lowest storey of the interconnected floor space need not be protected by such vestibules.

(1) Openings provided for access between an interconnected floor space and a building or a portion of a building containing Group B major occupancy sleeping rooms shall be provided with vestibules that are provided with a mechanical air supply and that are designed, (a) to restrict the passage of smoke from the interconnected floor space into the area containing sleeping rooms in accordance with the limits described in Sentence 3.2.8.4. (1), and (b) in conformance with Clause 3.2.8.4. (3)(a).

(1) A smoke control system conforming to Sentences (2) to (8) shall be designed to control the movement of smoke within a building containing an interconnected floor space. (2) The design of the smoke control system shall assume an outdoor temperature equal to the January design temperature on a 2.5% basis. (3) Upon activation of the sprinkler system or automatic detection of smoke by at least two smoke detectors in a single zone within an interconnected floor space, the system shall, (a) stop air moving fans that provide for the normal exhausting or re-circulating of air in an interconnected floor space, (b) activate exit stairshaft protection required in Article 3.2.8.4., (c) activate elevator protection required in Article 3.2.8.5., and (d) activate the vestibule air supply required in Sentence 3.2.8.6. (1). (4) A building containing an interconnected floor space may be designed so that, in the event of a fire arising in a floor area or part of a floor area within the interconnected floor space, automatic detection of such fire will activate air handling equipment that, (a) extracts air directly from such floor area or part of a floor area at the rate of at least six air changes per hour, and (b) supplies air in sufficient quantities and at appropriate locations to prevent smoke from passing out of such floor area into other portions of the interconnected floor space. (5) For purposes of Sentences (6) and (7), the volume of an interconnected floor space need not include the aggregate volume of those floor areas or portions of floor areas designed to have zoned air extraction in accordance with Sentence (4). (6) A mechanical exhaust shall be provided to remove air at the top of an interconnected floor space at the rate of at least six air changes per hour, except that where the volume of the interconnected floor space exceeds 17 000 m3, only four air changes per hour need be provided. (7) Except where zoned mechanical exhaust described in Sentence (4) has been activated, upon automatic detection of smoke within the volume of the interconnected floor space, the mechanical exhaust described in Sentence (6) shall be automatically activated and supply air shall be provided in sufficient quantity and at appropriate locations to allow a consistent rate of removal of smoke throughout the volume of the interconnected floor space. (8) Overriding manual controls for the smoke control system shall be provided for fire department use at an acceptable location in the vicinity of the fire alarm annunciator.

(1) Compartments containing rooms such as operating rooms, recovery rooms, delivery rooms, intensive care units and critical care units, from which it is impracticable to move patients in an emergency, shall be, (a) separated from adjacent spaces by fire separations having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, and (b) provided with a mechanical air supply so that during a period of 2 h after the start of a fire in another space, the compartments will not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from the fire area.

(1) A contained use area shall conform to Sentences (2) to (5). (2) A contained use area shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h. (3) Except as permitted by Sentence (4), a building that includes a contained use area shall be sprinklered. (4) A contained use area, in a building for which Articles 3.2.2.20. to 3.2.2.83. do not require the installation of an automatic sprinkler system, is not required to be sprinklered as required by Sentence (3) provided, (a) the building is designed so that during a period of 2 h after the start of a fire in the contained use area, other fire compartments will not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from the contained use area, (b) the building is designed so that during a period of 2 h after the start of a fire in another part of the building, the contained use area will not contain more than 1% by volume of contaminated air from the other part of the building, (c) all doors are designed to be remotely released in conformance with Sentence 3.3.1.12. (6), and (d) the contained use area does not contain any rooms lined with combustible padding. (5) A corridor serving a contained use area shall have no dead-end portion unless the area served by the dead-end portion has a second and separate means of egress.