3.2.9.1 — Where Required

(1) If a building is erected entirely below the adjoining finished ground level and does not extend more than 1 storey below that ground level, the minimum precautions against fire spread and collapse shall be the same as are required for basements under a building of 1 storey in building height having the same occupancy and building area. (2) If any portion of a building is erected entirely below the adjoining finished ground level and extends more than 1 storey below that ground level, the following minimum precautions against fire spread and collapse shall be taken: (a) except as permitted by Sentence (3), the basements shall be sprinklered, (b) a floor assembly below the ground level shall be constructed as a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating not less than, (i) 3 h if the basements are intended for use as Group E or Group F, Division 1 or 2 occupancies, or (ii) 2 h if the basements are not intended for use as Group E or Group F, Division 1 or 2 occupancies, and (c) all loadbearing walls, columns and arches shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the construction that they support. (3) If the first storey of a building is not required to be sprinklered, sprinklers are not required in the storey immediately below the first storey, provided the storey below, (a) contains only residential occupancies, and (b) has at least one unobstructed access opening conforming to Sentence 3.2.5.1. (2) installed on that storey for each 15 m of wall length in at least one wall required by this Subsection to face a street.

(1) A building classified as Group C, other than a retirement home, is permitted to conform to Sentence (2) provided, (a) it is not more than, (i) 3 storeys in building height, or (ii) 4 storeys in building height provided there is not more than one dwelling unit above another dwelling unit, and vertical fire separations of adjacent dwelling units conform to Sentence (4), and (b) it has a building area not more than the value in Table 3.2.2.44. (2) The building referred to in Sentence (1) shall be of noncombustible construction, and, (a) except as permitted by Sentence (3), floor assemblies shall be fire separations with a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, (b) mezzanines shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, (c) roof assemblies shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, and (d) loadbearing walls, columns and arches shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the supported assembly. (3) In a building that contains dwelling units that have more than 1 storey, subject to the requirements of Sentence 3.3.4.2. (3), the floor assemblies, including floors over basements, which are entirely contained within these dwelling units, shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h but need not be constructed as fire separations. (4) The dwelling units described in Subclause (1)(a)(ii) shall be separated by continuous vertical fire separations that extend through all storeys and service spaces of the separated portions. (5)[[NO_FORMULA]] Revoked: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 19.

(1) A building classified as Group C, other than a retirement home, is permitted to conform to Sentence (2) provided, (a) except as permitted by Sentence 3.2.2.7. (1), the building is sprinklered, (b) it is not more than 4 storeys in building height, and (c) it has a building area not more than, (i) 7 200 m2 if 1 storey in building height, (ii) 3 600 m2 if 2 storeys in building height, (iii) 2 400 m2 if 3 storeys in building height, or (iv) 1 800 m2 if 4 storeys in building height. (2) The building referred to in Sentence (1) is permitted to be of combustible construction or noncombustible construction used singly or in combination, and, (a) except as permitted by Sentences (3) and (4), floor assemblies shall be fire separations with a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, (b) mezzanines shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, and (c) loadbearing walls, columns and arches shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the supported assembly. (3) In a building that contains dwelling units that have more than 1 storey, subject to the requirements of Sentence 3.3.4.2. (3), the floor assemblies, including floors over basements, that are entirely contained within these dwelling units, shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h but need not be constructed as fire separations. (4) In a building in which there is no dwelling unit above another dwelling unit, the fire-resistance rating for floor assemblies entirely within the dwelling unit is waived.

(1) A building used as a storage garage with all storeys constructed as open-air storeys and having no other occupancy above it is permitted to have its floor, wall, ceiling and roof assemblies constructed without a fire-resistance rating provided it is, (a) of noncombustible construction, (b) not more than 22 m high, measured between grade and the ceiling level of the top storey, (c) not more than 10 000 m2 in building area, and (d) designed so that every portion of each floor area is within 60 m of an exterior wall opening.