3.4.2.1 — Minimum Number of Exits

(1) Access to exit within floor areas shall conform to Subsections 3.3.2. to 3.3.6., in addition to the requirements of this Subsection. (2) If a podium, terrace, platform or contained open space is provided, egress requirements shall conform to the appropriate requirements of Sentence 3.3.1.5. (1) for rooms and suites. (3) Means of egress shall be provided from every roof that is intended for occupancy, and from every podium, terrace, platform or contained open space. (4) At least two separate means of egress shall be provided from a roof, used or intended for an occupant load more than 60, to stairs designed in conformance with the exit stair requirements of Section 3.4. (5) A rooftop enclosure shall be provided with an access to exit that leads to an exit, (a) at the roof level, or (b) on the storey immediately below the roof. (6) A rooftop enclosure that is more than 200 m2 in area shall be provided with at least two means of egress. (7) Two points of egress shall be provided for a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1. (9) if, (a) the area is more than 200 m2, or (b) the travel distance measured from any point in the service space to a point of egress is more than 25 m. (8) Except as required by Sentence 3.3.4.4. (8) and permitted by Sentences 3.3.4.4. (5) and (6), each suite in a floor area that contains more than one suite shall have, (a) an exterior exit doorway, or (b) a doorway, (i) into a public corridor, or (ii) to an exterior passageway. (9) Except as permitted by this Section and by Sentence 3.4.2.1. (2), at the point where a doorway referred to in Sentence (8) opens onto a public corridor or exterior passageway, it shall be possible to go in opposite directions to each of two separate exits. (10) Means of egress from a roof for personnel servicing rooftop equipment or for a below ground service room that is not normally occupied, is permitted to be provided by stairways or fixed ladders.

(1) Except as required by Sentence (8), single storey dwelling units in an apartment building need not lead to a public corridor or exterior passageway on the same storey provided the dwelling units are served by private stairways leading directly to a public access to exit on the storey, (a) immediately above, and (b) immediately below. (2) Except as required by Sentence (8) and as permitted by Sentences (3) and (4), a dwelling unit containing more than 1 storey shall have an exit door or an egress door opening directly into a public access to exit from the uppermost storey and from the lowest storey of the dwelling unit so that each storey is served by an exit or egress door located not more than 1.5 m above or below its floor level. (3) A single exit is permitted from a dwelling unit provided the exit is an exterior doorway not more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level and, (a) it is not necessary to travel up or down more than 1 storey to reach the exit door, or (b) the uppermost floor level opens to a balcony not more than 6 m above adjacent ground level. (4) An egress door from either the uppermost storey or the lowest storey in a dwelling unit, as required in Sentence (2), need not be provided, (a) except as required by Sentence (8), if that storey is served by a stairway that, (i) leads to a public access to exit, (ii) has no direct access to any other storey in the dwelling unit, and (iii) is separated from the other storeys in the dwelling unit by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 45 min, (b) on the uppermost storey in the dwelling unit if the dwelling unit has not more than 2 storeys above the first storey of the building, (c) if it is not necessary to travel either more than 18 m or more than 1 storey up or down within the dwelling unit to reach the egress door, or (d) if that storey is, (i) provided with a balcony conforming to Sentence (7), (ii) not more than 2 storeys above or below the dwelling unit egress door, and (iii) in a building that is not more than 6 storeys in building height. (5) In a building of residential occupancy not more than 3 storeys in building height, a doorway from a dwelling unit is permitted to open directly into an exit stairway provided the dwelling unit has a second and separate means of egress. (6) If a dwelling unit has a second and separate means of egress, one means of egress from a dwelling unit is permitted to pass through, (a) an interior corridor served by a single exit, (b) an exterior balcony served by a single exit stairway, or (c) an exterior passageway served by a single exit stairway. (7) Where a balcony is provided to meet the requirements of Sentence (3) or (4), the balcony shall have, (a) a solid floor having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for a floor assembly between suites, and (b) an area providing not less than 1.5 m2 per suite occupant, based on occupant load, and a minimum dimension of 1 200 mm. (8) Each dwelling unit in a building conforming to Subclause 3.2.2.44. (1)(a)(ii) shall be served by, (a) a direct exit that is an exterior doorway located not more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level, or (b) a stairway that, (i) leads to an exterior doorway not more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level, (ii) has no access to another dwelling unit, and (iii) is separated from the remainder of the building with a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.