Div. B › Part 9 › 9.9 › 9.9.5 — Obstructions and Hazards in Means of Egress

9.9.5.5 — Obstructions in Means of Egress

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(1) No obstructions such as posts or turnstiles shall be placed so as to restrict the width of a required means of egress from a floor area or part of a floor area to less than 750 mm unless an alternate unobstructed means of egress is provided adjacent to and plainly visible from the restricted egress.

(2) Except as provided in Sentence (3), no obstructions, such as counter gates, that do not meet the requirements for exit doors, shall be placed in a required means of egress from a floor area or part of a floor area unless an alternate unobstructed means of egress is provided adjacent to and plainly visible from the restricted egress.

(3) Obstructions, such as counter gates, that do not satisfy Sentence (2), are permitted to be placed in a required means of egress from a part of a floor area in mercantile occupancies and business and personal services occupancies, provided that the part of the floor area served by the obstructed means of egress is not generally accessible to the public.

OBC Definitions

Defined terms on this page

accessible

means , when applied to a fixture, connection, plumbing appliance, valve, cleanout or equipment, to be accessible with or without having to first remove an access panel, door or similar obstruction, but a fixture, connection, plumbing appliance, valve, cleanout or equipment is not accessible if access can be gained only by cutting or breaking materials.

business and personal services occupancy

means the occupancy or use of a building or part of a building for the transaction of business or the provision of professional or personal services.

exit

means that part of a means of egress, including doorways, that leads from the floor area it serves to a separate building, an open public thoroughfare or an exterior open space protected from fire exposure from the building and having access to an open public thoroughfare.

floor area

means the space on any storey of a building between exterior walls and required firewalls, including the space occupied by interior walls and partitions, but not including exits, vertical service spaces and their enclosing assemblies.

means of egress

means of egress includes exits and access to exits and means a continuous path of travel provided for the escape of persons from any point in a building or in a contained open space to, (a)a separate building, (b)an open public thoroughfare, or (c)an exterior open space that is protected from fire exposure from the building and that has access to an open public thoroughfare.

mercantile occupancy

means the occupancy or use of a building or part of a building for the displaying or selling of retail goods, wares or merchandise.

occupancy

means the use or intended use of a building or part of a building for the shelter or support of persons, animals or property.

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