OBC Changes: Impacts on Fire Dampers, and Temporary Health
As reported in CodeNews 338, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) made amendments to Ontario’s Building Code (O.Reg. 332/12) that are now in force. The changes include an extension of certain COVID-19 provisions related to temporary health and residential facilities, requirements for building permits for demountable stages, and associated sound and lighting equipment towers and streamlined fire damper requirements.
Temporary Health or Residential Facilities: Code Exemptions Extended into 2024
In response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Ontario had implemented amendments to the Building Code via O.Reg 434/22 – Temporary Health or Residential Facilities. Members should be aware these amendments have been extended until March 31, 2024. The extension also aligns with changes made to Ontario Regulation 144/20 under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. (Refer to O.Reg. 32/23).
New Building Code Section 3.16A – Demountable Stages or Support Structures
Building permits are required for demountable stages and associated sound and lighting equipment towers. These stages must also comply with specific technical requirements for stage safety. This amendment responds to recommendations from a Coroner’s Inquiry and from an expert panel on strengthening safety standards in the live performance industry following two-stage collapses that resulted in injuries and a fatality in 2011 and 2012.
Demountable stages or support structures (both are newly defined terms in the Ontario Building Code [OBC]) are now considered as floor area (O. Reg. 30/23) and are considered in determining Occupant Load. Height and area limits are listed. Requirements for means of egress, guards, clearances, flame resistance, firefighting access, electrical safety, and structural design (P.Eng. design to Part 4 or ANSI E1.21) are noted. Platforms open to the public require barrier-free accessibility.
Smoke and Fire Dampers for Hospitals, Long Term Care Homes, & High Rise Residential
A change to the definition of “fire compartment” has been implemented, impacting fire damper requirements for certain project types. The OBC definition of fire compartment has been revised (O. Reg. 30/23) to align with that in the National Building Code of Canada (NBC). Combination smoke and fire dampers or smoke dampers are waived for 0 hr. fire separations within fire compartments of hospitals and long-term care homes between patients’ rooms or residents’ sleeping rooms (OBC 3.1.8.8.A.(1)(d)). In high-rise residential, the air-handing system serving the public corridor does not require a combination smoke and fire damper or fire damper where it provides make-up air to maintain corridor pressurization (OBC 3.1.8.8A(2)(a)(iii) and OBC 3.2.6.2.(5.1)).