Code Library › Volume 1 › Section 3.16 — Shelf and Rack Storage Systems
PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code

3.16.1.3.Construction

(1) All structural components of a shelf and rack storage system, including posts, beams, decks, walkways, connections and their supports such as concrete slabs and foundations, shall be designed in accordance with Part 4. (2) Except as required by Sentence 3.16.3.2.(2), platform and walkway levels shall be of (a) solid construction consisting of steel plate or steel roof decking with a top substrate that forms a serviceable floor area, or (b) open construction consisting of steel grating or open steel floor planking. (3) Guards and toe-boards shall be provided in accordance with Articles 3.3.1.18. and 3.3.5.11. (4) Every platform or walkway level shall be provided with fire extinguishers installed in conformance with the Fire Code made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.
← Previous3.16.1.2. GeneralNext →3.16.1.4. Signs

Common questions about this part of the code

When does warehouse racking need a building permit or engineering in Ontario?Do storage racks in Ontario need to be designed for earthquakes?How does high rack storage affect sprinkler requirements in Ontario?What egress requirements apply around storage racks in warehouses in Ontario?

Understand this provision in seconds

BUILDAiD Assist explains any article of the building code in plain English — with exact citations, exceptions and related requirements.

Try BUILDAiD Beta

Code text is reproduced for reference from the Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, 2024 Building Code Compendium). This page is provided for general information and is not an official copy. Always verify requirements against the official Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.