PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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3.2.2.53.Group C, up to 3 Storeys, Increased Area
(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 3 storeys in building height, and
(b) it has a building area not more than the value in Table 3.2.2.53.
Table 3.2.2.53.
Maximum Building Area, Group C up to 3 Storeys, Increased Area
Forming Part of Sentence 3.2.2.53.(1)
Maximum Area, m2
No. of Storeys
Facing 1 Street Facing 2 Streets Facing 3 Streets
1 2 400 3 000 3 600
2 1 200 1 500 1 800
3 800 1 000 1 200
(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,
(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 one 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.
This provision includes a table — formatting is preserved from the source; refer to the official code for the authoritative layout.
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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.