PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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3.2.3.14.Wall Exposed to Another Wall (See Note A-3.2.3.14.)
(1) Except as required by Sentences (3) and 3.2.3.13.(1) or as permitted by Sentence 3.2.3.19.(5), if an unprotected
opening in an exterior wall of a fire compartment is exposed to an unprotected opening in the exterior wall of another fire
compartment, and the planes of the 2 walls are parallel or at an angle less than 135°, measured from the exterior of the
building, the unprotected openings in the 2 fire compartments shall be separated by a distance not less than DO where
but in no case less than 1 m, and
D = the greater required limiting distance for the exposing building faces of the 2 fire compartments, and
θ = the angle made by the intersecting planes of the exposing building faces of the 2 fire compartments (in
the case where the exterior walls are parallel and face each other, θ = 0).
(See Note A-3.2.3.14.(1).)
(2) The exterior wall of each fire compartment referred to in Sentence (1) within the distance, DO, shall have a fire-
resistance rating not less than that required for the interior vertical fire separation between the fire compartment and the
remainder of the building.
(3) Sentence (1) does not apply to unprotected openings of fire compartments within a building that is sprinklered
throughout, but shall apply to,
(a) unprotected openings of fire compartments on opposite sides of a firewall, and
(b) exposure from unprotected openings of a fire compartment that is not protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
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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.