Code Library › Volume 1 › Section 3.2 — Building Fire Safety
PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code

3.2.6.6.Venting to Aid Firefighting

(1) Means of venting each floor area to the outdoors shall be provided by windows, wall panels, smoke shafts or, except as provided by Sentence (5), the building exhaust system. (2) Fixed glass windows shall not be used for the venting required by Sentence (1) if the breaking of the windows could endanger pedestrians below. (3) Openable windows used for the venting required by Sentence (1) shall be permanently marked so that they are easily identifiable. (4) Elevator hoistways shall not be designed for the venting required by Sentence (1). (5) In a building that is not sprinklered, venting of floor areas required in Sentence (1) shall not be provided by the building exhaust system.
← Previous3.2.6.5. Elevator for Use by FirefightersNext →3.2.6.7. Central Alarm and Control Facility

Common questions about this part of the code

When is noncombustible construction required under the Ontario Building Code?When are automatic sprinklers required in a building in Ontario?What are the fire department access route requirements under the Ontario Building Code?When is a fire alarm system required in a building 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.