PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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3.3.1.5.Egress Doorways
(1) Except for dwelling units, a minimum of 2 egress doorways located so that one doorway could provide egress from
the room or suite as required by Article 3.3.1.3. if the other doorway becomes inaccessible to the occupants due to a fire
that originates in the room or suite, shall be provided for every room and every suite
(a) whose area is more than 15 m2 and is used for
(i) a high-hazard industrial occupancy, or
(ii) a hazardous room,
(b) intended for an occupant load more than 60,
(c) in a floor area that is not sprinklered throughout and
(i) the area of a room or suite is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.-A, or
(ii) the travel distance within the room or suite to the nearest egress doorway, is more than the value in Table
3.3.1.5.-A,
(d) in a floor area that is sprinklered throughout and does not contain a high-hazard industrial occupancy and
(i) the travel distance to an egress doorway is more than 25 m, or
(ii) the area of the room or suite is more than the value in Table 3.3.1.5.-B, or
(e) where the area of the room is more than 100 m 2 and it is a hazardous classroom in elementary or secondary school.
(2) Where 2 egress doorways are required by Sentence (1), they shall be placed at a distance from one another equal to
or greater than one third of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the area to be served, measured as the shortest
distance that smoke would have to travel between the nearest required egress doors.
Table 3.3.1.5.-A
Egress in Floor Area Not Sprinklered Throughout
Forming Part of Sentence 3.3.1.5.(1)
Occupancy of Room or Suite Maximum Area of Room or Suite, m2 Maximum Distance to Egress Doorway, m
Group A 150 15
Group C 100(1) 15(1)
Group D 200 25
Group E 150 15
Group F, Division 2 150 10
Group F, Division 3 200 15
Notes to Table 3.3.1.5.-A:
(1) See Article 3.3.4.4. for dwelling units.
Table 3.3.1.5.-B
Egress in Floor Area Sprinklered Throughout
Forming Part of Sentence 3.3.1.5.(1)
Occupancy of Room or Suite Maximum Area of Room or Suite, m2
Group A 200
Group B, Division 1 100
Group B, Division 2 or 3
sleeping rooms 100
other than sleeping rooms 200
Group C 150(1)
Group D 300
Group E 200
Group F, Division 2 200
Group F, Division 3 300
Notes to Table 3.3.1.5.-B:
(1) See Article 3.3.4.4. for dwelling units.
(3) Every room containing an assembly occupancy serving a hotel, and located in the building containing the hotel, shall
be provided with no fewer than
(a) three separate egress doorways from the room where the occupant load is more than 600 persons, and
(b) four separate egress doorways from the room where the occupant load is more than 1 000 persons
(4) Each egress doorway in Sentence (4) shall be considered as contributing not more than,
(a) one-third of the required width where three egress doorways are required, and
(b) one-fourth of the required width where four egress doorways are required.
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.