PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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3.3.4.11.Retirement Homes
(1) Floor areas containing residents’ sleeping rooms in a retirement home shall conform to Sentences (2) to (12).
(2) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), a floor area containing residents’ sleeping rooms in a retirement home where
sleeping accommodation is provided for more than 10 residents shall be divided into no fewer than 2 fire compartments,
each not more than 1 000 m2 in area.
(3) The floor area on either side of a horizontal exit conforming to Article 3.4.6.10. is permitted to be considered as a
fire compartment in applying the requirements of this Article.
(4) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), fire separations separating fire compartments required by Sentence (2) shall
have a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.
(5) The fire-resistance rating of a fire separation referred to in Sentence (4) is permitted to be less than 1 h but not less
than 45 min provided the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection 3.2.2. is permitted to be less than 1 h for
(a) the floor assembly above the floor area, or
(b) the floor assembly below the floor area, if there is no floor assembly above.
(6) A closure in a fire separation between fire compartments referred to in Sentence (2) shall be weather-stripped or
otherwise designed and installed to retard the passage of smoke.
(7) The travel distance from any point within each fire compartment referred to in Sentence (2) to a door to an adjoining
fire compartment shall be not more than 45 m.
(8) Each fire compartment referred to in Sentence (2) shall be capable of accommodating, in addition to its own
occupants, the occupants of the largest adjacent fire compartment based on a clear floor space of 1.5 m 2 per resident in the
adjacent fire compartment.
(9) The fire separation required by Sentence 3.3.5.5.(1) between a retirement home and a repair garage shall have no
openings.
(10) In a retirement home, a dead-end public corridor is permitted provided it is not more than 3 m long.
(11) The minimum clear width of doorways serving residents in a retirement home shall be 850 mm.
(12) A voice communication system conforming to Article 3.2.4.22. shall be provided in a retirement home.
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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.