Code Library › Volume 1 › Section 3.4 — Exits
PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code

3.4.1.6.Restricted Use of Horizontal Exits

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), horizontal exits shall not comprise more than one-half of the required number of exits from any floor area. (2) In a hospital or long-term care home, horizontal exits serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms shall comprise not more than two-thirds of the required number of exits from any floor area. (See Note A-3.4.1.6.(2)) (3) Where an elementary or secondary school is subdivided by a firewall, a horizontal exit shall not serve as an exit but is permitted to serve as an access to exit.
← Previous3.4.1.5. Exterior Exit PassagewaysNext →3.4.1.7. Slide Escapes

Common questions about this part of the code

When are two exits required from a floor area in Ontario?How is required exit width calculated under the Ontario Building Code?How many exits does a floor area need under the Ontario Building Code?How far apart must exits be located under the Ontario Building Code?

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.