OBC DIVISION B · PART 9 — HOUSING AND SMALL BUILDINGSUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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Section 9.34 — Electrical Facilities
Full text of Section 9.34 (Electrical Facilities) — Division B, Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings) of the 2024 Ontario Building Code, with every article reproduced below.
On this page:
9.34.1.2.9.34.1.3.9.34.1.4.9.34.1.5.9.34.2.1.9.34.2.2.9.34.2.3.9.34.2.4.9.34.2.5.9.34.2.6.9.34.2.7.9.34.3.1.
9.34.1.2.9.34.1.3.9.34.1.4.9.34.1.5.9.34.2.1.9.34.2.2.9.34.2.3.9.34.2.4.9.34.2.5.9.34.2.6.9.34.2.7.9.34.3.1.
9.34.1.General
9.34.1.1.Reserved
9.34.1.2.Required Facilities permalink →
(1) Where electrical services are available, electrical facilities shall be provided for every building in conformance with
this Section.
9.34.1.3.Location of Equipment in Public Areas permalink →
(1) Entrance switches, meters, panel boxes, splitter boxes, time clocks and other similar equipment shall not be located
in any public area unless adequate precautions are taken to prevent interference with the equipment.
9.34.1.4.Recessed Lighting Fixtures permalink →
(1) Recessed lighting fixtures shall not be located in insulated ceilings unless the fixtures are designed for such
installations.
9.34.1.5.Wiring and Cables permalink →
(1) Except for dwelling units and except as required in Sentence (2), optical fibre cables and electrical wires and cables
installed in buildings permitted to be of combustible construction shall
(a) not convey flame or continue to burn for more than 1 min when tested in conformance with the Vertical Flame Test
in Clause 4.11.1. of CSA C22.2 No. 0.3, “Test Methods for Electrical Wires and Cables,” (FT1 Rating), or
(b) be located in
(i) totally enclosed noncombustible raceways, (See Note A-3.1.4.3.(1)(b)(i))
(ii) masonry walls,
(iii) concrete slabs, or
(iv) totally enclosed non metallic raceways conforming to Clause 3.1.5.23.(1)(b).
(2) Where a concealed space in a floor or ceiling assembly is used as a plenum, electrical wires and cables within the
plenum shall conform to Clause 3.6.4.3.(1)(a).
9.34.2.Lighting Outlets
9.34.2.1.Lighting of Entrances permalink →
(1) An exterior lighting outlet with fixture controlled by a wall switch located within the building shall be provided at
every entrance to buildings of residential occupancy.
(2) The exterior lighting outlet with fixture required by Sentence (1) may be controlled by a wall switch or panel
accessible to authorized personnel only, where it serves,
(a) a building entrance serving multiple suites of residential occupancy,
(b) multiple dwelling unit entrances,
(c) hotels, or
(d) motels.
9.34.2.2.Outlets in Dwelling Units permalink →
(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), a lighting outlet with fixture controlled by a wall switch shall be provided in
kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, utility rooms, laundry rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms, water-closet rooms, vestibules
and hallways in dwelling units.
(2) Where a receptacle controlled by a wall switch is provided in bedrooms or living rooms, such rooms need not
conform to the requirements of Sentence (1).
9.34.2.3.Stairways permalink →
(1) Every stairway shall be lighted.
(2) Except as provided in Sentence (3), 3-way wall switches located at the head and foot of every stairway shall be
provided to control at least one lighting outlet with fixture for stairways with 4 or more risers in dwelling units and houses
with a secondary suite including their common spaces.
(3) The stairway lighting for basements that do not contain finished space or lead to an outside entrance or built-in
garage and which serve not more than one dwelling unit is permitted to be controlled by a single switch located at the
head of the stairs.
9.34.2.4.Basements permalink →
(1) A lighting outlet with fixture shall be provided for each 30 m² or fraction thereof of floor area in unfinished
basements.
(2) The outlet required in Sentence (1) nearest the stairs shall be controlled by a wall switch located at the head of the
stairs.
9.34.2.5.Storage Rooms permalink →
(1) A lighting outlet with fixture shall be provided in storage rooms.
9.34.2.6.Garages and Carports permalink →
(1) A lighting outlet with fixture shall be provided for an attached, built-in or detached garage or carport.
(2) Except as provided in Sentence (3), outlets required in Sentence (1) shall be controlled by a wall switch near the
doorway.
(3) Where the outlet and fixture required in Sentence (1) are ceiling mounted above an area not normally occupied by a
parked car, or are wall mounted, a fixture with a built-in switch is permitted to be used.
(4) Where a carport is lighted by a light at the entrance to a dwelling unit, additional carport lighting is not required.
9.34.2.7.Public and Service Areas permalink →
(1) Every public or service area in buildings, including a recreational camp and a camp for housing of workers, shall
have lighting outlets with fixtures controlled by a wall switch or panel to illuminate such areas.
(2) When provided by incandescent lighting, illumination required in Sentence (1) shall conform to Table 9.34.2.7.
(See Article 9.9.12.2. for lighting in means of egress.)
(3) When other types of lighting are used, illumination equivalent to that shown in Table 9.34.2.7. shall be provided.
Table 9.34.2.7.
Lighting for Public Areas
Forming Part of Sentences 9.34.2.7.(2) and (3)
Minimum Lighting Power Density,
Room or Space Minimum Illumination, lx W/m2 of floor area
(incandescent lighting)
Storage rooms 50 5
Service rooms and laundry areas 200 20
Garages 50 5
Public water closet rooms 100 10
Service hallways and stairways 50 5
Recreation rooms 100 10
Hallways, corridors, stairways and sleeping areas in recreational
100 10
camps and camps for housing of workers
Kitchen in recreational camps and camps for housing of workers 500 50
All other rooms in recreational camps and camps for housing of
250 25
workers
This provision includes a table — formatting is preserved from the source; refer to the official code for the authoritative layout.
9.34.3.Emergency Lighting
9.34.3.1.Criteria for Emergency Lighting permalink →
(1) Emergency lighting shall conform to Subsection 9.9.12.
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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.