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OBC DIVISION B · PART 3 · SECTION 3.3 — SAFETY WITHIN FLOOR AREAS

What are the special egress rules for care occupancies under the Ontario Building Code?

Care, care and treatment, and detention occupancies require sprinklering, subdivided floor areas so occupants can be moved horizontally to an adjacent protected zone rather than evacuated downstairs, wider corridors and doorways for beds, and enhanced staff alarm features.

Code reference
Floor areas housing persons who need assistance to evacuate must be divided into fire compartments by rated fire separations so occupants can be relocated horizontally to a safe compartment on the same storey. Requirements address compartment sizes, corridor and door widths sized for bed movement, door hardware usable by staff, and coordination with sprinkler and alarm systems.
OBC Division B, Subsection 3.3.3.

Paraphrased for clarity — open this provision in the BUILDAiD Library for the exact wording.

What this means in practice

The design philosophy shifts from evacuation to defend-in-place: hospitals, long-term care homes and detention facilities move occupants through smoke-tight compartment boundaries instead of down exit stairs. Plan cross-corridor door pairs, compartment sizing around bed counts, and travel to a second compartment early, since they shape the whole floor plate. Retirement homes and group homes fall under related residential-care provisions with their own thresholds, so confirm the exact occupancy classification before applying rules.

Plain language

In hospitals and care homes, many residents cannot use stairs, so each floor is split into fire-safe zones. In a fire, staff roll patients through special doors into the next zone and wait safely instead of evacuating downstairs.

Related questions

What fire separation is required between suites in Ontario?What is the minimum corridor width under the Ontario Building Code?How long can a dead-end corridor be under the Ontario Building Code?

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This page is provided for general information. Building code requirements depend on your specific project, occupancy and municipality, and code editions change. Always verify requirements against the current Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.