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

What is the minimum corridor width under the Ontario Building Code?

Public corridors must be at least 1 100 mm (about 43 in) wide, with wider minimums for some uses such as care and treatment occupancies, and the width must also satisfy the occupant load calculation of 6.1 mm per person.

Code reference
The minimum width of a public corridor is 1 100 mm, and corridors used by the public or serving certain occupancies such as patient care areas require greater widths. Required egress width based on occupant load must also be checked, and obstructions may not reduce the corridor below required width.
OBC Division B, Article 3.3.1.9.

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

What this means in practice

On most projects 1 100 mm governs, but always verify the occupant-load-based width for heavily populated floors and the enhanced widths for hospitals and long-term care, where bed movement demands more. Watch for door swings, radiators, fountains and handrail projections eating into clear width; the Code limits how far obstructions may project. Barrier-free path of travel requirements in Section 3.8 can also push corridors wider than the fire-safety minimum.

Plain language

Hallways that people share in a building must be at least about 1.1 m wide so everyone can get out quickly, even passing others. Hospitals and care homes need wider hallways to move beds and wheelchairs.

Related questions

What fire separation is required between suites in Ontario?How long can a dead-end corridor be under the Ontario Building Code?How do you calculate occupant load 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.