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OBC DIVISION B · PART 3 · SECTION 3.13 — RAPID TRANSIT STATIONS

What are the egress requirements for transit station platforms in Ontario?

Platforms must have enough exit capacity, via stairs, escalators and passageways, to evacuate the peak occupant load, including a train load arriving during an emergency, within the evacuation performance limits of Section 3.13, with protected routes leading to a point of safety.

Code reference
Section 3.13 requires station platforms to be served by egress facilities sized for the design occupant load, including passengers from arriving trains, so the platform can be cleared and occupants can reach a protected route or exterior within prescribed evacuation criteria. Egress elements must be arranged to remain usable and to limit exposure to fire and smoke.
OBC Division B, Section 3.13 (Rapid Transit Stations)

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

What this means in practice

Platform egress is a capacity calculation problem: the governing load includes waiting passengers plus a crush-loaded train discharging during the emergency, and stairs, escalators and fare gates each throttle flow. Designers typically model timed evacuation, an approach shared with NFPA 130, often invoked alongside the OBC. Common pitfalls include counting escalators at full capacity when one must be assumed out of service, and pinch points at fare lines that quietly govern the whole calculation. Vertical circulation sizing gets locked in early and is nearly impossible to fix later.

Plain language

A subway platform must have enough stairs, escalators and corridors that everyone, including a full train of arriving passengers, can get off the platform and to safety quickly in an emergency. That is why station stairs are so wide.

Related questions

When does OBC Section 3.13 apply to rapid transit stations in Ontario?What fire safety systems are required in rapid transit stations in Ontario?Do rapid transit stations in Ontario have to be accessible?

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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.