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OBC DIVISION B · PART 3 · SECTION 3.6 — SERVICE FACILITIES

What fire separation is required for service rooms in Ontario?

Service rooms containing building service equipment generally require a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 h, with relaxations where the building is sprinklered or the equipment presents a low hazard. Doors must be rated and self-closing.

Code reference
Rooms containing service equipment such as boilers, furnaces and similar building services must be separated from the remainder of the building by fire separations, generally rated not less than 1 h, subject to exceptions tied to sprinkler protection and to equipment posing limited fire hazard. Service rooms must not be used for storage or purposes unrelated to the equipment.
OBC Division B, Subsection 3.6.2.

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

What this means in practice

Mechanical, boiler and similar rooms are treated as elevated-hazard spaces, so lay them out with rated walls, rated self-closing doors and properly fire-stopped service penetrations from day one. Common site failures include propped-open rated doors, unsealed duct and pipe penetrations, and rooms doubling as janitorial storage, which inspectors will flag. Also coordinate combustion air, venting and clearances to combustibles with the fuel codes, since a compliant separation does not fix an appliance installed too close to storage.

Plain language

Rooms that hold boilers, furnaces and similar equipment must be wrapped in fire-rated walls and doors, usually good for about an hour of fire resistance. That containment buys time for people to get out if the equipment ever causes a fire.

Related questions

Where can fuel-fired appliances be located in a Part 3 building in Ontario?What does the Ontario Building Code require for electrical vaults and transformer rooms?What are the requirements for vertical service spaces and shafts in Ontario?

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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.