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OBC DIVISION B · PART 3 · SECTION 3.4 — EXITS

What is the maximum travel distance to an exit under the Ontario Building Code?

Typical limits are 30 m (about 98 ft) in unsprinklered floor areas, 40 m in most sprinklered floor areas, 45 m for certain sprinklered office, residential and low-hazard industrial floor areas, and 25 m for high-hazard industrial occupancies.

Code reference
Travel distance from any point in a floor area to the nearest exit is capped, with the limit varying by occupancy and sprinkler protection: shortest for high-hazard industrial uses, a base limit for unsprinklered floor areas, and extended limits where the building is sprinklered throughout, measured along the actual path of travel.
OBC Division B, Article 3.4.2.5.

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

What this means in practice

Travel distance frequently governs stair placement in large floor plates such as warehouses, schools and offices. Measure along the walking path, and note that where a suite is separated from the rest of the floor by a rated separation, measurement may begin at the suite door. Sprinklering buys 10 to 15 extra metres, which is often the deciding argument for sprinklers in big single-storey industrial buildings. Check occupancy-specific values rather than assuming 30 m applies.

Plain language

No one should have to walk more than roughly 30 to 45 m, depending on the building, to reach an exit door or stair. In big buildings that rule, more than anything, decides where the stairs go.

Related questions

When are two exits required from a floor area in Ontario?How is required exit width calculated under the Ontario Building Code?How many exits does a floor area need 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.