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

How is travel distance measured within a floor area in Ontario?

Travel distance is measured along the actual walking path from the most remote point in a room or suite to the nearest egress doorway or exit, around fixed obstructions, not as a straight line, and it limits suite depth and layout flexibility.

Code reference
Travel distance is the path a person must actually walk, measured around walls, partitions and fixed equipment, from the most remote occupiable point to an egress doorway or exit. Within suites, tabulated limits determine when additional doorways are needed, and travel distance measurement can restart at a corridor or doorway only under specific rated-separation conditions.
OBC Division B, Subsection 3.3.1.

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

What this means in practice

Designers often check only the corridor-to-exit distance and miss the in-suite leg. Measurement rules matter: in open floor plates you may measure with allowances for future partitions, and where a suite is separated from the corridor by a rated fire separation, travel distance to the exit can sometimes be measured from the suite door rather than the remote point. Document your measurement basis on life safety plans, since examiners frequently challenge the assumed path.

Plain language

The Code cares about how far someone must actually walk to escape, weaving around desks and walls, not the straight-line distance. If the farthest corner is too far from a door, the layout needs another way out.

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.