FIRE CODE, O. Reg. 213/07

• Jurisdiction: Ontario

Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997
Loi de 1997 sur la prévention et la protection contre l’incendie

ONTARIO REGULATION 213/07

fire code

Consolidation Period: From April 11, 2022 to the e-Laws currency date.

Last amendment: 319/22.

This Regulation is made in English only.

division a
compliance, objectives and functional statements

PART 1
compliance and General

SECTION 1.1 organization of this code

Subsection 1.1.1. General

Scope of Division A

1.1.1.1. Division A contains the compliance and application provisions, objectives and functional statements of this Code.

Scope of Division B

1.1.1.2. Division B contains the acceptable solutions of this Code.

Scope of Division C

1.1.1.3. Division C contains the administrative provisions of this Code.

Internal cross-references

1.1.1.4. If a provision of this Code contains a reference to another provision of this Code but no Division is specified, both provisions are in the same Division of this Code.

SECTION 1.2 COMPLIANCE

Subsection 1.2.1. Compliance with this Code

Owner’s responsibility

1.2.1.1. Unless otherwise specified, the owner is responsible for carrying out the provisions of this Code.

Compliance with Parts 2 and 3

1.2.1.2. Compliance with Parts 2 and 3 is required only as it relates to the use of alternative solutions as set out in Subsection 1.2.2.

Subsection 1.2.2. Compliance with Division B

1.2.2.1. (1) Compliance with Division B shall be achieved

(a) by complying with the acceptable solutions in Division B, or

(b) by using alternative solutions that

(i) will achieve the level of performance required by the applicable acceptable solutions in respect of the objectives and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions in OFMEM Fire Code Supplement FCS-1, “Objectives and Functional Statements Attributed to Acceptable Solutions”,

(ii) do not contravene any other provision in Division B, and

(iii) have been approved and implemented in conformance with Subsection 1.3.2. of Division C.

(2) For the purpose of Clause (1)(b), the level of performance in respect of a functional statement refers to the performance required by the functional statement as it relates to the objective with which it is associated in OFMEM Fire Code Supplement FCS-1, “Objectives and Functional Statements Attributed to Acceptable Solutions”.

(3) The use of alternative solutions as described in Clause (1) (b) is not applicable in respect of any acceptable solutions to which objectives and functional statements have not been attributed in OFMEM Fire Code Supplement FCS-1, “Objectives and Functional Statements Attributed to Acceptable Solutions”.

Subsection 1.2.3. Compliance with Other Applicable Law

Compliance with other applicable law

1.2.3.1. Compliance with this Code does not relieve the owner from compliance with other applicable Acts and regulations, and, where a requirement of an applicable Act or regulation conflicts with a requirement of this Code, the more stringent requirement prevails, unless the more stringent requirement is in this Code and this Code says that the requirement of the other Act or regulation prevails.

SECTION 1.3 exemptions

Subsection 1.3.1. Exemption for Farms

1.3.1.1. (1) Subject to Sentence (2), a farm building with an occupant load of not more than one person per 40 m² of floor area during normal use and other premises on a farm used for farming purposes are exempt from the requirements of this Code.

(2) Where a floor area or portion of a floor area within a farm building contains a hazardous extraction operation involving cannabis, the floor area or portion of the floor area shall comply with Articles 2.7.1.1. and 2.7.2.2., Section 2.8, Part 4, Article 5.1.4.2. and Subsection 5.14.11. of Division B.

SECTION 1.4 terms and abbreviations

Subsection 1.4.1. Definitions of Words and Phrases

Non-defined terms

1.4.1.1. (1) Definitions of words and phrases used in this Code that are not included in the list of definitions in Article 1.4.1.2. have the meanings that are commonly assigned to them in the context in which they are used, taking into account the specialized use of terms with the various trades and professions to which the terminology applies.

(2) Despite Sentence (1), words and phrases may be assigned other meanings where specifically noted in another provision of this Code.

Defined terms

1.4.1.2. The words and terms used in this Code that are in bold face, and either in upper and lower case or in lower case, have the following meanings:

Acceptable solution means a requirement set out in Division B.

Access to exit means that part of a means of egress within a floor area that provides access to an exit serving the floor area.

Air-supported structure means a structure that consists of a pliable membrane that achieves and maintains its shape and support by internal air pressure.

Alarm signal means an audible signal transmitted throughout a zone or zones or throughout a building to advise occupants that a fire emergency exists.

Alert signal means an audible signal to advise designated persons of a fire emergency.

Alternative solution means a substitute for an acceptable solution.

Appliance means a device to convert fuel into energy, and includes all components, controls, wiring and piping required to be part of the device by the applicable standard referred to in this Code.

Approved means approved by the Chief Fire Official.

Architect means a member or licensee of the Ontario Association of Architects under the Architects Act.

Assembly occupancy means the occupancy or the use of a building, or part thereof, by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational, recreational or like purposes or for the consumption of food or drink.

Atmospheric storage tank means a storage tank that is designed to operate at pressures from atmospheric to 3.5 kPa (gauge).

Attic space means the space between the roof and the ceiling of the top storey or between a dwarf wall and a sloping roof.

Basement means a storey or storeys of a building located below the first storey.

Boiler means an appliance intended to supply hot water or steam for space heating, processing or power purposes.

Building means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.

Building area means the greatest horizontal area of a building above grade within the outside surface of exterior walls or within the outside surface of exterior walls and the centre line of firewalls.

Building Code means any version of the Ontario Building Code that was in force at any time since it was made under The Building Code Act, 1974, the Building Code Act of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1980, the Building Code Act of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1990, the Building Code Act, 1992 or a successor to the Building Code Act, 1992, and, where a specific version of the Building Code is referred to, that version of the Building Code.

Building height (in storeys) means the number of storeys contained between the roof and the floor of the first storey.

Business and personal services occupancy means the occupancy or use of a building or part thereof for the transaction of business or the rendering or receiving of professional or personal services.

Care and treatment occupancy means an occupancy in which persons receive special care and treatment.

Care occupancy means an occupancy in which special care is provided by a facility, directly through its staff or indirectly through another provider, to residents of the facility

(a) who require special care because of cognitive or physical limitations, and

(b) who, as a result of those limitations, would be incapable of evacuating the occupancy, if necessary, without the assistance of another person.

Care or detention occupancy Revoked: O. Reg. 150/13, s. 1 (2).

Check means visual observation to ensure the device or system is in place and is not obviously damaged or obstructed.

Chief Fire Official means the assistant to the Fire Marshal who is the Municipal Fire Chief or a member or members of the fire department appointed by the Municipal Fire Chief under Article 1.1.1.2. of Division C or a person appointed by the Fire Marshal under Article 1.1.1.1. of Division C.

Chimney means a primarily vertical shaft enclosing at least 1 flue for conducting flue gases to the outdoors.

Class A fire means a fire involving combustible materials such as wood, cloth and paper.

Class B fire means a fire involving a flammable or combustible liquid, fat or grease.

Class C fire means a fire involving energized electrical equipment.

Class D fire means a fire involving a combustible metal.

Class K fire means a fire involving combustible cooking media such as vegetable oils, animal oils and animal fats.

Closed container means a container so sealed by means of a lid or other device that neither liquid nor vapour will escape from it at ordinary temperatures.

Closure means a device or assembly for closing an opening through a fire separation such as a door, a shutter, wired glass or glass block and includes all components, such as hardware, closing devices, frames and anchors.

Combustible construction means that type of construction that does not meet the requirements for noncombustible construction.

Combustible dust means dust and particles ignitable and liable to explode when mixed with air.

Combustible fibres means finely divided combustible vegetable or animal fibres and thin sheets or flakes of such materials that in a loose, unbaled condition present a flash fire hazard, and includes cotton, wool, hemp, sisal, jute, kapok, paper and cloth.

Combustible liquid means any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8°C and below 93.3°C.

Compressed gas means any contained mixture or material with either an absolute pressure exceeding 275.8 kPa at 21°C or an absolute pressure exceeding...