Ontario building code regulates the type of construction, whether combustible or non-combustible, and fire resistant ratings of their assemblies and supports. This is to provide a degree of life safety and reduce chances of building collapse while building is still occupied.
This protection is achieved through use of non-combustible construction materials, fire separation between floors, compartmentation of floor areas, sprinkler systems, fire department access and higher fire resistant ratings as size and height increase.
These requirements are based on many building characteristics which include type of major occupancy, multiple occupancies, number of streets for access and building height and area.
Firewalls are usually used to separate a building to achieve the ability to use less restrictive life safety and building protection features which can provide a considerable saving to owner. Fire separations on the other hand are mainly used to provide protection to the occupants of the building, either when exiting or from other occupants.
Spatial separation is the distance between buildings that is used to provide protection from fire spread through heat radiation. This involves calculating un-protected openings, such as windows and doors, and the type of cladding on the exposed building face.
The required separation is identified as the “Limiting Distance” and is taken from the middle line of road or from property lines between two or more buildings. When two building faces form and angle of less than 135 degrees the walls must also meet EBF requirements of the building code unless building is sprinklered.
Fire Alarm and Detections systems are based on occupancy, building size and height of buildings. Fire alarms are used to alert occupants and notify fire departments by signal or monitoring station. Fire alarms are also used to monitor sprinkler systems, standpipes, fire pump power supply and fire alarm circuits. Some addressable fire alarm panels are used to monitor heat and other building systems via trouble alarms to monitoring stations.
Fire alarms come in two types, single and two stage. Most buildings have single stage fire alarms but hospitals and jails usually have a two stage system where an alert signal is generated and activation of the main fire alarm is activated by a key or similar device. Hotels, for instance, would have an alarm sound immediately in the activated zone and an alert signal throughout rest of building to notify staff.
As buildings grow in size and height the Ontario Building Code has more restrictive life safety requirements in conjunction with higher ratings for fire resistive products and separations to ensure adequate life safety for occupants are being maintained.
Ongoing articles on the education required to properly inspect commercial buildings which is not covered in basic Part 9, small building, courses which most home inspectors have obtained.
