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Opinions & Applications for the Fire Code (1997 edition) (revoked November 21, 2007)

9.5.2.10. FUEL-FIRED APPLIANCE SERVICE ROOMS

9.5.2.10.

   "(1) Fuel-fired appliances shall be enclosed in a service room separated from the remainder of the by a fire separation having a 45-min fire-resistance rating where the building height is greater than two storeys or the building area is greater than 400 m².

(2) Sentence (1) does not apply to fireplaces within a dwelling unit or suite.

(3) Despite Sentence (1), the fire-resistance rating of the fire separation above the service room is not required where:

  1. the required vertical fire separation to a service room is provided, and
  2. the service room area is fully sprinklered with a spacing not exceeding 9.5 m² per sprinkler head or providing a minimum average density of 6.5 L/min/m² over the room area."

Intent:

   The intent of this Article is to separate a hazardous room from the remainder of the building to minimize damage in the event of a fire and allow more time for safe egress from the building. Much less time is required to evacuate from small buildings and this is reflected in establishing building height and area criteria beyond which a service room separation would be required.

There is also a sprinkler alternative permitted where there may be difficulty in providing a horizontal fire separation due to ductwork and piping.

Other Resources:

   NFPA 13, "Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems",
NFPA 13R, "Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to Four Stories in Height",
OBC 2.3.1.1., 3.5.2., 9.10.10.

Application:

  
Q1   If an existing separation has a drywall finish on the apartment side and the studs are exposed on the service room side, can the separation be upgraded on the service room side only without having to make alterations to the existing drywall finish on the apartment side?
A1   Yes. It must be shown that the existing stud wall framing and new membrane on the furnace room side will provide a minimum 45-min fire-resistance rating.
Q2   Is a fuel-fired hot water heater considered a fuel-fired appliance and is it required to be separated from the remainder of the building?
A2   Yes. A hot water heater meets the definition of "appliance" in Part 1 of the Fire Code and, thus, a fuel-fired hot water heater would be considered a fuel-fired appliance under Article 9.5.2.10.
Q3   If an owner has chosen to install sprinklers instead of providing the fire separation above the furnace room, does the sprinkler system have to be designed by an engineer and should NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R be used?
A3   NFPA 13 could be used in any size of building. In buildings up to four stories in height either NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R could be used, whichever is the most beneficial to the owner.

The Fire Code does not regulate who must design the system. If a new system is being installed in a building more than three storeys in building height, the building official may require that the sprinkler system be designed by an engineer (see Article 2.3.1.1. of the Building Code). In smaller buildings we would recommend that systems with more than three heads be designed by an engineer or sprinkler contractor. This size of building frequently has small domestic feed mains and excessive pressure loss can be a problem when more than three heads are flowing.