9.8.2.2. |
"(1) Except as permitted in Article 9.8.2.3., each dwelling
unit shall be separated from other rooms and areas by a fire
separation having a 30 min fire-resistance rating,
conforming to Article 9.8.2.1., or shall comply with Sentence (2) or (3)
of this Article.
(2) Except as permitted in Article 9.8.2.3., each dwelling unit shall be separated from other rooms and areas by a fire separation having a 15 min fire-resistance rating conforming to Article 9.8.2.1. and be equipped with interconnected smoke alarms conforming to Article 9.8.4.1. (3) Existing fire separations shall be deemed to be in compliance with Sentence (1) where the detached house, semi-detached house or row house is sprinklered in accordance with Article 9.8.5.1." |
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Intent: |
Article 9.8.2.2. requires that each dwelling unit be
protected against hazards outside the occupant's knowledge or control by
being fire separated from other spaces in the building by adhering to
one of three options.
1) Fire separate each dwelling unit from other rooms and areas by a fire separation having a 30 min fire resistance rating. (Existing wall assemblies and floor assemblies consisting of membranes of lath and plaster or gypsum board are considered to satisfy this requirement. Refer to Sentence (3) of Article 9.8.2.1.) 2) As an alternative to implementing option #1, fire separate the dwelling units from other rooms and areas by a fire separation having a 15 min fire resistance rating and install interconnected smoke alarms conforming to Article 9.8.4.1. Existing wall assemblies and floor assemblies consisting of membranes of plaster board with a plaster skim coat are considered to have a 15 min fire resistance rating. The interconnected smoke alarms are intended to provide early warning for the occupants. The early warning capabilities of the interconnected smoke alarms compensate for the reduced fire resistance ratings between option #1 and option #2. 3) As an alternative to option #1 and option #2, the entire house is to be sprinklered. This option permits the existing fire separations to remain, provided the sprinklers are installed throughout the house in accordance with the referenced standard, and the fire separations are a continuous barrier. By implementing this option, the quick response and suppression capabilities of the residential sprinklers will compensate for the fire separations not having a fire-resistance rating. |
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Other Resources: |
Commentary On Changes To The Ontario Fire Code Retrofit Section 9.8 (Ontario Regulation 385/94) | |
Application: |
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| Q1: | Would a suspended t-bar type of ceiling that is not listed provide a 15 min fire-resistance rating for protection of 2 × 8 inch wooden floor joists? | |
| A1: | Exposed 2 × 8 inch wooden floor joist assemblies would not provide
more than a 10 min fire-resistance rating. This 10 min value is
attributed entirely to the ability of the wood framing system to stay in
place when directly exposed to fire. There is no contribution to the
fire-resistance rating from a non-listed suspended ceiling assembly,
primarily because of the lack of test data substantiating the assignment
of any value to these types of ceilings in typical residential
installations.
There is a substantial difference in component construction and
installations between listed suspended ceiling assemblies and non-listed
acoustic tile assemblies. A non-listed suspension system will distort
very quickly and the tile will fall out, resulting in no membrane
protection at all. |
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| Q2: | Does a fuel-fired appliance that is situated in the basement of a multi-level dwelling unit, occupying the main floor and basement of a house, have to be enclosed in fire separated room? | |
| A2: | No. Sentences 9.8.2.2.(1) and (2) require dwelling units to be fire
separated from adjoining rooms and spaces by a fire separation having a
30 or 15 min fire-resistance rating. If the fuel-fired appliance is
situated in a space within a dwelling unit that is under the control of
the occupant of that dwelling unit, no fire separation is required. |
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| Q3: | A fuel-fired appliance (furnace) situated in the basement apartment serves both dwelling units. Is this furnace area considered a common space and required to be fire separated from the dwelling unit? | |
| A3: | The issue of whether the fuel-fired appliance furnace serves one or two dwelling units has no bearing on whether the furnace has to be fire separated from the dwelling unit. (Refer to Answer 2 above.) |
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