Office of the Fire Marshal |
OFM-TG-02-2007 |
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Hotel Retrofit Building Audit (Single Storey Strip Motel/Hotel) |
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January 2007 |
5.1 Fire Separations Between
Guest Suites And Adjacent Rooms Or Areas
5.2 Fire Separations Between
Corridors Serving Guest Suites and Adjacent Rooms
5.3 Between Laundry Rooms, Storage
Rooms and Maintenance Shops And The Remainder Of The Building
5.4 Between A Room(s) Containing A
Fuel-Fired Appliance And The Remainder Of The Building
6.1 Determine the Adequacy of Closures in Required Fire Separations
7.1 Combustibility And Flame
Spread Of Pipes, Ducts And Plenums
7.2 Fire Dampers In Ducts
11.1 Interior Finish In Exits And Access To Exits
January 2007
OFM Section: Fire Safety Standards at (416) 325-3100
The reproduction of this guideline for non-commercial
purposes is permitted and encouraged. Permission to reproduce the guideline for
commercial purposes must be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal,
Ontario.
This guideline is intended to assist hotel operators and owners, including their agents, to conduct an audit of a residential building that is a hotel establishment or a residential building that is part of a hotel establishment, where the building:
Article 9.9.1.2. of Retrofit Section 9.9 of the Fire Code requires the owner
to prepare and retain a Building Audit. The purpose of the audit is to identify
and describe the existing building features in relation to Section 9.9
requirements. The Building Audit must be completed by January 1, 2008.
Completing a Building Audit will help an owner identify those areas that comply
while also identifying those areas that may be deficient and require upgrading.
The Building Audit must be retained by the owner and be made available to the
Fire Chief or an Assistant to the Fire Marshal upon request.
The audit guideline is subdivided into sections. Each section is designed for
use as a template suitable for documenting the degree of compliance or
non-compliance with the applicable requirement(s) based upon review and analysis
of the subject matter. Many of the sections also contain explanatory information
relating to the requirement under consideration.
The guideline is intended for guidance only and is not to be considered a
statement of law in this area.
This guideline is intended for use involving a residential building that is a hotel establishment or part of a hotel establishment that:
is
not more than one storey in
building height, and
does
not have a basement, and
contains
a guest suite(s), and/or other
residential accommodations and/or building
services, and
does
not contain any other major occupancies, and
is
not regulated by Fire Code Retrofit Sections 9.3 or 9.5
This audit guideline is not intended to be used where the building being audited is a hotel establishment or part of a hotel establishment that:
is
more than one storey in
building height, or
has
a basement, or
contains
a room intended for storage that exceeds 200 m², or
contains
another major occupancy other than a
residential occupancy.
In these instances, the Hotel Retrofit Building Audit (Comprehensive) guideline should be used to audit the building instead of this guide.
All underlined words and phrases in this guideline are defined terms. For the definitions, refer to Appendix B – Definitions.
For example, hotel establishment is defined in the Fire Code, meaning “a building containing a hotel and all subsidiary occupancies that are operated in connection with the hotel and includes all connected or adjacent buildings that are operated in connection with the hotel”. Hotel is defined as meaning “floor areas, a floor area or part of a floor area containing four or more suites that provide sleeping accommodation for the travelling public or for recreational purposes”.
Retrofit Section 9.9 Hotels was introduced in May 2006 as an amendment to the Ontario Fire Code under Ontario Regulation 144/06 made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. The regulation’s effective date is January 1, 2007. A number of the requirements become effective on that date. However there are different intervals of up to 5 years in some instances to comply with other provisions.
Owners of buildings falling within the scope of the
Section 9.9 Hotels are responsible for bringing their building(s) into
compliance within the time frames as specified. These time frames for compliance
are outlined in Article 9.1.3.1. of the Fire Code. The compliance schedule for
requirements that come into effect after January 1, 2007, can be found in
Appendix A – Regulation Compliance Schedule for Single
Storey Strip Motels/Hotels.
In some instances the work required may result in material alterations to the
building structure or to its systems, and may affect temporarily the use of
spaces in instances where installations or alterations must be made within these
areas. Building construction, including additions, renovations and/or demolition
are always subject to the Building Code Act and its regulations. For this
reason, should construction be necessary, a building permit may be required
prior to undertaking remedial measures to comply.
1.1 Instructions For Using The Audit Guideline
Using this guideline will facilitate determining those portions of Section 9.9
that apply to the building so that appropriate analysis and documentation can be
achieved.
The applicable provisions of Parts 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 of the Fire Code apply to the subject building, however, unless referred to specifically in this guideline these provisions are not part of this audit process. It is the responsibility of the owner to comply with the Fire Code. The Fire Code may be accessed and downloaded from the Ontario Government e-Laws web site at http://www.e laws.gov.on.ca/home_E.asp?lang=en
It is intended that the guideline be followed sequentially section by section as applicable. Using the audit guideline sequentially will ensure that the fire safety elements regulated under Section 9.9 will be appropriately assessed and the results documented. There are 18 sections in the building audit guideline. Each section reflects certain elements of the regulation’s requirements.
Some portions of the regulation and guideline may not apply to the hotel establishment under consideration. In these instances, by following the directions in the guideline, you will be directed to proceed to the next section or to a specified portion of the guideline. This will allow you to disregard those portions of the regulation and Building Audit that are not applicable in your circumstances. For example, if the building being audited does not have guest suites that share an interior corridor, sections 5.2, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 15 of the guideline will not apply.
The Building Audit can be prepared using a computer and Microsoft Word in a manner similar to working on any Microsoft Word document. To complete the audit on a computer, download the Microsoft Word file to your computer. Identify and save the file so that you can access it easily to work on. After working on the Building Audit save the changes you have made before closing the file. When you return to work on the document, simply open the file and carry on from where you last left off.
To conduct the Building Audit, carefully review each statement and examine the
corresponding feature(s) in the building. After completing the analysis,
document the appropriate response by checking (Yes
or No
)
and where necessary describe or list additional information as directed in the
text form field provided following the asterisk (*███ ). When inserting text
immediately after the asterisk (*) the form field will expand as necessary to
accommodate all text. Inserted text will be printed in the colour
red. Form fields located in the tables are not
identified by an asterisk.
To check a box using your computer, simply double left click your mouse while the cursor is on the box. Then select ‘Checked’ under the default value, then OK. The box is checked.
The guideline provides qualifying statements intended to determine if the section or subsection applies to the building being audited. By completing these qualifying statements, in some instances you will be directed to proceed to the next section or specified portion in the guideline. When you encounter this using the computer, a hyperlink is provided that you can click on with the left mouse button. Using this hyperlink will take you to the next section or area in the Building Audit. To return to your original place in the audit guideline, click on the forward key (Þ) or return key (Ü) located on the computer screen tool bar.
The requirements in the regulation that apply to a one storey building have been editorially modified into simplified statements and consolidated in this audit guideline. These statements facilitate comparing the regulatory requirements with the applicable building feature(s) under consideration. Once the comparison and analysis is completed, the results can be documented.
For ease of cross-reference to the actual regulatory requirements, many of the simplified statements or steps in this guideline contain the numerical reference to the Fire Code in brackets [9.9.2.3.(1)] and similarly, where applicable, to the Building Code [3.2.3.20.(1)OBC].
The Building Audit can also be prepared using a printed copy of this document/file. When using this format, print the Building Audit guideline on single-sided, 3-hole punched paper. Place the printed pages of the guideline in a 3-ring binder. When documenting your analysis if you encounter insufficient space after an asterisk (*) to insert the necessary details, the information can be written on the reverse (blank) side of the page.
1.2 Definitions Of Words And Phrases To assist in becoming familiar with the words and phrases that have special meanings in the context of this Building Audit guideline and the Fire Code, defined words and phrases have been underlined (i.e. building area) and provided with a hyperlink to the corresponding definition. To use the hyperlink, scroll over the hyperlink and left click on the mouse button. To return to your original place in the guideline, use the return key feature on your tool bar as previously described.. Please note the meaning of the word building. The word building in the guideline is synonymous with the building that is subject of the Building Audit. Due to prevalence of this word in the guideline, it is not provided with a hyperlink for the remainder of the document.Complete the table below by providing the information relating to the building that is the subject of this audit. A separate audit must be prepared for each building that is part of a hotel establishment.
| Hotel Municipal Address |
*███ |
|
| Hotel Name and/or name of the building within a hotel
establishment |
*███ |
|
| Owner |
*███ |
Phone # *███ |
| Owner’s Municipal Address |
*███ |
|
| Fire Department Name |
███ |
|
| Fire Department Municipal Address | ███ | |
| Fire Department Contact |
*███
|
Phone # *███ |
Before you proceed any further with this guideline, it is necessary to
determine the building area of the building being
audited. Calculate the building area by determining
the greatest horizontal area of the building above grade
within the outside surface of exterior walls.
The building area is *███
m².
Now that the building area has been determined and
you are aware of the importance of defined words and phrases, return to the
Introduction portion of the guideline to ensure that the
building being audited falls within the scope of this guideline.
Smoke alarms are required to be installed in each
guest suite by July 1, 2008.
The smoke alarm requirements include references to
three different ULC standards. The following table contains a synopsis of the
regulatory requirements outlined in Section 9.9 and those requirements contained
in the referenced standards. For accurate reference, refer to the regulation and
applicable standards. For correct placement of smoke
alarms, refer to the illustration below.
Column 1 in the table describes the requirements. Column 2 is used to document
compliance or non-compliance. Column 3 is used to describe details of
non-compliance when applicable. Examine each guest suite
to determine compliance with the smoke alarm
requirements. Document your observations in the table as appropriate.
|
Column 1 |
Col. 2 |
Column 3 |
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| [9.9.4.13.] Requirements for smoke alarms: | Complies (Agree) |
Describe nature of non-compliance | |
| Yes | No | ||
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Installed in each guest suite. |
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███ |
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Each is ULC labelled. |
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███ |
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Battery operated, or |
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███ |
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Have permanent connections to an electrical circuit, and has no disconnect
switches between the overcurrent device and the smoke
alarm. |
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███
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| Not installed near an air outlet from a heating or air
conditioning system. |
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███ |
| Permanently installed on the ceiling not less than 100 mm
from any wall measured to the nearest edge of the
smoke alarm, or on the wall with the top edge of the
smoke alarm 100 to 300 mm from the ceiling. |
|
|
███ |
| Not installed near an air outlet from a heating or air
conditioning system. |
|
|
███ |
| Permanently installed on the ceiling not less than 100 mm
from any wall measured to the nearest edge of the
smoke alarm, or on the
wall with the top edge of the
smoke alarm 100 to 300 mm from the ceiling. |
|
|
███ |
| Installed at least 1 m from the centre of a laundry room or
bathroom entrance door to avoid exposure to water vapour. |
|
|
███ |
| Located on the high side of the room where the ceiling slope
is greater than 1 in 8. |
|
|
███ |
| Installed on the bottom of the joists or beams where the
ceiling consists of exposed joists or beams. |
|
|
███ |
| Time Saving Tip: Before proceeding to examine
each of the fire separations specified in
this section, it is suggested that you review Section 5 and Section 6 in
their entirety. Section 6 involves an assessment of the protection provided
for openings in required fire separations.
Openings in fire separations are protected
with closures, which may consist of doors, wired
glass assemblies, glass block assemblies, fire
dampers, etc. After reviewing Sections 5 and 6, it may be possible to carry out the assessment/analysis of the applicable areas simultaneously. |
Fires can start in any room or area in a building. To limit the spread of
fire in a floor area the regulation requires certain
rooms or areas to be enclosed with fire separations
to protect the room or space from fire entering it, or to prevent fire from
spreading beyond the room should it be the location of fire origin (refer to
Figure 2).
This section of the audit involves the examination of required
fire separations (wall assemblies and abutting
roofs or ceilings) located between:
It is important to note that the fire-resistance rating of an assembly is based upon all of the components of the assembly. The individual elements in themselves do not have a fire-resistance rating.
Fire separations must be constructed as a continuous element to act as a barrier against the spread of fire. A fire separation is required to be continuous and extend from one fire separation to another or to an exterior wall or roof.
For example, where a ceiling consists of a T-Bar ceiling assembly, a vertical fire separation that requires a fire-resistance rating must extend through the concealed ceiling space to abut the roof so that a smoke-tight joint is provided (refer to Figure 3). Extending the vertical fire separation to the underside of the T-bar ceiling assembly will not prevent smoke and fire spread (refer to Figure 4).
The use of gypsum wallboard or lath and plaster affixed to the underside of joists generally provides a proper abutment for vertical fire separations. Appropriate fire stopping is essential to retard the passage of smoke and flame, particularly at locations where a vertical fire separation meets a floor or roof assembly (refer to Figure 5).
Existing wall assemblies deemed to provide at least a 45 min fire-resistance rating are described in the following table:
|
Acceptable existing wall assemblies |
| Reinforced concrete or masonry |
| Clay tile with plaster and lath or gypsum board finish on both sides |
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of lath and plaster |
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of gypsum board |
Without a more detailed analysis, wall assemblies consisting of other types
of materials and/or membranes are not designated by the regulation as having an
inherent fire-resistance rating.
Fire separations of this nature are required to
have a fire-resistance rating conforming
to Subsection 3.1.7. and Articles 3.1.8.1., 3.1.8.2., 3.1.8.3. and 3.5.4.2. of
the 1994 Building Code (more recent editions of the Building Code also provide
similar information).
These 1994 Building Code requirements outline how a material, assembly of
materials or a structural member may be assigned a
fire resistance rating on the basis of
other criteria. In circumstances of this nature, it is suggested that a
competent professional in the building trade industry be consulted to assist in
the analysis and/or design of the fire separation(s)
under consideration.
5.1 Fire Separation Between Guest Suites And Adjacent Rooms Or Areas
[9.9.2.8.(1)] Guest suites are required to be fire
separated from adjacent rooms and areas on the same floor
area by fire separations having a 30 min
fire-resistance rating or equivalent.
Existing fire separations are deemed to be
acceptable provided they are continuous and the building is
sprinklered.
This building is sprinklered. (NOTE:
The sprinkler
system must conform to Article 9.9.5.4.) Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’ proceed to Subsection 5.2. Where ‘No’ continue.
Existing wall assemblies deemed by the regulation to be acceptable are described
in the table below.
| An analysis of the existing wall assemblies fire separating guest suites from adjacent rooms are continuous and consist of: |
Agree: |
| Reinforced concrete or masonry |
|
| Clay tile with plaster and lath or gypsum board finish on both sides |
|
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of lath and plaster |
|
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of gypsum board |
|
Where applicable, list the guest suite(s) that do not have one or more of the wall assemblies described above fire separating them from adjacent rooms. * ███
5.2 Fire Separation Between Corridors Serving Guest Suites And Adjacent Rooms
Guest suites have interior corridors serving them
as a means of egress.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ proceed to Subsection 5.3. Where ‘Yes’ continue.
[9.9.2.8.(2)] Corridors serving guest suites must be
separated from adjacent rooms and areas on the same floor
area by fire separations having a 30 min
fire-resistance rating.
Existing fire separations are deemed to be
acceptable provided they are continuous and the building is
sprinklered.
This building is sprinklered. (NOTE:
The sprinkler
system must conform to Article 9.9.5.4.)
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’ proceed to Subsection 5.3. Where ‘No’ continue.
Existing wall assemblies deemed by the regulation to be acceptable are described
in the table below.
| An analysis of the existing wall assemblies fire separating corridors (serving guest suites) from adjacent rooms are continuous and consist of: | Agree: |
| Reinforced concrete or masonry |
Yes
No |
| Clay tile with plaster and lath or gypsum board finish on both sides |
Yes
No |
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of lath and plaster |
Yes
No |
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of gypsum board |
Yes
No |
Where applicable, list the area or portion of a corridor (serving guest suites) that does not have one or more of the wall assemblies described above fire separating the corridor from adjacent rooms. * ███
5.3 Between Laundry Rooms, Storage Rooms, Maintenance Shops And The Remainder Of The Building
The building contains one or more:
No
No
No
Where ‘No’ is the response in all three instances above proceed to
Subsection
5.4. Where ‘Yes’, continue.
[9.9.2.11.] Laundry rooms, storage rooms exceeding 0.6 m2 in area, and
maintenance shops are required to be fire separated from the remainder of the
building by fire separations having a 45 min
fire-resistance rating.
Existing wall assemblies deemed by the regulation to be acceptable are described
in the table below.
| An analysis of the existing wall assemblies fire separating laundry rooms, storage rooms or maintenance shops from adjacent rooms are continuous and consist of: |
Agree: |
| Reinforced concrete or masonry |
|
| Clay tile with plaster and lath or gypsum board finish on both sides ] |
|
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of lath and plaster |
|
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of gypsum board |
|
5.4 Between A Room(s) Containing A Fuel-Fired Appliance And The Remainder Of The Building
[9.9.2.12.] Fuel-fired appliances must be fire separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a 1-hr fire-resistance rating, with the exception of the following:
The building contains
fuel-fired appliance(s) in locations other than those
described in the exceptions listed above. Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ proceed to Section 6.0. Where ‘Yes’ continue.
Identify and list the rooms containing a fuel-fired appliance that must be fire
separated from the remainder of the building. *███
Examine the existing wall assemblies for each of the rooms listed above to
determine if they are acceptable.
Existing floor assemblies deemed to provide at least a 1-hr
fire-resistance
rating are described in the following table:
| An analysis of existing wall assemblies fire separating rooms containing fuel-fired appliances are continuous and consist of: |
Agree: |
| Reinforced concrete or masonry |
Yes
No |
| Clay tile with plaster and lath or gypsum board finish on both sides |
Yes
No |
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of lath and plaster |
Yes
No |
| Assemblies with membranes consisting of gypsum board |
Yes
No |
Where applicable, list the areas that do not have existing walls assemblies
described above. *███
Required Combustion Air
[9.9.2.15.(5) & (6)] In each instance where the appliance
is fire separated or will have to be fire separated in conformance with the
requirements specified above, sufficient combustion air must be brought directly
form the outside for the safe operation of the appliance.
Where it is impractical to provide combustion air directly from the outside as
required, an alternative means for the safe operation of the
appliance may be approved.
Provide details of compliance or non compliance. *███
[9.9.2.10.] Openings in required fire separations
are required to be protected with suitable closures to
limit the spread of fire through the opening from one
fire compartment to another.
This section involves identifying openings in required
fire separations and identifying the types of
closures and hardware that is provided or not provided
for the protection of the openings. The regulation requires certain types of
closures to be provided.
Closures can consist of a variety of materials. The
closures can be permanently mounted in the
fire separation and be fixed shut (i.e. wired
glass window, glass blocks, etc.) or they may be capable of being opened or
closed when necessary (i.e. door, shutter, fire damper,
etc.).
When closed, closures limit the spread of fire by virtue
of their physical construction blocking off the opening.
6.1 Determine The Adequacy Of Closures In Required Fire
Separations
The following table identifies a variety of existing closures that may be present in openings in required fire separations in the building. In the table:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
| Assigned Reference Number | Description of Closure | Fire-Protection Rating assigned |
| 1 | Closures that have a permanent label attached identifying their listed fire-protection rating. These can include: | |
| 1 (a) | 20 minute labelled | 20-min |
| 1 (b) | ¾-hr labelled | 45-min |
| 1 (c) | 1-hr labelled | 1-hr |
| 1 (d) | 1.5-hr labelled | 1.5-hr |
| 1 (e) | 2-hr labelled | 2-hr |
| 1 (f) | 3-hr labelled | 3-hr |
| 2 | Hollow metal or kalamein doors in hollow metal frames (with openings, if any, protected by wired glass) | 1-hr or less |
| 3 | Any closure with openings consisting of other materials (i.e. plain glass) or having louvered grills | None |
| 4 | Permanently fixed shut wired-glass in steel frames or glass block assemblies | 1-hr or less |
| 5 | Glazed (glass) panels fixed shut or capable of being opened | None |
| 6 | 1¾ inch (45mm) solid core wood or tubular core wood door in solid wood or hollow metal frames | 20-min |
| 7 | Hollow core wood doors, or doors consisting of recessed wood panels of less than 1¾ inch (45 mm) thick | None |
| 8 | Describe where applicable other types of closures when encountered that are not described above. ███ | |
The information provided in the table above will be used to complete the assessment of closures in the locations specified in the table below. Use the table below to document the circumstances relating to the existing closures in required fire separations.
In the table below:
Where different types of closures are present that are not identified in the table above, identify their locations so that they can be re-examined to determine their degree of compliance or non compliance.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
| Closures in fire separations located between: | Minimum fire protection rating of closure & hardware required [9.9.2.10] | Identify type(s) of existing closure(s) present in fire separations | Identify the fire protection rating of the existing closure | List location(s) of any closures that do not comply |
| guest suites and other
guest suites or other spaces (but not corridors –
see below)Not Applicable:[9.9.2.8.(1)] |
|
███ | ███ | ███ |
| corridors serving guest suites
and other rooms/areas Not Applicable:[9.9.2.8.(2)] |
|
███ | ███ | ███ |
| laundry room(s) and other areasNot Applicable:[9.9.2.11.] |
|
███ | ███ | ███ |
| storage room(s) (exceeding 0.6m² in area) and other areasNot
Applicable:[9.9.2.11.] |
|
███ | ███ | ███ |
| maintenance shop(s) and other areasNot Applicable:[9.9.2.11.] |
|
███ | ███ | ███ |
| rooms containing fuel-fired appliances
and the remainder of the building (excluding those areas listed in NOTE 1).
Not Applicable:[9.9.2.12.] |
|
███ | ███ | ███ |
NOTES:
(1) Excluding fireplaces and space heaters provided the appliance is not
located in an exit or in a corridor serving as an access to exit for guest
suites.
(2) The sprinkler system must conform to Article 9.9.5.4.
Piping, ducts and plenums (a plenum is a chamber forming part of an air duct
system) associated with heating, ventilating and air conditioning can contribute
to fire spread, especially where elements are combustible or contain combustible
materials.
The building contains a heating system that serves more than one
suite and consists of:
No
No
Where ‘No’ was the response to each of the two statements above, this section
is not applicable, so proceed to Section 8.0. Where ‘Yes’ is the response to
either of the above, continue.
Subsections 7.1. and 7.2 involve an examination and assessment of ducts, piping
and ceiling spaces used as plenums. It also involves an examination of a heating
system(s) utilizing pipes such as a hot water or steam radiant heating system.
The purpose of this section is to identify factors that could increase fire
spread involving this equipment.
7.1 Combustibility And Flame Spread Of Pipes, Ducts And Plenums
[9.9.2.16.(1)] Pipes, ducts, plenums and other equipment in heating and air
handling systems shall be constructed of steel, approved
noncombustible material or other
approved material.
For the purpose of Subsections 7.1 and 7.2, “noncombustible” would include
materials such as steel, galvanized steel and aluminums. “Combustible” materials
would include wood, drywall, plastics, etc. and pipes, ducts or plenums
constructed from these materials would also be considered combustible.
Heating or air handling systems constructed of aluminum (a
noncombustible material) or drywall (a combustible
material) could be approved.
This subsection involves an examination of the pipes, ducts and plenums serving
all heating and air handling systems to determine what type of material the
system consists of. As indicated in the requirement, other types of combustible
or noncombustible materials may be approved. To obtain
approval, information relevant to the circumstances must
be submitted to the Chief Fire Official for consideration.
Summary of Analysis
The examination of the heating system(s) in the building revealed that some
elements consist of materials other than steel. Describe the material(s) and
identify the respective location(s). *███
[9.9.2.16.(2)] Insulating materials and adhesives for pipes, ducts, plenums and
other components of heating and air handling systems are of noncombustible
material or have a flame-spread rating of 25
or less. (Section 11.0 contains useful information relating to
flame-spread ratings of certain materials.)
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ describe the variance and location. *███
[9.9.2.16.(3)] Where an attic space, a crawl space, a
corridor ceiling space or other concealed space is used as a plenum, (Applicable:
Yes
No
Where ‘No’ proceed to Subsection 7.2.) the concealed space is lined with
noncombustible material, or the material has a
flame-spread rating of 25 or less. (Section 11.0 contains useful information
relating to flame-spread ratings of certain
materials.)
After analysis, it has been determined that the concealed space used as a plenum
is lined with noncombustible material or has a
flame-spread rating that does not exceed 25.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ or the materials are in question, describe the variance(s) and
location(s). *███
7.2 Fire Dampers In Ducts
[9.9.2.10.(7) & (8) ] Existing noncombustible ducts that penetrate a required
fire separation are exempt from having
fire dampers installed where they penetrate a
required fire separation. This exemption
conversely means that fire dampers must be provided in combustible ducts at
penetrations of a required fire separation.
Upon analysis, it was determined that all ducts are constructed of
noncombustible materials.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’ proceed to Section 8.0.
Where ‘No’ describe the location(s) of the combustible ducts that penetrate a
required fire separation.
*███
Where a combustible duct(s) penetrates a required fire separation in a wall
assembly, the opening is protected with a fire damper.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ describe the location(s) where a fire damper(s) is not provided.
*███
Subsections 8.1 through 8.4 examine the means of
egress provided for the escape of occupants from
guest suites or rooms (not within a suite) intended for
occupancy, and from the floor
area.
Subsection 9.9.3. of the Fire Code prescribes a variety of acceptable egress
facilities for certain circumstances. Where a room or
guest suite fails to satisfy one of these provisions, then the egress
facilities for that room or guest suite must be
improved in order to comply.
[9.9.3.2.(1)(a) & (b)] Each suite,
guest suite or room (not within a suite) intended for
occupancy has egress facilities leading directly outside (refer to the following
illustration) to a public thoroughfare or an open space* that has access to a
public thoroughfare.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’ proceed to Section 9.0. Where ‘No’ continue.
(*An open space such as an enclosed court yard that has access to a public
thoroughfare and is used as a required egress facility must be
approved.)
8.1 Egress From Suites, Guest Suites and Rooms Not Within A Suite
[9.9.3.2.(5)(c)] The building has at least one
suite, guest suite or room (not
within a suite) intended for occupancy that exceeds 100 m² in area. Applicable:
Yes
No
Where ‘No’, proceed to Subsection 8.2.
Where ‘Yes’, the subject room(s) or space(s) has two egress doorways placed in
such a manner that one doorway could provide egress from the room(s) or area(s)
if the other doorway becomes inaccessible to the occupants due to a fire
originating in the room(s) or area(s).
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’, describe/list the location(s) and circumstance(s).
* ███
[9.9.3.2.(1)(c)] Every
suite, guest suite or room (not within a
suite) intended
for occupancy, that does not have egress directly to the exterior, has a door
leading directly into a corridor where it is possible to go in opposite
directions to separate exits. Refer to ‘Corridor A’ in the following
illustration.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’ proceed to
Subsection 8.3. Where ‘No’ continue.
[9.9.3.2.(2),(3)] A dead end corridor (refer to ‘Corridor B’ in the following
illustration) is permitted to serve a suite,
guest suite or room (not within a
suite) that is intended for occupancy provided:
No
No
Where ‘Yes’ is the response to both questions above, proceed to
Section 9.0.
Where ‘No’ is at least one response, describe/list the location(s) and
circumstance(s). *███
[9.9.3.3.(5)] Where an interior corridor(s) is required to be
served by two exits, the minimum distance between
exits is 9 m or half the maximum diagonal dimension of the
floor area, whichever is less. Refer to the following
illustration for clarification. Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’, proceed to Subsection 8.4. If ‘No’, continue.
[9.9.3.3.(6)] The floor area is divided by a fire separation
having a 45 min fire-resistance rating so that it is necessary to pass through
the fire separation to travel from one exit to another exit. Refer to the
following illustration for clarification.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’, describe the area(s) where non-compliance is evident.
*███
8.4 Travel Distance to an Exit
[9.9.3.5.(1)] Where an interior corridor serves as an access to exit, the travel distance to at least one exit does not exceed:
No
, or No
(Where applicable, the
sprinkler system must conform to Article 9.9.5.4.)Where applicable and the response is ‘Yes’ proceed to Section 9.0. Where ‘No’ to either of the above, the area in question does not comply. Refer to the illustration above for clarification. Describe the area(s) where non-compliance is evident. *███
This section involves an assessment of the doors in access to exits and
exits to
determine if the doors are suitable for the prompt use of occupants to escape in
an emergency.
Article 9.9.3.8. requires that each exit
door and door providing access to exit
shall conform with Subsection 2.7.2. of the Fire Code.
For ease in completing this section, the following statements have been compiled
to reflect the intent and requirements of Subsection 2.7.2. of the Fire Code
that apply to a building that is the subject of this audit.
[2.7.2.1.(1)] Every
exit door is installed so that, when the latch is released,
the door will open in the direction of exit travel without significant
resistance upon application of a force (of not more than 90 N or 20 lb-force)
when applied at the knob or other latch-releasing device.
Agree:
Yes
No
Where ‘No’ list those
exit doors that do not conform where
applicable. *███
NOTE: This requirement does
not apply if the existing door is approved and it does
not endanger life safety, or is modified to provide life safety and is
approved.
[2.7.2.2.(1)] For all other doors, locking, latching and other fastening devices
can be readily opened to permit egress without requiring keys, special devices
or specialized knowledge of the door opening mechanism on:
No
Where ‘No’ list exit doors that do not conform.
*███
No
Where ‘No’ list the access to exit doors that do
not conform. *███[2.7.2.1.(3)] Every door that opens into a corridor or other facility
providing access to exit from a
suite or room not located within a suite swings on its vertical axis.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ list doors that do not conform. *███
NOTE: Existing circumstances may
be approved where the conditions do not endanger life
safety or the door(s) is otherwise modified to provide for life safety and is
approved.
Each guest suite has direct access through a door
to the exterior of the building.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’ this section does not apply. Proceed to Section 12.0. Where ‘No’
continue.
[9.9.3.10.(1) Exit signs are required to be installed in accordance with Subsection 3.4.5. of the 1994 Building Code.
The following reflect the requirements of Subsection 3.4.5.
[3.4.5.1.(1) and (7)OBC] Except for suite doors opening
directly to the exterior, every exit serving the
hotel has an exit sign placed over or
adjacent to it.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ list the locations that do not conform. *███
[3.4.5.1.(2) and (9)OBC] Every exit sign
No
No
No
Where ‘No’ list the locations that do not conform. *███
[3.4.5.1.(3)OBC] Exit signs consist of red letters on a contrasting background (or a red background with contrasting letters), with the letters having a 19 mm stroke and a height of at least
No
[3.4.5.1.(4)OBC] Where illumination of an exit sign is provided from an electrical circuit, that circuit:
No
No
[3.4.5.1.(5)] Signs are provided to indicate the direction of egress in public corridors and passageways,
No
No
Each guest suite has direct access through a door
to the exterior of the building.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’ this section does not apply. Proceed to Section 12.0. Where ‘No’
continue.
One or more guest suites are served by an
access to exit that involves a shared interior
corridor.
Agree: Yes
No
Where the response is ‘No’ this section does not apply, therefore proceed to
Section 12.0. Where the response is ‘Yes’ continue.
[9.9.3.11.(1)] Interior finish materials on the walls and ceilings of
exits and access to exits are
required to be in accordance with Subsection 3.1.13. of the 1994 Building Code.
Section 11 provides useful information on the subject of interior finishes and
outlines general requirements. Subsection 11.1 is used to complete the
assessment and document conclusions.
For the purpose of this guide, interior finish is considered to consist of those
materials or combinations of materials that form the exposed interior surfaces
of the walls and ceilings of exits and
access to exits. Typically a one
storey building without a basement has exterior
exit doors, and in some instances may contain an
access to exit involving an interior corridor that
serves more than one suite.
To provide rationale for limiting the combustibility of these finishes, the
following paragraph was extracted from the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook.
“Most building fires begin when decorative materials,
furnishings or waste accumulations ignite, or when electrical systems or
mechanical devices fail. Interior finishes are not usually the first items
ignited, except when ignition occurs by overheated electrical circuits, careless
use of plumbers’ torches, or direct impingement of flame from some other source,
e.g. a candle or a match. After the fire has started and intensified, however,
the interior finish can become involved and can contribute extensively to the
spread of fire.”
For the purpose of this section of the Building Audit, interior finish material includes any material that forms part of the interior surface of a wall, partition or ceiling, such as:
(a) interior cladding of plaster, wood or tile,
(b) surfacing of fabric, paint, plastic, veneer or wallpaper,
(c) doors, windows and trim,
(d) lighting elements such as light diffusers and lenses forming part of the
finished surface of the ceiling.
Flame spread tests are used to determine the surface burning characteristics
of materials when exposed to a test fire. Flame spread test results are used to
compare the surface burning characteristics of different materials. For example,
cement-asbestos board and red oak flooring, which are used to calibrate the test
furnace, have flame-spread ratings of 0 and
100, respectively. The higher the numerical
flame-spread rating, the greater the flammability hazard will be.
The following table provides examples of various types of combustible materials
and their corresponding flame-spread ratings.
| Material/species | Flame-spread rating |
| Birch, Yellow |
80 |
| Brick |
0 |
| Cedar, Western Red | 69 |
| Douglas-fir | 90 |
| Fiberboard, Medium Density | 167 |
| Gypsum Wallboard | 10-15 |
| Gypsum Sheathing | 15-20 |
| Fiber-cement exterior materials | 0 |
| Hemlock, West Coast | 73 |
| Idaho white pine | 82 |
| Inorganic reinforced cement board | 0 |
| Maple | 104 |
| Masonite | <200 |
| Oak, Red or White | 100 |
| Oriented Strand Board (OSB) | 150 |
| Particle Board | 116-178 |
| Pine, Lodgepole | 98 |
| Pine, Ponderosa | 115 |
| Plywood, Fire-retardant-treated construction | 0-25 |
| Plywood, Oak | 125-185 |
| Plywood, Pine | 120-140 |
| Spruce, Engelmann | 55 |
The following table summarizes the flame-spread rating requirements of Subsection 3.1.13. of the 1994 Building Code as they apply to those requirements referenced in Article 9.9.3.11. of the Fire Code. This table is provided for convenience only. For accurate reference, refer to the actual Building Code requirements.
| Location | Flame-spread rating of walls | Flame-spread rating of ceilings |
| Corridors serving guest suites in unsprinklered buildings | 75, or 25 on the upper half of the wall and 150 on the lower half of the wall |
25 |
| Corridors serving guest suites in sprinklered buildings | 150 | 150 |
11.1 Interior Finish In Exits And Access To Exits
Examine the existing interior finish of walls and ceilings of each
access to
exit that includes corridors not within a suite.
[9.9.3.11.(2)] Despite the Building Code requirements outlined in Section 11.0,
interior finish materials on the walls and ceilings of access to exits are
deemed to comply where:
Use the following table format to document the existing interior finish and to summarize your analysis of compliance or non-compliance.
| Location | Interior finish examined | Descriptions of existing interior finish |
| Corridor serving
guest suites |
Wall cladding and surfaces | |
| Ceiling cladding and surfaces | ||
| Doors, Windows and Trim | ||
| Lighting elements such as diffusers and lenses (NOTE 1) |
In this building each guest suite has direct
access through a door to the exterior of the building.
Agree: Yes
No
.
Where ‘Yes’ this section does not apply. Proceed to
Section 13.0. Where ‘No’
continue.
[9.9.3.13] Every exit and access
to exit is equipped to provide illumination to an average level of at least
50 lx at floor level, and at all points such as angles and intersections at
changes of level where there are stairs and ramps. Since it is not easy to
determine 50 lx without a lux meter, the following is provided as a guide to
determine compliance.
Illumination is provided in every exit and
access to exit to the degree that people with
normal vision can clearly see when walking without fear of tripping over or
bumping into objects.
Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘No’ list areas that appear to lack adequate illumination.
*███
Emergency lighting is intended to provide illumination of interior exits and
access to exits in the event the primary power supply to the building is
interrupted.
This building is not more than 600 m² in building area
and each guest suite has direct access through a door
to the exterior, leading to ground level. Agree: Yes
No
Where ‘Yes’, this section does not apply, therefore proceed to
Section 14.0.
Where ‘No’ was a response, continue.
In a building that is more than 600 m² in building area,
each guest suite:
No
No
[9.9.3.14.(1)(a)] Emergency lighting is provided in every exit
and access to exit in the building.
Agree: Yes