Fire Protection

Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code describes measures for Fire Protection in Section 9.10. There are three distinct terms to remember when studying Fire Protection:

Fire Separation
Fire Resistance Rating
Fire Protection Rating

Fire protection requirements in determine the type of construction (combustible or non combustible), fire separations, fire resistance ratings, closures and fire protection equipment (fire and smoke alarms and smoke detectors) for all parts of the building except exits (covered under Section 9.9.4.)

Fire separation

A Fire Separation is a construction assembly that acts as a barrier against the spread of fire and smoke.

Fire-protection rating

Fire Protection Rating means the time in hours or fraction thereof that a closure will withstand the passage of flame when exposed to fire.

Fire resistance ratings (FRR)

Fire Resistance Rating means the time in hours or fraction thereof that a material or assembly of materials will withstand the passage of flame and the transmission of heat when exposed to fire.

Determining the required FRR for the floors and roofs depends on a building’s occupancy and height. Building area is not identified in Part 9 as a determinant for FRR of floors and roofs. Part 3 (large buildings) does require the inclusion of building area as a determining factor for FRR. The determination of required FRR for floors and Roofs is an important consideration to be made at an early stage in the design process. Considering the proportionately large planar area of the floors and roofs in a building, the construction requirements for a 1 hour floor as opposed to a 1.5 hour floor can be significant. Another layer of drywall or the addition of a sprinkler system can have a huge bearing on cost – not to mention design intent.

Table 9.10.8.1.

Forming part of sentence 9.10.8.1.(1)

Fire Resistance Ratings for Structural Members and Assemblies

Major Occupancy	Maximum	Minimum Fire Resistance Rating by Building Element, min
	Building Height Storeys	Floors Except Floors over Crawl Spaces	Mezzanine Floors	Roofs
Residential(Group C)	3	45	45	—
All other occupancies	2 3	45 45	— 45	— 45
Column 1	2	3	4	5

When reading Table 9.10.8.1. above, it is evident that the separation between floors for Part 9 buildings will usually be 45 minutes or nothing. The exceptions to this general rule are listed in a few places such as the following articles - 9.10.8.8., 9.10.9.11., 9.10.9.14., 9.10.9.16. and 9.10.9.17. The greater the rating of table 9.10.8.1 or these articles shall apply.

Read 9.10.9.11 - As a general rule, residential occupancies need to be separated from other occupancies with a one hour rating. If the adjoining occupancy is mercantile (Group E) or medium hazard industrial (F2), the fire separation will require a fire resistance rating of 2 hours.

9.10.9.11.(3) states that the separation need only be 1 hr if there are no more than 2 residential suites contained with the Group E or F2 occupancy.

Consider the following example: A three storey building with a hobby store on the ground floor and two residential apartments above. Using Table 9.10.8.1., a three storey group E building would require a 45 minute floor. Reading on however to article 9.10.9.11., we discover that residential occupancies need to be separated from Group E occupancies with a fire separation having an FRR of 1 hr. The floor between the hobby shop and the apartment suite above would require a 1 hr. rating.

Figure 1 3 storey building

Party Walls