S-3, r. 2 - Regulation respecting safety in public buildings

Section 10 Disposition versions

2012-09-01

10. Width of means of egress:

(1)  The required width of a means of egress shall not be reduced except in the cases provided in section 14.

(2)  The occupant load of a room or floor area shall be calculated in accordance with subsection 3.1.14 of the Code specified in section 1 of the Application of a Building Code-1985 Regulation (chapter S-2.1, r. 0.1).

For purposes of this calculation, the surface area used for water closets and for technical installations shall be excluded.

(3)  The free width of the means of egress shall be expressed as units of 550 mm or in fractions of a unit.

The total number of units required is obtained by dividing the total population of the room or of the floor area by the following values:

(a)  30 for the hospital or special care institution;

(b)  30 for places used as a sleeping area;

(c)  100 for places for outdoor assembly;

(d)  300 for the same places if there is access to a covered place of refuge;

(e)  90 for other dwelling areas when evacuation takes place from a horizontal exit;

(f)  60 for other dwelling areas when a ramp or a stairway is used to evacuate such areas.

The evacuation capacity of a stairway shall be reduced by half if the stairway has winders; or is curved, with a tread of less than 230 mm measured at 230 mm from the handrail.

(4)  The aggregate width of the exits need not be cumulative from storey to storey; however, width shall be cumulative from the converging points of exits serving upper or lower floors where such exits converge towards a middle floor.

(5)  The aggregate width of means of egress shall be cumulative on a same floor area.

(6)  Notwithstanding the results obtained under subsections 3 and 4, the minimum clear width of a means of evacuation shall be at least 760 mm.

(7)  No exit door section shall exceed 1.2 m in width.

(8)  (Paragraph revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 10; O.C. 88-91, s. 9.