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

Updated to 1 September 2012

This document has official status.

chapter S-3, r. 2

Regulation respecting safety in public buildings

Public Buildings Safety Act

(chapter S-3, s. 39).

Implicitly replaced, O.C. 1263-2012, 2013 G.O. 2, 127; eff. 2013-03-18; see chapter B-1.1, r. 3, c. VIII.

DIVISION I DEFINITIONS

1. For the purposes of this Regulation, unless the context otherwise indicates or unless otherwise mentioned, wherever the word “building” appears, it must be changed to read “public building” and the following words or expressions have the meaning hereinafter given to them:

(1)  “access to the exit”: that part of a means of egress in the interior of a floor area which gives access to an exit clearing the floor area;

(2)  (paragraph revoked);

(3)  “floor area”: the total area on any floor or storey of a building between exterior walls and firewalls, measured from the inside finish of the walls which form its boundaries, less the area of exits and vertical shafts which pierce the storey.

For the purposes of the first paragraph and of subsection 9, a mezzanine is considered a storey if:

(a)  its area exceeds 40% of that of the premises or storey where it is situated; or

(b)  its area exceeds 10% of that of the premises or storey where it is situated and it is used as a partitioned floor area. A mezzanine is considered to be used as a partitioned floor area if, at any point in that area, the space of the premises or of the storey where it is situated has no open view from 1,070 mm from the mezzanine floor. However, open bookshelves in a library are not considered obstacles to an open view where the height of the shelves does not exceed 2.1 m or 3/4 of the height between the mezzanine floor and the ceiling above it;

(4)  “approved”: approved by the inspector or by any agency designated by the Government;

(5)  “noncombustible construction”: type of construction built with noncombustible materials for structural members, including floors and assemblies.

The combustible materials shall be limited to those mentioned in Schedule D;

(6)  “public corridor”: a corridor that provides access to an exit either from rooms, groups of rooms or dwelling units occupied by different lessees or owners, or from patients’ bedrooms;

(6.1)  “fire-resistance rating”: the time in hours or fraction thereof that a material or assembly of materials will resist fire or withstand the passage of flame and the transmission of heat, determined by tests carried out by a recognized organization or in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Supplement to the National Building Code of Canada 1985, No. 23178, issued by the National Research Council of Canada;

(7)  “travel distance to an exit”: the unobstructed distance from any point of a floor area to the closest exit. Should the floor area be subdivided into rooms or suites separated from the rest of the floor area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour, the travel distance is measured from the egress doorways of those rooms or suites to the closest exit;

(7.1)  “family-type school”: a school operated by a natural person in a single-family dwelling used as his residence and in which he accommodates less than 15 students at a time;

(7.2)  “family-type building”: a family-type school, day care centre or hotel not more than 3 storeys high;

(8)  “hospital or special care institution”: an establishment occupied by:

(a)  sick persons;

(b)  persons who, because of their mental or physical condition, require continuous nursing care or treatment in the amount mentioned in Schedule E;

(c)  the blind, the deaf, persons in wheelchairs, persons who wear prostheses or orthopaedic appliances on their lower limbs and any other persons who, in a significant and persistant manner, need help to move about;

(8.1)  “family-type day care centre”: a day care centre operated in a building not more than 2 storeys high by a natural person in a single-family dwelling used as his residence and in which he receives or accommodates more than 9 children without exceeding 12, not more than 4 of whom may be under 18 months of age;

(9)  “building height”: the number of storeys contained between the roof and the ground floor. When more than one level of mezzanine is provided in a storey, each level additional to the first shall be considered as a storey;

(9.1)  “family-type hotel”: a hotel operated by a natural person in a single-family dwelling used as his residence, in which there are not more than 6 bedrooms and in which he accommodates less than 15 boarders;

(10)  “flame spread rating”: value indicating the fire spread rating on the surface of any building material or element, determined from the average results of at least 3 tests done in accordance with the requirements of the following tests:

(a)  ASTM E 84-70, Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Material;

(b)  ULC S 102-1972, Standard Test Method for Fire Hazard Classification of Building Materials;

(c)  UL 723 (1971), Test Method for Fire Hazard Classification of Building Materials;

(d)  NFPA 255-1972, Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Buildings Materials;

(11)  “inspector”: inspectors appointed in accordance with the Public Buildings Safety Act (chapter S-3);

(12)  “exit”: a means of egress or a part of a means of egress leading directly from a floor area to another floor area, to a public thoroughfare or an approved open space;

(13)  “horizontal exit”: that part of a means of egress leading from a floor area to another floor area, at substantially the same level, by means of a bridge, a balcony, a vestibule or a doorway. Such floor areas may either be located in different buildings or located in the same building and separated from each other by a wall with a minimum fire resistance of 2 hours;

(14)  “assembly occupancy”: a place used by a gathering of persons for civic, political, travel, religious, social, educational or recreational purposes;

(15)  “sleeping accommodation”: an accommodation building, hospital or special care institution, a rooming-house with 10 rooms or more and an apartment house having more than 2 storeys and more than 8 apartments;

(16)  “accommodation building”: an hotel, orphanage, convent, college, holiday camp, retreat house, day-care centre, asylum, not including a hospital or special care institution;

(17)  “noncombustible material”: an elementary building material tested and found to comply with recognized standards relating thereto, to wit, the CSA Code, B54.1, latest edition;

(18)  “means of egress (means of escape)”: a doorway, a hallway, a lobby, a stair, a ramp or other facility or combination thereof including an open space for the escape of persons from a building, a floor area or a room to a public thoroughfare or an approved open space. A means of egress includes the access to the exit and the exit;

(19)  “fire wall”: a separation built of non-combustible materials dividing the building or separating contiguous buildings;

(20)  (paragraph revoked);

(21)  “high occupant load”: an occupancy where the number of persons occupying a room or a floor area is such that the floor area per person (floor area divided by the number of persons) is 1.2 m2 or less;

(22)  “recognized organization”: organization recognized by the inspector;

(23)  “plenum chamber”: a compartment or air chamber with which are connected several ducts of a system to provide air circulation;

(24)  “ground floor or first storey”: the storey whose floor is the closest to the ground contiguous to the main entrance and whose ceiling is at least 6 feet above such ground;

(25)  “fire separation”: assembly of materials forming a building element which is used as a barrier against the spread of fire;

(26)  “fixed seats”: seats attached to the floor or platform and provided with backs;

(27)  “hazardous substance”: a substance which, because of its physical or chemical nature or because of the form in which it exists, may explode or become ignited easily.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 1; O.C. 88-91, s. 1; O.C. 466-95, s. 1.

1.1. The following abbreviations are used in the Regulation:

“CSA”: Canadian Standards Association

“ASTM”: American Society for Testing and Materials

“CAN2”: National Standards of Canada designation (issued under the auspices of the Canadian General Standards Board)

“NRCC”: National Research Council of Canada

“NFPA”: National Fire Protection Association

“UL”: Underwriters’ Laboratories Inc.

“ULC”: Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada.

O.C. 88-91, s. 2.

DIVISION II GENERAL REGULATIONS

2. Basic regulations: Public buildings shall be provided with all means necessary to permit a prompt and easy exit therefrom in case of fire, panic or any other hazard and to protect all persons residing therein or having access thereto against exposures.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 2.

3. Duties of owners: Public building owners shall:

(a)  build, arrange and keep up public buildings so that people residing therein or having access thereto be protected against exposures;

(b)  see that means of egress, fire alarm and fire-fighting systems and all other apparatus, systems or installations in connection with any public building comply with this Regulation;

(c)  supply and install permanently all necessary safety devices for maintenance employees. These devices include: anchors for flying-scaffolds, anchor-bolts for window cleaning, anchors for safety belts, guardrails, fastenings for guardrails along roof edges and roof openings; these devices must comply with section 50;

(d)  give notice to the inspector of the opening, reopening or change of destination of a public building at least 30 days in advance;

(e)  draw up an evacuation plan or procedure;

(e.1)  provide the staff necessary for the evacuation of the building in the event of fire, panic or any other hazard, in compliance with the requirements set forth in section 33;

(f)  inform the personnel and occupants as to the plan for safety and egress and advise a public of more than 300 persons assembled for purposes other than for worship in an assembly occupancy, before the beginning of each performance or activity, of the means of egress at its disposal;

(g)  see that fire and exit drills be held at regular intervals and at least once a year. However, in buildings designated by the inspector and where panic may arise, the personnel only shall take part in such drills;

(h)  (paragraph revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 3; O.C. 2449-85, s. 1; O.C. 88-91, s. 3.

4. Attestation:

(1)  (Paragraph revoked).

(2)  (Paragraph revoked).

(3)  (Paragraph revoked).

(4)  (Paragraph revoked).

(5)  When deemed necessary by the inspector, the latter may require from the owner a certificate issued by an engineer, an architect or a recognized organization attesting the solidity of the public building.

(6)  Upon the request of the inspector, the owner shall provide certification by a specialist on the subject or a recognized organization that a material or assembly of materials, a device or a system complies with the requirements of this Regulation and, where applicable, with any requirement of a regulation mentioned in subsection 1 of section 6. The certificate shall contain the data used to establish that the material, assembly of materials, device or system complies with the requirements of this Regulation.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 4; O.C. 88-91, s. 4; O.C. 1441-93, s. 1; O.C. 1477-97, s. 1.

5. Collaboration:

(1)  The inspector may collaborate with other services and other departments as well as with other government organizations for the enforcement of the present or other regulations.

(2)  (Paragraph revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 5; O.C. 88-91, s. 5.

6. Scope:

(1)  Subject to section 2 of the Regulation respecting the application of a Building Code - 1990 (O.C. 1440-93, 93-10-13), to section 2 of the Building Code - 1985 Regulation (chapter S-2.1, r. 0.1), to section 3 of the Regulation respecting the application of a Building Code (O.C. 912-84, 84-04-11) and to subsection 2 of section 2.1.1 of the Building Code (R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 2), this Regulation applies to any building built before 1 December 1976 or whose construction began before that date.

However, sections 7, 33, 36, 44, 50 and 51, as well as paragraphs e, e.1, f and g of section 3, subsection 6 of section 4, subsections 4, 4.1 and 4.2 of section 6, subsection 1 of section 18 with regard to partitions or movable screens, subsections 2 and 3 of section 18, subsection 5 of section 24 and subsection 1 of section 45 also apply to a constructed building or to a building whose construction began after that date.

Futhermore, section 32.1 applies to the buildings subject to the Building Code.

(1.1)  Only sections 1, 1.1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8.1, 11.1, 14, 15, except paragraph c, 16.1, 31, 32.1, except paragraph a of subsection 1, 34, as well as paragraphs a, b, e, f and g of section 3, subsections 1.1, 2 and 4 of section 6, subsection 6 of section 10, subsections 1 and 2 of section 12, subsections 1, 3 and 4.1 of section 17, subsection 2, except paragraph c, and subsections 5.1 and 8 of section 18, subsection 5 of section 21, subsection 3 of section 26, paragraphs c and d of subsection 1 and paragraphs b and d of subsection 2 of section 21, paragraphs a, c, e, g, h and j of subsection 2 of section 26, subparagraph i of paragraph a and paragraph b of subsection 1 as well as paragraphs a and c of subsection 2 of section 38, paragraphs a, b and d of subsection 1 and paragraph b of subsection 2 of section 42 as well as the fourth paragraph of section 8, and the first paragraph of sections 13 and 38 apply to every family-type building, except paragraphs f and g of section 3 which, apply only to family-type day care centres.

(2)  In cases should it be difficult to apply certain provisions of the Regulation due their effect, to ensure safety in the building, an owner may submit alternative measures to the person designated by the Minister of Labour, which may be accepted by that person.

(3)  Any new building whose part thereof is used as a public building shall be considered as a public building in its entirety.

(4)  Old people’s homes, shelters, day-nurseries, convalescent homes, educational establishments and rehabilitation centres harbouring or receiving no more than 9 persons shall not be considered as public buildings.

(4.1)  A family-type hotel not more than 2 storeys high is not considered a public building.

(4.2)  A monastery, a convent or a novitiate, whose owner is an incorporated religious corporation under a special Act of Québec or the Religious Corporation Act (chapter C-71), which constitutes a building or part thereof divided by a firewall within the meaning of the National Building Code of Canada 1990, NRCC English edition, Nº 30620, published by the National Research Council of Canada, shall not be considered a public building, provided that the building or part thereof complies with the following conditions:

(a)  it is occupied by no more than 30 persons;

(b)  it has no more than 3 stories in building height.

(4.3)  A monastery, a convent or a novitiate built before 1 December 1976, not excluded within the meaning of subsection 4.2, of which at least 90% of the occupants are monks or novices and whose owner is an incorporated religious corporation under a special Act of Québec or the Religious Corporation Act, (chapter C-71), shall conform to the requirements of this Regulation unless the owner shows that this building complies with the provisions of the Building Code 1990 (O.C. 1440-93, 93-10-13), concerning:

(a)  the closures situated in the firewalls which are provided for in subsection 3.1.8 of the Code;

(b)  the fire alarm and detection systems which are provided for in subsection 3.2.4 of the Code;

(c)  the exit enclosure and the integrity of exists which are provided for in section 3.4 of the Code.

To that end, the owner shall send to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec an attestation issued by a professional within the meaning of the Professional Code (chapter C-26), specialist on the subject, certifying the compliance with the requirements listed in subparagraphs a to c of the first paragraph and, subsequently every 5 years.

(5)  In a multiple occupancy building, safety measures applying to the most hazardous occupancy, apply to the whole building.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 6; O.C. 913-84, s. 1; O.C. 2449-85, s. 2; O.C. 88-91, s. 6; O.C. 1441-93, s. 2; O.C. 466-95, s. 2; O.C. 783-97, s. 1; O.C. 1477-97, s. 2; O.C. 1477-97, s. 2.

7. Recommendations:

(1)  Should defects be detected following an inspection, the inspector shall express its recommendations thereupon.

(2)  The owner to whom such recommendations have been forwarded must return them to the inspector and mention thereon the date by which repairs will be completed or give the inspector written notice thereof.

(3)  The owner who cannot repair the defects within the time prescribed must send written notice thereof to the inspector. Should the owner be able to substantiate his request, the inspector may change the prescribed delay.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 7.

DIVISION III MEANS OF EGRESS

8. Basic regulations: It must be possible for any person to take different ways from a floor area or part thereof to one of the separate exits serving such floor area.

No exit shall serve as plenum chamber.

An exit shall be separated from the rest of the floor area by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour for buildings with 3 or fewer stories, and of one hour for other buildings.

The fire separations of an exit shall not have openings other than exit doors and standpipe openings.

A means of egress that has been added after 21 February 1991 shall comply with the Building Code-1985 Regulation (chapter S-2.1, r. 0.1).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 8; O.C. 88-91, s. 7.

8.1. Fire separation of an exit in family-type buildings:

A required exit in a family-type building shall be separated from the rest of the floor area by a fire separation.

Except in a day care centre, such separation is not required where any premises intended for educational or sleeping purposes are located not more than one storey above or below the ground floor and where only one of those floors is linked to the ground floor by such an exit and where the premises is provided:

(a)  either with a window located at a height of not more than 1 m above the floor without exceeding 5 m above the ground and where that window may be easily opened at all times and ensures a clear opening of not less than 550 mm in width by 1 m in height; or

(b)  with a balcony located at the level of the premises, having a clear area of not less than 0.4 m2 per occupant of the premises or the floor area and that is easily accessible to the occupants of the premises at all times. The balcony shall be provided with railings of not less than 1,070 mm in height, the openings of which shall comply with subsection 5 of section 21.

O.C. 466-95, s. 3.

9. (Revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 9; O.C. 88-91, s. 8.

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.

11. Number of means of egress:

(1)  A floor area shall be served by at least 2 exits. A floor area that is no more that one storey above or below the ground floor may be served by only one exit, provided that:

(a)  the area does not exceed 230 m2;

(b)  the occupant load does not exceed 60;

(c)  the exit leads directly to the outside;

(d)  the distance to the exit does not exceed 15 m.

(2)  (Paragraph revoked).

(3)  In case of emergency, should one of the exits become inaccessible, the total number of units of exit width shall not be reduced by more than 50%.

(4)  There shall be at least 2 means of egress for:

(a)  any part of floor area or mezzanine intended for an occupancy of more than 60 persons;

(b)  any part of floor area exceeding 120 m2 in any building of non-combustible construction or for any part of floor area exceeding 100 m2 in other buildings;

(c)  (subparagraph revoked);

(d)  (subparagraph revoked);

(e)  any room containing stationary machinery requiring close supervision; a ladder or a metal stairway leading directly to a public thoroughfare or an open space leading to a public thoroughfare or an approved open space by means of a flap-door may be considered as the equivalent of a means of egress;

(f)  any portion of floor area occupied by hazardous, explosive, flammable or poisonous substances, because of the risks arising from the nature, the quantity, the storage and the protection of such substances.

(5)  In any assembly occupancy, a stairway serving a balcony above the first balcony shall be independent of other stairways and surrounded by a fire separation.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 11; O.C. 88-91, s. 10.

11.1. Number of exits in family-type buildings:

The floor area of a family-type building shall be served by at least 2 exits.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a floor area that is no more than 1 storey above or below the ground floor may be served by only 1 exit where:

(a)  the area does not exceed 150 m2;

(b)  the maximum distance to the exit door does not exceed 15 m;

(c)  no bedroom door giving onto a public corridor, in a hotel, is located more than 6 m from an indoor stairway used as an exit for that bedroom, except where the latter has another means of egress.

For the purposes of the second paragraph, an inside stairway that does not have a fire separation and leads to no more than 2 m from an outside door exit is considered to be an exit, except in the case of a day care centre.

O.C. 466-95, s. 4.

12. Location of means of egress:

(1)  Exits of a floor area shall be:

(a)  as remote from each other as is practicable;

(b)  readily accessible and visible;

(c)  kept in working order and without obstruction;

(d)  clearly indicated by means of easily visible signs with colours that contrast with the field (preferably white in a red field).

This paragraph also applies to the distance covered to get to these exits. The main entrance of the building does not have to be marked.

(2)  While the building is occupied, continuous lighting (artificial or natural) shall be provided:

(a)  for exits and hallways leading directly thereto, to levels of not less than 5 decalux at the floor of exits;

(b)  for signs, to levels of not less than 5 decalux on their surfaces.

(3)  Travel distance must not exceed:

(a)  25 m where hazardous substances are stored, handled or used;

(b)  40 m for office buildings;

(c)  30 m for all other destinations;

(d)  45 m for all floor surfaces protected by automatic fire extinguishers and having uses other than those mentioned in paragraph a.

Except for buildings where hazardous substances are stored, handled or used, it is not necessary to apply subsection 3 if exits are placed on the perimetre of the floor area and if they are separated from one another by at least 60 m measured along this perimetre; however, each main corridor of the floor area must lead directly to an exit.

Moreover, with the exception of sleeping accommodations and high occupant load occupancies, where the floors separating the stories form fire separations having a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour, the travel distances prescribed in paragraphs b and c of this subsection are increased to 45 m, and that prescribed in paragraph d of this subsection is increased to 60 m.

(4)  In buildings subdivided into rooms or suites, the exit doors of the aforesaid rooms or suites may be located in dead-end hallways, provided that:

(a)  in sleeping accommodations, these doors are no more than 6 m from an exit or from another corridor leading directly to 2 opposite exits;

(b)  in other destinations, these doors are no more than 12 m from an exit or another corridor leading directly to 2 opposite exits.

However, the requirements of paragraphs a and b of this subsection do not apply where each room or suite is served by a second means of egress independent from the first.

While the building is occupied, any dead-end hallway shall be illuminated continuously to levels of not less than 5 decalux at the floor.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 12; O.C. 88-91, s. 11.

13. Height of means of egress: Any means of egress shall have a minimum headroom clearance of 1.90 m. This requirement does not apply to a doorway.

In the case of stairs, this distance shall be measured vertically above any landing or the nosing of any stair tread.

Moreover, where an obstacle reduces the headroom clearance of a means of egress within less than 2 m, such means of egress shall be indicated by numbers of a contrasting colour with lettering at least 114 mm in height and with lines at least 19 mm in width.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 13; O.C. 88-91, s. 12.

14. Decrease in width of means of egress: Except for the following, no exit shall decrease in width in the direction of exit travel (s. 10):

(a)  (paragraph revoked);

(b)  no fixture, turnstile or construction shall project into or reduce the required width of any exit:

i.  doors shall be so hung and installed that when open they do not reduce the required width of the served exits by more than 50 mm for each unit of width of 550 mm;

ii.  handrails on walls shall not project more than 90 mm into such width;

(c)  (paragraph revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 14; O.C. 88-91, s. 13; O.C. 466-95, s. 5.

15. Exits leading through occupied spaces: Half the exits serving any floor below or above the ground floor may lead through the lobby including the foyer or hall or another floor area provided that:

(a)  the entrance floor is not more than 4.5 m above ground; when

(b)  the travel distance to an outside exit on the ground floor does not exceed 15 m; and when

(c)  rooms adjacent to the foyer or hall are isolated from the foyer or hall by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour or protected by an approved system of automatic sprinklers or extinguishers.

The other half of exits shall lead directly outside.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 15; O.C. 88-91, s. 14.

16. Doors:

(1)  (Paragraph revoked).

(2)  Any door of a means of egress shall:

(a)  have a minimum headroom clearance of 1.88 m; a closing device or any other device shall be installed in such a way as to maintain the headroom clearance of a doorway to at least 1.85 m;

(b)  (subparagraph revoked);

(c)  open in the direction of exit, if:

i.  it is installed in an exit or in the access to the exit;

ii.  it leads to a public corridor or to another place giving access to exits from a room intended for more than 60 persons or if this room contains hazardous substances. Such door shall be installed so that it does not restrict or obstruct the minimum width of the corridor. However, this requirement does not apply to a building built before 6 March 1971;

(d)  (subparagraph revoked);

(e)  be clearly identifiable if it is made out of transparent glass (adjacent glass partition included), in order to avoid collision;

(f)  open onto a landing with a width and length measuring at least the width of the door;

(g)  not open directly from a rising flight but from a landing of at least 450 mm wide.

(3)  Exit doors:

(a)  shall be clearly identifiable; no hangings, draperies, mirrors or ornaments shall conceal or obscure such exit doors;

(b)  situated on the ground floor shall not open on a public thoroughfare;

(c)  shall not open directly onto a step. Should there be danger of blockage from ice or snow, an exit door may open onto not more than one step which shall not exceed 150 mm in height;

(d)  normally required to be kept closed, shall be provided with a reliable self-closing mechanism; exit doors shall not, at any time, be secured in an open position;

(e)  when fastened, except in places where persons are under legal restraint, shall be provided with a mechanism such that they can be readily opened with a push, without the use of keys; such mechanism shall be easy to operate, even in the dark;

(f)  in an assembly occupancy, a hospital or special care institution and an accommodation building, except for an asylum:

i.  shall not be fastened while the building is occupied; but

ii.  when fastened, the mechanism referred to in subparagraph e shall be such that a pressure of 90 newtons applied in the direction of egress will release the mechanism and allow the door to swing wide open.

However, means of egress of a hospital or special care centre may be locked on condition that such a practise is justified due to the mental incapacity of persons therein or due to the type of treatment they are undergoing and that this be provided for in the plan and evacuation procedure for the building.

(4)  Revolving doors shall:

(a)  be of a collapsible type;

(b)  have hinged doors providing equivalent units of exit width located adjacent to them but not between them;

(c)  be used only as an exit from the ground floor level;

(d)  not be used at the foot of any stairway;

(e)  not serve as a means of egress for high load occupancy floors or for a hospital or special care institution;

(f)  not receive credit as more than one-half unit of exit width.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 16; O.C. 88-91, s. 13.

16.1. Exit doors in family-type buildings:

Every exit door required in a family-type building shall:

(a)  have a minimum headroom clearance of 1.88 m; no device shall be installed in such a way as to reduce the headroom clearance to less than 1.85 m;

(b)  pivot on a vertical axis;

(c)  normally be kept closed when placed in a fire separation and shall be provided with a reliable self-closing device and a latch;

(d)  when locked, shall be provided with a mechanism such that it can be readily opened without the use of a key; such mechanism shall be easy to operate, even in the dark;

(e)  open onto a landing whose width and length measure at least the width of the door.

O.C. 466-95, s. 6.

17. Fire-resistance rating:

(1)  Where a building is divided by a firewall with a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 hours, each part of the building shall be considered as a separate building.

(2)  No structural element required to have a fire resistance rating shall be supported by any other structural element which has a fire resistance rating lower than that required for the supported elements.

(3)  Any opening made in a required fire separation must be protected by a closing that conforms to Table 2 of Schedule B.

(4)  The public corridors of a building shall be separated from the rest of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour.

However, no fire-resistance rating is required where the floor area is protected by sprinklers and where it does not serve a sleeping accommodation.

This subsection does not apply here the unobstructed width of the corridor is greater than 4.5 m and where the floor area is protected by sprinklers and does not serve a sleeping accommodation.

A building that conforms to the safety requirements of Schedule F is deemed to conform to this subsection.

(4.1)  Every public corridor in a family-type hotel shall be separated from the rest of the floor area by a fire separation.

(5)  (Paragraph revoked).

(6)  In a public building, unless provided with a sprinkler system, any usable space under tiers of seats shall be separated from the seats by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour.

(7)  (Paragraph revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 17; O.C. 88-91, s. 16; O.C. 466-95, s. 7.

18. Flame spread:

(1)  Coating materials for interior finishing that are an integral part of the surface of a wall or a ceiling in an assembly occupancy must have a flame spread rating of not more than 150. This rating is the same for partitions or movable screens.

(2)  Wall hangings, curtains and decorative materials made out of textiles and used in:

(a)  an assembly occupancy or a hospital or special care institution;

(b)  a corridor or an exit;

(c)  a floor area without partitions of more than 500 m2 used as an office, except if this floor is divided into compartments of not more than 500 m2 separated by fire separations whose fire-resistance rating is at least 3/4 of an hour;

shall have the degree of flame-resistance corresponding to the test method 27.1 of the Standard CAN 2-4.2-M77, Canadian Standard for Textile Test Methods.

(3)  Decorations made of resinous trees such as fir, pine or spruce or branches from such trees, of nitrocellulose or crepe paper, except if the latter meets the requirements of ULC-S109-1969 Standard for Flame Tests, Flame-Resistant Fabrics and Films, may not be used in an assembly occupancy, hotel or a hospital or special care institution.

Subsections 2 and 3 do not apply to places of worship.

(4)  Subject to subsections 5 and 6, the flame spread rating of the walls and ceilings of an exit shall be a maximum of 25.

(5)  The interior finish of inside walls and ceilings in exits may have a flame spread rating not exceeding 150 on condition that their area does not exceed 10% of the area of the walls and ceiling, if such is the case.

(5.1)  Inside the building, the interior finish of the walls and ceilings shall, in stairways used as an exit, in public corridors and in sleeping or common activity areas in a family-type building, have a flame spread rating not exceeding 150.

(6)  The wall finish in a lobby used as an exit may have a maximum flame spread rating of 150 over a maximum 25% of the wall surface.

(7)  Except for a floor over a crawl space, the floor of a storey shall be constructed as a fire separation. Any opening in such floor without a closing device shall be surrounded by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of a least 3/4 of an hour.

However, an opening need not be separated by a fire separation in the following cases:

(a)  for a stairway linking the ground floor with the storey above or below but not both, provided that the stairway is not used as a required exit, except in the case provided for in paragraph b of subsection 2 of section 20;

(b)  for a vehicular ramp between garage levels;

(c)  to link a maximum of 2 floor areas equipped with automatic sprinklers, and not used for sleeping accommodation; and

(d)  to link more than 2 stories in a building of noncombustible construction, provided that:

i.  each floor area giving access to the opening is equipped with automatic sprinklers installed in conformity with NFPA Standard 13-1974, “Installation of Sprinkler Systems”; with combustion by-product detectors; with vent shafts; and with a smoke retaining screen;

ii.  floor areas situated above the opening are equipped with exits that the occupants of the upper stories can reach without having to cross the areas leading to the openings; and

iii.  50% of all exits of upper stories lead directly to the outside, without access to the stories leading to the opening, unless the exits of these stories may be reached by crossing a vestibule separated from the floor area by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of 3/4 of an hour.

(8)  Foamed plastic applied to the outside surface of a wall or on a ceiling shall be covered with an interior finish. The finish shall comply with Schedule D, for a building of noncombustible construction; and with Division 9.28 of the Building Code (R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 2), for a building of combustible construction.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 18; O.C. 88-91, s. 17; O.C. 466-95, s. 8.

19. Fire safety measures for high buildings: The following buildings shall comply with Subdivision 3.2.6 of the Building Code (R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 2):

(1)  a public building, except for those described in paragraph 2 whose height exceeds:

(a)  36.6 m, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey; or

(b)  18.3 m, measured between grade and the floor level of the top storey, and in which the cumulative occupant load, on the storeys above grade, divided by the number of 550 mm units of exit width in all exit stairs at ground level exceeds 300 persons;

(2)  sleeping accommodations situated 18.3 m or more above grade.

However, the following requirements do not apply:

(1)  a firefighters’ elevator, for an apartment building in which Measure M, prescribed in “Measures for Fire Safety in High Buildings”, NRCC No. 13366 (1973), is applied:

(2)  a central alarm and control facility, for an apartment building not more than 36.6 m in height;

(3)  a voice communication system, for a building in which Measure C, E, G or J is applied, as prescribed in the publication referred to in paragraph 1; and

(4)  sprinklers, for all buildings except those in which Measure A is applied, as prescribed in the publication referred to in paragraph 1.

For the purposes of this section, “grade” means the lowest of the average levels of finished ground adjoining each exterior wall of a building.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 19; O.C. 88-91, s. 18.

20. Indoor stairways used as exits:

(1)  Indoor stairways used as exits shall:

(a)  be separated from the floor area as prescribed in section 8;

(b)  not be used for any other purpose; however, they may, from one floor area, have access to another floor area;

(c)  have doors on each storey that are always kept closed.

To be considered 2 separate exits, adjacent stairways shall be reached by doors that are sufficiently far apart from each other to be inaccessible to the same concentration of smoke or flames, unless the parts of the floor area served by these exits are separated from each other by a smoke-proof partition having a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour.

(2)  Notwithstanding subsection 1:

(a)  An electro-magnetic hold-open device is allowed for inside exit doors not used for a building of more than 3 stories, sleeping accommodation or a storage garage, provided that the device is actuated by a fire alarm system and by smoke detectors installed near the door on the side of the floor area and above the upper flight of the stairway.

(b)  An unpartitioned indoor stairway permitted under paragraph a of subsection 7 of section 18 may be used as an exit to a floor area not used for sleeping accommodation or without a high occupant load, provided that:

i.  half of the exits required comply with section 8, have no door hold-open device and lead directly outside;

ii.  the total distance from the ground floor to the exit does not exceed 15 m;

iii.  the building is equipped with an alarm system; and

iv.  a smoke detector connected to the alarm system is installed above the upper flight of the stairway.

(c)  An inside unpartitioned stairway in a school with no more than 3 stories in building height may be used as an exit if:

i.  half of the exits required comply with section 8, have no door hold-open device and lead directly outside;

ii.  the stairway need not be used to reach a partitioned exit stairway, except to serve part of a floor area whose occupant load does not exceed 60;

iii.  a corridor leading to the stairway is separated from it by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour, by a door with a self-closing device and a latch and, where the door is held open, by an electro-magnetic device connected to a fire alarm system;

iv.  a smoke detector connected to a fire alarm system is installed over the upper flight of the stairway, on the ceiling of a corridor provided for in subparagraph iii and in each of the storage premises leading directly to an open stairway; and

v.  premises leading directly to the stairway are separated from it by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour and by a door with a self-closing device and a latch.

(d)  Doors used for a dwelling unit may lead directly to an inside exit stairway, provided that:

i.  the dwelling unit has a second means of egress independent from the first;

ii.  the building has no more than 4 stories in building height;

iii.  the doors have a fire-resistance rating of at least 20 minutes.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 20; O.C. 88-91, s. 19.

21. Stairs and ramps:

(1)  Stairs and ramps shall:

(a)  be provided with non-skid finishes or strips;

(b)  (paragraph revoked);

(c)  have a wall or well-secured balustrade at least 1,070 mm in height around the landings and at least 900 mm in height on each side of the steps;

(d)  have one handrail without any obstruction if such stairs and ramps are 1,100 mm or less in width;

(e)  have 2 handrails if such stairs and ramps are more than 1,100 mm in width.

(2)  Stairs shall have:

(a)  uniform treads and risers in a same flight of stairs;

(b)  risers with a maximum height of 200 mm and treads with a minimum depth of 230 mm;

(c)  flights of stairs of at least 2 risers; however, where a flight of stairs has only 2 risers, the difference in level shall be indicated by means of a contrasting colour floor-covering at least 1 m in length from the ends of the flight of stairs and having the same width as the stair;

(d)  no winders, unless there is a handrail on each side.

(3)  The maximum gradient of ramps shall be:

(a)  1 in 10, in the cases of exterior ramps;

(b)  1 in 8, in the cases of interior ramps.

(4)  A ramp used as an exit shall be surrounded by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour.

(5)  Openings in the balustrades of stairways and balconies shall not exceed 150 mm where a person may fall vertically more than 3 m. In a family-type day care centre, such openings shall not exceed 100 mm where a child may fall vertically more than 600 mm.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 21; O.C. 88-91, s. 20; O.C. 466-95, s. 9.

22. Indoor places of assembly with fixed seats:

(1)  Seats shall be arranged in rows having unobstructed passage of not less than 400 mm measured horizontally between plumb lines from the back of the seats in one row and the edge of the furthest forward projection of the seats in the succeeding row.

(2)  Aisles shall:

(a)  comply with the requirements of sections 10, 11 and 12;

(b)  be perpendicular, as far as possible, to rows of seats and located so that there be no more than 7 seats between any seat and an aisle; the foregoing provision shall not apply if the 3 following conditions are complied with:

i.  a door leading directly to an exit shall be provided at the ends of every 3 rows of seats; and

ii.  every third row of seats shall terminate at the side walls; and

iii.  the number of seats in a row shall not exceed 100;

(c)  be at least 900 mm wide at the point of origin and shall increase uniformly by 25 mm every 1 m in the direction of exit; the width of aisles may be uniform if both ends thereof are clear;

(d)  be not less than 1,100 mm in width and shall not be closer than 3.6 m to a stage area using scenery of scenic elements when such aisles cross other aisles;

(e)  have a gradient of not more than 1 in 8 without steps; should the gradient be greater, steps may be used, provided that:

i.  they comply with paragraphs a and b of subsection 2 of section 21, except for the width of the tread;

ii.  they be as wide as the aisle;

(f)  be continuously illuminated while the building is occupied.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 22.

23. Indoor places of assembly with fixed bench-type seat without arms:

(1)  Bench-type seats shall:

(a)  be not less than 450 mm in width per person, whether seats are marked off or not;

(b)  be spaced:

i.  not less than 550 mm, without backs; and

ii.  not less than 750 mm with backs, measured from center-to-center.

(2)  Aisles shall:

(a)  comply with the requirements of sections 10, 11 and 12;

(b)  be so arranged that there are no more than 7 seats with backs or 20 seats without backs between any seat and an aisle;

(c)  be at least 900 mm wide at the point of origin and shall increase uniformly by 25 mm every 1 m in the direction of exit; the width of aisles may be uniform if both ends thereof are clear;

(d)  comply with the requirements of subparagraphs e and f of subsection 2 of section 22.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 23.

24. Outdoor places of assembly:

(1)  Any outdoor place intended for gatherings of people (platforms or stepped rows of seats) shall comply with the requirements of section 10 and shall have at least:

(a)  2 exits;

(b)  3 exits if such place is intended for 1,000 persons or more.

(2)  Exits of such places of assembly shall be located as specified in section 12 and such exits shall be located no more than 25 m apart from each other.

(3)  Any bench-type seat shall comply with the requirements of subsection 1 of section 23 and shall be so located that the travel distance to:

(a)  the playground or exhibition ground; or

(b)  an exit; or

(c)  an opening leading to an exit;

shall not exceed 45 m.

(4)  Aisles shall:

(a)  comply with the requirements of sections 10, 11 and 12;

(b)  be so arranged that there be no more than 20 bench-type seats between any bench-type seat and an aisle;

(c)  be not less than 1,100 mm wide unless such aisles are intended for no more than 60 persons, in which case aisles may be 750 mm wide;

(d)  have a gradient of not more than 1 in 8 without steps; should the gradient be greater, steps may be used, provided that such steps:

i.  be as wide as the aisle;

ii.  be no more than 230 mm high; and

iii.  be not less than 250 mm wide;

(e)  be continuously illuminated while the building is occupied.

(5)  Any space under tiers of seats:

(a)  any unutilised space under tiers of seats shall be made unaccessible to the public by means approved by the inspector;

(b)  such space shall not be used for the storing of hazardous, explosive, toxic or flammable substance.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 24.

25. Escalators: To be considered as required exits, escalators shall also conform to the following standards:

(a)  escalators shall be enclosed like stairs and provided with a fire separation;

(b)  the width of tread shall be not less than 880 mm;

(c)  there shall be a clear width of not less than 1,100 mm between handrails;

(d)  no escalator shall have a vertical travel of more than one storey;

(e)  escalators shall have top and bottom landings such as provided for stairs.

In such a case, escalators may be deemed to have 2 units of exit width.

Escalators may not be considered as more than one half of the required number of exits.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 25.

26. Fire escapes:

(1)  (Paragraph revoked).

(2)  Fire escapes shall be:

(a)  not less than 550 mm in width;

(b)  made out of metal or of any equivalent material;

(c)  securely fixed to the building;

(d)  strong enough to support the load for which they are intended;

(e)  extended to ground level;

(f)  inclined at an angle of not more than 45º with the horizontal;

(g)  provided with substantial guards of not less than 900 mm in height;

(h)  provided with a handrail installed on wall if such fire escapes are more than 550 mm in width;

(i)  provided with landings of not less than 1.2 m2 when such landings give access to exits; intermediate landings shall be not less than 750 mm in length;

(j)  fitted with an approved counter-balancing device that will cause fire escapes to be easily and quickly brought into position for use if the flight of stairs leading to the ground is not permanently fixed;

(k)  (subparagraph revoked);

(l)  situated at a distance greater than 2.4 m when premises adjacent to the entrance of a building are used for storage, unless the entrance is equipped with a closure with a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour.

(3)  An outside balcony or porch used to gain access to a fire escape shall be a minimum width of 550 mm.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 26; O.C. 88-91, s. 21.

27. Horizontal exits:

(1)  (Paragraph revoked).

(2)  Horizontal exits may not be considered as more than one half of the required number of exits.

(3)  The floor area on each side of a horizontal exit shall be sufficient to hold the occupants of both floor areas served by such horizontal exit.

(4)  Bridges, balconies and vestibules which constitute horizontal exits shall:

(a)  have no steps;

(b)  comply with the requirements of subsection 3 of section 21 respecting gradients;

(c)  be made of materials with a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour;

(d)  have a clear width at least as great as that of the exit doorways opening into them but in no case shall such width be less than 1,100 mm;

(e)  be provided with well secured guards of not less than 1,070 mm in height;

(f)  be located so that openings adjacent to exits are more than 2.4 m from such exits or closed with materials with a fire-resistance rating of a least 3/4 of an hour.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 27; O.C. 88-91, s. 22.

28. Enclosed slide escapes:

(1)  No enclosed slide escape may be permitted as a required exit in a building built after 6 March 1971.

(2)  Enclosed slide escapes shall:

(a)  have a slope not less than 24º and not more than 42º to the horizontal;

(b)  have a section at the lower end, at least 3 m long, set at an angle not to exceed 15º to the horizontal and connected to the upper section by a transition curve;

(c)  be not less than 600 mm nor more than 1,070 mm wide;

(d)  be accessible through doorways at floor level or through windows whose sill height shall not exceed 750 mm; such openings shall swing in the direction of exit travel and shall be at least 750 mm wide and 2 m high. Where entrance is directly accessible, the height of access openings may be reduced to 1,070 mm;

(e)  have a door at their discharge point; such discharge point shall be not less than 300 mm and not more than 500 mm above ground;

(f)  have a smooth and non-corrosive interior surface.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 28; O.C. 88-91, s. 23.

DIVISION IV FIRE PROTECTION AND EVACUATION

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, Div. IV; O.C. 88-91, s. 24.

29. Automatic fire extinguishers: An automatic fire extinguishing system shall be:

(a)  designed, built, installed and tested in accordance with the following appropriate standards:

i.  Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems NFPA No. 13-1974;

ii.  Standard for Foam Extinguishing Systems NFPA No. 11-1974;

iii.  Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems NFPA No. 12-1973;

iv.  Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection NFPA No. 15-1973; or

v.  Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems NFPA No. 17-1973;

(b)  installed throughout a combustible construction whose planned occupancy is:

i.  of high occupancy, when the number of persons exceeds 300;

ii.  a hospital or special care institution;

iii.  accommodation, except for buildings 2 stories or less in building height having direct access to the outside from each floor by ground level doors or doors giving direct access to the ground from a balcony; however, in accommodation buildings, there should be direct access to the outside from each dwelling unit or bedroom occupied individually.

However, a building that is not a fire-proof construction, but satisfies the fire safety regulations of the Building Code (R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 2) or of Schedule F is considered as conforming to this section;

(c)  be installed in the following portions of a building even if such building is made of non-combustible materials:

i.  stages, as provided for in section 39, except those in buildings built before 6 March 1971;

ii.  rooms where hazardous or flammable substances are stored, handled or used, in conformity with standards provided for in the last issue of booklet No. 30 of the NFPA or with any other equivalent standard recognized by the inspector;

iii.  space under tiers of seats in a building where the space is not separated from the seats by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour;

iv.  underground garages, except for buildings built before 6 March 1971;

(d)  in the case of underground garages of more than 2 storeys, the plan for a sprinkler system must be submitted to the approval of the inspector;

(e)  is considered as underground, the garage whose lowest floor is located more than 2 m below ground level.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 29; O.C. 88-91, s. 25.

30. Standpipe and hose systems:

(1)  Standpipe and hose systems shall be installed:

(a)  in a building of combustible construction without sprinklers and with more than 4 stories in building height;

(b)  in a building with more than 7 stories in building height.

(2)  On each storey, standpipes shall be equipped with hose stations which shall be:

(a)  within easy reach, and clearly identified;

(b)  situated so that any point of the building is within 9 m of the hose nozzle when the hose is fully extended;

(c)  installed in a cabin containing a hose with a minimum diameter of 40 mm and a maximum lenght of 30 m; a hose rack; a hose connection with a diameter of 2 1/2 inches in the case of a building with more than 7 stories; a hose valve; and a portable fire extinguisher. The hose shall be connected and ready for use at all times.

However, in a building with a light hazard occupancy or an ordinary hazard occupancy as defined in NFPA Standard 13-1974, “Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems”, a combined system consisting of a vertical riser serving both outlets for fire department use and outlets for the sprinkler system is permitted provided that its installation complies with that standard;

(d)  inspected at regular intervals.

(3)  A fire department connection measuring 2 1/2 inches shall be provided outside a building where a hose connection is required.

(4)  The water discharge rate of a standpipe and hose system shall comply with NFPA Standard 14-1978, “Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems”. The pressure at the top of the standpipe need not exceed 300 kilopascals, and the total water discharge rate need not exceed 30 litres per second.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 30; O.C. 88-91, s. 26.

31. Portable fire extinguishers: Portable extinguishers shall be installed in all buildings that are not provided with automatic fire extinguishing systems or fire hoses.

Notwithstanding sections 29 and 30, the inspector may require that portable fire extinguishers be installed in a building; such portable fire extinguishers shall:

(a)  be installed in places which involve special fire hazards or which are not sufficiently protected such as: kitchens, laboratories, motion picture machine booths, laundries, etc.;

(b)  provide special protection according to the nature of the present hazard;

(c)  be filled after usage;

(d)  be carefully inspected at regular intervals to make sure that such portable extinguishers are always in working order; and

(e)  bear the name of the person entrusted therewith and the date thereof.

The choice, installation, use, testing and maintenance of portable extinguishers shall conform to the following standard: Standard for the Installation, Maintenance and Use of Portable Fire Extinguishers NFPA No. 10-1974.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 31.

32. Fire alarm systems: Fire alarm systems shall be restricted to alert the occupants of a building in case of fire or any other disaster.

They shall be designed so that the triggering of a fire alarm box or smoke or heat detector instantly starts all alarms.

(1)  Fire alarm systems shall be installed:

(a)  in buildings occupied by people under legal restraint;

(b)  in buildings used for sleeping accommodation, except for apartment houses with no more than 4 apartments served by a common means of egress or apartment houses, hotels and motels not exceeding 3 stories in building height if each dwelling unit, room or suite of rooms rented individually is served by an outside exit leading to the ground level;

(c)  in schools of one storey or more intended for more than 125 pupils or 4 classrooms;

(d)  in any other public building except one-storey buildings when each portion of floor area provides direct access to the outside through doors at ground level.

The fire alarm system may be restricted to alert only employees if it is determined by the inspector that the destination of the building lends itself to panic conditions or if the carrying out of fire exit drills is not feasible.

Annunciators shall be provided for fire alarm systems in all buildings equipped with more than 12 manually operated fire alarm boxes.

(2)  Alarm gongs used as warning devices shall be located so as to provide at least:

(a)  one 100 mm diameter gong for each 100 m2 of floor area; or

(b)  one 150 mm diameter gong for each 500 m2 of floor area; or

(c)  one 250 mm diameter gong for each 1,200 m2 floor area.

(3)  Manual fire alarm boxes forming part of an electrical fire alarm system shall be installed where required so that:

(a)  from any part of a floor area, not more than 60 m will have to be traversed to reach a fire alarm box on the same floor; and

(b)  there is a fire alarm box provided within 7.5 m of each exit from the floor area.

(4)  In any building, with the exception of buildings provided with automatic sprinkler systems, where a fire alarm system is required, approved heat detectors shall be installed in all portions of the building used for storage, storage locker rooms, machinery rooms, heating rooms, incinerator rooms, elevator shafts, dumbwaiter shafts, chutes, janitors’ closets or other rooms where hazardous or flammable substances are used or stored and in any other room as required by the inspector.

(5)  When deemed necessary, smoke detectors connected with the fire alarm system may be required by the inspector for certain strategical parts of a building such as heating, ventilating or air conditioning systems which re-circulate air in buildings; such detectors shall be so installed that they will automatically stop the aforesaid systems.

These systems shall be approved by the CSA or by any other organization recognized by the inspector which may be present during tests or check the results thereof.

(6)  Except when they are equipped with automatic extinguishers, common corridors in a hospital centre or special care institution, more than 3 storeys high and less than 18 m above grade, must be provided with smoke detectors.

(7)  The alarm system and automatic fire detection system must be provided with an electrically supervised emergency power supply, when the following are required:

(a)  annunciators;

(b)  more than 12 manual fire alarm stations; or

(c)  more than 12 smoke or heat detectors.

(8)  The auxiliary power supply shall be capable of operating the whole alarm system for at least 5 minutes, 24 hours after the beginning of a power failure.

(9)  If the alarm system is operated by a battery, this battery shall not be used for any other purpose.

(10)  A fire alarm system installed after 2 September 1981, must be in accordance with the Standard ULC-S524-1978 Standard for the Installation of Fire Alarm Systems and Emergency Voice Communication Systems. Moreover, the elements of a fire alarm and detection system must be in accordance with the following standards:

(a)  ULC-S525-1978, Standard for Audible Signal Appliances for Fire Alarm Systems;

(b)  ULC-S527-1978, Standard for Control Units for Fire Alarm Systems;

(c)  ULC-S528-1978, Standard for Manually Actuated Signaling Boxes for Fire Alarm Systems;

(d)  ULC-S529-1978, Standard for Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems; and

(e)  ULC-S530-1978, Standard for Heat Actuated Fire Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems.

(11)  When a fire alarm system is not able to automatically transmit a signal to the fire department or to a constantly supervised central station, a written notice must be placed near each manually actuated signalling box mentioning that the fire department must be notified; this notice must be placed in a conspicuous place and indicate the telephone number of the fire department.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 32; O.C. 88-91, s. 27.

32.1. Smoke alarms:

(1)  Certified smoke alarms that comply with standard CAN/ULC — S531-M87, “Standard for Smoke Alarms” shall be installed:

(a)  in each dwelling unit and, except for hospital, special care or detention institutions, in each sleeping room not within a dwelling unit; and

(b)  in each sleeping room, corridor and sleeping or common activity area in a building used as a family-type building.

(2)  Smoke alarms shall be installed between each sleeping area and the remainder of the dwelling unit, and where the sleeping areas are served by hallways, the smoke alarms shall be installed in the hallways.

(3)  Smoke alarms shall be installed on or near the ceiling in accordance with the instructions for installation.

(4)  Smoke alarms shall either be installed by permanent connections to an electrical circuit and have no disconnect switch between the overcurrent device and the smoke alarm, or shall be battery operated, except in a family-type building where they shall be installed by permanent connections to the electrical circuit.

(5)  Where more than one smoke alarm is required in a dwelling unit, and where these smoke alarms are installed by permanent connections to an electrical circuit, these smoke alarms, with the exception of battery-operated alarms, shall be wired so that the activation of one alarm will cause all alarms within the dwelling unit to sound.

O.C. 88-91, s. 28; O.C. 466-95, s. 10.

33. Evacuation:

(1)  To ensure the evacuation of a building, a skeleton staff is required. The number of staff members shall be determined according to the evaluation of local fire-fighting equipment, the occupancy, the destination and the fire resistance rating of the building.

(2)  In an establishment occupied by sick persons, there shall be at least 1 staff member on duty for every 15 patients.

(3)  In an establishment occupied either by:

(a)  persons who, because of their mental or physical condition, require continuous nursing care or treatment in the amount of care mentioned in Schedule E;

(b)  persons who are blind, deaf, or in wheel chairs, who wear prostheses or orthopaedic appliances on their lower limbs and any other persons who, in a significant and persistant manner, require help to move about;

the minimum number of staff shall be in accordance with Table 3 of Schedule B.

(4)  (Paragraph revoked).

(5)  The staff responsible for evacuation shall receive all necessary instructions concerning fire extinguishing devices, alarm systems and means of egress. It shall be responsible for the evacuation of persons in case of fire and enforce all rules during fire exit drills as prescribed in paragraph g of section 3.

(6)  When required alterations cannot be carried out immediately, the inspector requires a larger number of staff responsible for evacuation as temporary measure.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 33; O.C. 88-91, s. 29.

34. Emergency lighting: In the event of failure of the primary source of current, an approved emergency lighting system with an automatic switch shall:

(a)  be provided for exits, hallways used as means of egress and exit signs, in accordance with paragraph f of subsection 2 of section 22, paragraph d of subsection 2 of section 23 and paragraph e of subsection 4 of section 24;

(b)  maintain lighting where required in paragraph a while the building is occupied to levels not less than 1 decalux for a period of not less than:

i.  1 hour for a hospital center or special care institution;

ii.  1/2 hour for all other destinations;

(c)  be inspected every month;

(d)  it would be preferable to install such power source above ground.

The installation of such emergency lighting systems shall comply with the Act respecting electrical installations (chapter I-13.01) and with any other standard published therefor by the Department.

All automatic emergency lighting equipment installed after 2 September 1981 shall be in accordance with the standard: Unit Equipment Emergency Lighting, CSA C.22.2 No. 141-1972.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 34.

35. Access panels: In any building with solid walls, access panels shall be provided in every storey below the 6th floor or 27 m above ground in at least 2 exterior walls accessible from a public right-of-way. Such access panels shall be not less than 550 mm × 1,070 mm in size, nor shall they be spaced more than 15 m apart in each storey, with a sill height of not more than 900 mm.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 35.

36. No smoking: Smoking is prohibited, except in specially designated area, in:

(a)  a theatre, cinema or a room used for similar purposes;

(b)  a tent used as an assembly occupancy.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 36.

DIVISION V SPECIAL REGULATIONS

37. Sanitary facilities: Sanitary facilities shall be designed and installed in conformity with the Plumbing Code (R.R.Q., 1981, c. I-12.1, r. 1). The minimum number of accommodations shall be in conformity with Schedule C. A washroom shall never be placed more than one floor above or below its users.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 37.

38. Ventilation: Inside any building, the owners must eliminate impurities from the air, as much as possible at the point where they originate, and prevent their degree of concentration from becoming dangerous, unhealthy or uncomfortable.

(1)  When natural ventilation is provided:

(a)  toilet rooms shall contain:

i.  a window of which not less than 50% can be opened and having a venting area of at least 930 cm2 for each water-closet or urinal; and

ii.  a gravity ventilating system. Where not more than 6 water-closets and urinals are installed in one room, one opening only need be installed and the venting area thereof shall be equal to 45 cm2 for each sanitary unit; additional openings shall be provided on the same basis;

(b)  all other rooms shall have a venting area at least equal to 5% of their floor area.

(2)  When mechanical ventilation is provided, the system must:

(a)  be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with good practice;

(b)  contain ventilating pipes or ducts whose exclusive purpose is the elimination of the contaminated air while not constituting a nuisance to the surroundings;

(c)  be provided with air intakes placed in such a manner as not to admit into the building air which is already contaminated or unwholesome;

(d)  be provided with automatic release devices connected to the fire-alarm systems; or

(e)  be provided with properly located and clearly marked cutoff switches; the said release devices and the said cutoff switches shall enable the system to be shut down in case of fire;

(f)  if ventilation ducts go through fire walls or fire separations, they shall be equipped with fire dampers in conformity with the standard: Fire dampers Underwriters Laboratories of Canada No. S112-1975.

Owners must comply with any requirement published for that purpose by the Department.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 38.

39. Stages: This section applies to any indoor place of assembly with fixed seats provided with a permanent stage, work, dressing and store rooms.

(1)  A wood floor on open non-combustible framing is permitted provided that such floor be protected with a fire extinguishing system.

(2)  Any opening in the stage floor shall be protected and lighted to the satisfaction of the inspector.

(3)  Any counter-weight used on the stage shall be made of solid material and shall travel up and down in metal or wooden guide frames.

(4)  All stage accessories and partitions made of combustible materials shall be treated to prevent spontaneous ignition and combustion.

(5)  Ladders shall be provided with crinolines.

(6)  Stairs or ladders leading to elevated catwalks shall be made of non-combustible materials.

(7)  The proscenium wall shall have a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 hour, except the opening of the proscenium which shall be protected by a fireproof curtain operated by a mechanism approved by the inspector.

(8)  A qualified person shall be in charge of electrical apparatuses such as switchboards, dimmers, etc..

(9)  The stage must be provided with ventilating appliances such as provided for in section 38.

(10)  Should acrobatic performances be held above spectators, an approved safety net shall be installed.

(11)  A portable extinguisher shall be installed on every catwalk and in any room whose floor area is greater than 100 m2; 2 portable extinguishers shall be installed on either side of the stage and under the stage.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 39; O.C. 88-91, s. 30.

40. (Revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 40; O.C. 88-91, s. 31.

41. (Revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 41; O.C. 88-91, s. 32.

42. Furnace rooms:

(1)  A fuel-fired heating appliance shall be installed in a room that must:

(a)  be separated from the rest of the building by a fire-separator with a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 hours for a hospital or special care institution that is higher than 2 storeys or with a building area that exceeds 400 m2 and at least 1 hour for all other public buildings;

(b)  not be used to store combustible or hazardous materials;

(c)  be equipped with a door opening outwards. This door shall, however, open towards the interior or slide horizontally when it opens on a hallway or a room used for meetings; it must be kept closed;

(d)  be equipped with portable extinguishers placed at the entrance of the room if it is not protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system;

(e)  be supplied with fresh air.

(2)  Subsection 1 does not apply in the case of:

(a)  a fireplace;

(b)  a forced air furnace equipped with thermal insulation and installed to heat a building, other than a hospital or special care institution with a building height not more than 2 storeys and a building area under 400 m2, or installed to heat only one room;

(c)  a forced air furnace that is part of an outside installation on a roof.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 42.

43. Incinerators: Incinerators shall be installed in rooms complying with the requirements of section 42; however, incinerators may be installed in furnace rooms.

In addition to the above requirements, chimney flues serving incinerators shall not serve any other heating or ventilating appliance.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 43.

44. Heating oil tanks: No tank may be used under pressure to feed fuel-fired heating appliances.

(1)  Heating oil tanks are permitted:

(a)  inside buildings:

i.  without enclosure, when:

(A)  no more than 230 litres are stored above the basement or above the lowest floor;

(B)  the tank is located in the basement and the capacity of such tank is 2,300 litres or less. In such a case, the total capacity permitted shall be 4,500 litres;

ii.  with enclosure, when the capacity of the tank is greater than 2,300 litres. In such a case, the total capacity permitted shall be 55,000 litres;

iii.  with enclosure and located in a room which is vertically and horizontally separated from the rest of the building by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 hours, when the capacity of the tank does not exceed 90,000 litres. In such a case, the total capacity permitted is 180,000 litres;

(b)  outside buildings and above ground level, in populous areas, when:

i.  the tank does not obstruct any exit;

ii.  the total capacity of such tanks does not exceed 2,300 litres when such tanks are located at ground level; or if

iii.  the total capacity of such tanks does not exceed 230 litres per heating units when such tanks are located above basement level;

iv.  such tanks are fastened by means of fixed anchors made of non-combustible materials;

(c)  underground, when:

i.  such tanks are laid upon solid foundations;

ii.  embedded in running soil and not in dross;

iii.  protected against damages that may result from the passing of vehicles;

iv.  securely fixed to the foundations;

v.  located so that no pressure be exerted by the foundations on such tanks.

(2)  The enclosure required in subparagraphs ii and iii of paragraph a of subsection 1 shall:

(a)  be made of bricks or concrete;

(b)  have a fire-resistance rating of at least 3 hours;

(c)  be fastened to the floor which shall be made of concrete or of fire resistant material;

(d)  have a ceiling of reinforced concrete not less than 125 mm thick or of equivalent material;

(e)  be of such dimensions as to provide a free space of at least 380 mm to allow people to circulate around such tank(s);

(f)  be provided with a fire resistant door equipped with a self-closing mechanism;

(g)  be properly lighted and ventilated.

(3)  Ventilating pipes shall:

(a)  lead outside;

(b)  discharge not less than 600 mm, measured in any direction, from any opening of the building;

(c)  be provided with a protector against bad weather;

(d)  be located high enough above ground level not to be obstructed with snow or ice.

(4)  The distance between a heat source and a non-enclosed tank shall be at least:

(a)  600 mm if the capacity of such tank does not exceed 45 litres;

(b)  1.5 m if the capacity of such tank exceeds 45 litres.

The oil temperature shall never rise higher than 14 ºC above the temperature of the room.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 44; O.C. 88-91, s. 33.

45. Hazardous substances:

(1)  Quantities of hazardous, explosive, flammable or toxic substances stored in any building shall be limited to:

(a)  quantities required for the maintenance of the building and the operation of its equipment;

(b)  the specific needs of the building, taken into account the destination of such building.

(2)  Hazardous substances permitted in a public building under subsection 1 shall be stored, handled and used in accordance with the National Fire Code of Canada 1985 issued by the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC No. 23175).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 45; O.C. 88-91, s. 34.

46. Kitchens: With the exception of dwelling units, kitchens shall:

(a)  (paragraph revoked);

(b)  be provided with air-exhauster range hoods connected with an exhaust duct. Such range hoods shall:

i.  be installed at a height not to exceed 2.1 m above floor level;

ii.  be provided with a filter;

iii.  equipped with an appropriate fire extinguishing system.

Over deep fat fryers, the fire extinguishing system shall be automatic. Should an exhaust duct lead through occupied rooms, it shall be:

(a)  insulated; or

(b)  equipped with an appropriate automatic fire extinguishing system.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 46; O.C. 88-91, s. 35.

47. Refuse chutes: Refuse chutes shall:

(a)  be enclosed by a separation having a fire-resistance rating of at least:

i.  1 hour, if the refuse chute is equipped with a selflatching closure, certified by one of the following agencies: Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada, Underwriters’ Laboratories Inc. or by Factory Mutual and held open by a fusible link; or

ii.  2 hours, if the chute outlet does not have a device as mentioned in subparagraph i;

(b)  be equipped with approved self-closing closures and located in rooms separated from other rooms having a fire resistance rating of not less than 3/4 hour and used for no other purpose;

(c)  discharge in non-combustible binds or rooms separated from the remainder of the building and having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours;

(d)  be equipped with automatic sprinklers:

i.  at the top;

ii.  at every fifth floor levels;

iii.  in the bin or room into which the chute discharges;

(e)  be ventilated and equipped with spray equipment for cleaning purposes;

(f)  be kept closed at the point of discharge.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 47; O.C. 88-91, s. 36.

48. Linen chutes: Every linen chute shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs a, b, d, e and f of section 47, and shall discharge into a room having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 48.

49. Garages:

(1)  Facilities for dispensing gasoline shall not be installed in any building.

(2)  An inspection or repair garage for motor vehicles shall be separated from the rest of the building by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 1/2 hours. The separation shall have no openings where the adjacent premises are sleeping accommodations or have high occupant loads.

(3)  A storage garage shall be separated from the rest of the building by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 1/2 hours.

(4)  When there is a means to circulate from a storage garage to a stairway or to an elevator serving the premises situated above the level of the storage garage, intercommunication shall be effected through a vestibule. This intercommunication shall:

(a)  be built in such a way that the access door to the vestibule from the storage garage is at least 1.8 m away, measured center to center of the closed doors, from the stairway door;

(b)  be ventilated;

(c)  be provided with access doors equipped with self-closing devices; and

(d)  (subparagraph revoked).

(5)  In a storage garage in a public building, the average concentration of carbon monoxide in the air must be limited to 110 mg per cubic metre for a period of not more than 1 continuous hour and to 440 mg per cubic metre for a consecutive period of at most 15 minutes.

For this purpose, storage garages shall have a mechanical ventilation system designed to change the air at a rate of at least 14 m3 of air per hour for each square metre of floor area. This system must have an automatic ventilating fan controlled by means of a carbon monoxide monitoring device.

The ventilating system provided for in the second paragraph is not necessary in the case:

(a)  of a storage garage when:

i.  at least 25% of the total area of perimeter walls on each storey is open to the outdoors, and not obstructed at any time, and distributed to provide cross ventilation; and

ii.  no portion of any floor of the garage is more than 1 m below grade;

(b)  of a storage garage when:

i.  the total capacity is less than 20 vehicles; and

ii.  the floor is situated above the outside ground level.

(6)  Openings in the floor and the floor edges of open garages shall be surrounded by a low wall at least 150 mm high and by a guardrail at least 1,100 mm high.

(7)  The floor and the floor finish shall be of non-combustible materials. However, the finish on these floors may be of an asphalt compound.

(8)  (Paragraph revoked).

(9)  Stairs leading to the roof of a storage garage shall be protected from ice and snow.

(10)  A storage garage in a public building must be air tight in order to prevent exhaust fumes from automobiles from filtering into adjacent areas.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 49; O.C. 88-91, s. 38.

50. A window cleaning system must comply with the following standards:

(1)  CSA Z91-M1980, “Safety Code for Window Cleaning Operations” issued by the Canadian Standards Association;

(2)  CAN-Z271-M84, “Safety Code for Suspended Powered Platforms” issued by the Canadian Standards Association.

The operating or use thereof may be forbidden if safety conditions required are not met with; in such cases, the inspector shall affix seals thereto.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 50; O.C. 2449-85, s. 3.

51. Racetracks: Racetracks, motor-racing tracks, speedways shall meet the requirements of the inspector and shall comply with the regulations published therefor by the Department.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 51.

52. (Revoked).

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 52; O.C. 2477-82, s. 1.

53. Supplementary regulations: The inspectors are also entrusted with the enforcement of safety standards and regulations in health and welfare establishments under the jurisdiction of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, s. 53; S.Q., 1985, c. 23. s. 24.

SCHEDULE A

(Revoked)

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, Sch. A; O.C. 88-91, s. 39.

SCHEDULE B

(s. 17)

TABLE 2

            Fire                 Minimum fire
         separation           resistance rating
           class                 of closures
          (hours)                  (hours)

            1/2                      1/3 
			
            3/4                      1/3
			
             1                       3/4
			 
           1 1/2                      1
		   
             2                      1 1/2        

TABLE 3

MINIMUM NUMBER REQUIRED OF STAFF MEMBERS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVACUATION UNDER SUBSECTION 3 OF SECTION 33

      Number of patients       Number of staff

          10 -  30                    1

          31 -  50                    2
      
          51 -  70                    3
      
          71 -  90                    4
      
          91 - 105                    5
      
         106 - 120                    6
      
         121 and over          An additional staff
                               member for each
                               group or part of a
                               group of 15 extra
                               patients.    

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, Sch. B; O.C. 88-91, s. 40.

SCHEDULE C

(s. 37)

SANITARY ACCOMMODATIONS

	W.C.			Sinks		Drinking	Tubs	Others 
	Occupancy			Urinals			fountains	or	appliances
	gentlemen	ladies		gentlemen	ladies		showers	
Arenas
Players
Spectators	
	1/30 players
	1/600		3/600	
	men        women		
1/30 players
2/600
men	
	1/30 players
	2/600		2/600	
	men	women		
1/60 players
1/600 spectators	
1/10 players	
Building under
Construction
    1 to 210 employees
211 +	

1/30 employees
see (a)			


see (b)				
Brasseries	1/40

customers	1/90

customers	
see (c)	1/80

customers	1/180

customers			
Physicians, dentists
and other health
practitioners officers	
1			
2
see (d)				
Cinemas, theatres, auditoriums, exhibition and convention halls
    1 to 100 persons
101 to 200 persons
201 to 400 persons
401 to 750 persons


751 up


employees: see (f)	


1
2
3
add
1/600
persons	


1
2
3
add
1/600
persons	




see (e)	


1
1
2
3


add
1/1000
persons	


1
1
2
3


add
1/1000
persons	


1
1
1
2


add
1/1000
persons		


one service
tub

see (***)
Medical clinic	1/floor	1/floor		1/floor	1/floor	1/floor		
NOTES:
 (a) Above 210 employees, the sanitary accommodations shall be determined by the inspector.
 (b) Sinks are compulsory if employees have to handle corrosive, noxious or irritating substances.
 (c) 2/3 of men W.C. may be raplaced by urinals.
 (d) A sink shall be installed in the examination room in addition to the one in the toilet room.
 (e) For men, half the compulsory W.C. may be replaced by urinals.
 (f) Sanitary accommodations for employees shall be the same as those required for office building.								
Bars
(holding a permit from the Régie des permis
d’alcool du Québec)
Patrons:
Employees: see (f)	


1/25
men	


1/30
women	



see (c) 	


1/50
men	


1/60
women			
Dormitories, boarding

houses for children
    1 to 150 persons

 151 persons up	

1/10
men
add
1/10
men	

1/8
women
add
1/8
women	

1/25
men
add
1/50
men	

1/12
men
add
1/12
men	

1/12
women
add
1/12
women	

1/75 persons

1/75 persons	
see (g)
1/8 persons

add
1/20 persons	

one tub for 50 people one sink or service tub for 100 people
see (***)

School
(1) primary

(2) others

(3) Teachers: see (f)	

1/40
boys
1/75
boys	

1/35
girls
1/45
girls	

1/30
boys
1/30
boys	

1/50
boys
1/50
boys	

1/50
girls
1/50
girls	

see (h)
1/100 pupils
1/100 pupils	

see (i)
1/5 pupils
1/5 pupils	one service tub
for 1/floor

for 1/floor

see (***)
Office buildings
  see (j)
    1 to   15 empl. of each sex
  16 to   35 empl. of each sex
  36 to   60 empl. of each sex
  61 to   80 empl. of each sex
  81 to   90 empl. of each sex
  91 to 110 empl. of each sex
111 to 125 empl. of each sex
126 up empl. of each sex	

1

2

3

4

5

5

6

add
1/50
men	

1

2

3

4

5

5

6

add
1/50
women	



see (e)	

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

add
1/60
men	

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

add
1/60
women	see (k)

1/75 employees		

one service
tub
per floor











see (***)
NOTES:
 (g) In a girls dormitory , tubs shall be added in the proportion of 1/30.
 (h) At least one per floor.
 (i) In the gymnasium and according to the largest group using it.
 (j) Only one toilet room is compulsory for 10 employees or less of both sexes.
 (k) A drinking fountain is not required for less than 5 employees.								
Churches, chapels
Places of worship	1/300
men	1/150
women	1/300
 men	1/300
men	1/300
women			
Sentry-box, shelter
temporary building
see (1)	
1			
1				
Hospital Centers
(1) private room
(2) communal room
(3) waiting room
(4) employees: see (f)	
1
1/8 patients
1			
1
1/8 patients
1		

1/100 patients	
1
1/20 patients	One service tub per floor for the first 50 patients and an additional tub for each 50 additional patients or important percentage thereof 
see (***)
Hotel – Motel
(1) private room
(2) rooms with common
       bathroom:
       1 to 4 rooms/floor
       5 to 8 rooms/floor
       9 rooms up/floor	see (m)
1/ room


1/floor
	1/floor	1/floor
	add	add
	1/8	1/8
	rooms	rooms			see (n)
1/ room


1/floor
	1/floor	1/floor
	add	add
	1/8	1/8
	rooms	rooms			
1/room


1/floor
1/sex
add
1/8
rooms for
each sex	
Personal and professional
care institutes, hairdressing
salons and barber
shops	
1	
1		
	1	1
	
	1/care units			
1 shower

see (o)	
NOTES:
 (1) A W.C. and a sink shall be installed, unless written permission is given to use to washroom situated within a maximum of 100 feet.
 (m) General access washroom be separated from bathrooms and sink.
 (n) A sink is compulsory for each room not equipped with a private bathroom.
 (o) A shower for each massage, physiotherapy or similar treatment unit.
 (p) One tub per apartment or connections for automatic washing machine.
 (q) A double tub for every 10 apartments or an automatic washing machine for every 20 apartments.								
Apartments
1 to 7 units


8 units up	
1/apartment


1/apartment			
1/apartment


1/apartment			
1 tub/apartment

1 tub/apartment	
1 sink per
apartment
see (p)
1 sink per
apartment
see (q)
Stores
(a) retail
     see (r)
(b) department,        shopping centres
     (1) customers
     (2) employees:
            see (f) (t)	
1



1/300
men	




1/300
women	




see (e)	
1



1/300
men	




1/300
women	




1/300 customers		
see (s)



see (s)
Rooming house
(tourist, furnished,
boarding, homes)	see (m)
	1/10	1/10
	rooms	rooms			see (n)
	1/10	1/10
	rooms	rooms			see (u)
2/10
rooms	
Pools see (v)
(1) indoor

(2) outdoor

(3) spectators	
1/60
men
1/20
men
1/600
men	
1/40
women
1/80
women
3/600
women	
1/60 men

1/120 men

2/600 men	
1/100
men
1/300
men
2/600
men	
1/100
women
1/300
women
2/600
women	
1/100 swimmers
1/100 swimmers
1/100 spectators	
1/40 swimmers
1/80 swimmers	
NOTES:
 (r) Several stores may share a common washroom on condition that this washroom is accessible from the inside.
 (s) A tub or sink shall be installed in a food store.
In dog kennels and petshops a tub or a service sink and a floor drain shall be installed.
 (t) Appliances for employees may be situated in the customers washroom.
 (u) In old people’s homes, bathtubs shall be installed in the proportion of 1 for 10 persons.
 (v) Rooms are so arranged that swimmers must go through the water closet to get to the showers.								
Jails, prisons
(1) inmates: see (w)
(2) employees: see (f)								
Restaurants
    1 to   25 customers
  26 to   50 customers
  51 to 100 customers
101 to 150 customers
151 to 200 customers
201 to 300 customers
301 up customers


Employees: see (f) and (y)	
1
1 see (x)
1
1
2
3
add
1/50
men	
see (x)
1 see (x)
2
2
3
3
add
1/50
women	



see (e)	
1
1 see (x)
1
1
2
3
add
1/50
men	
see (x)
1 see (x)
1
2
2
3
add
1/50
women	-		
Reception rooms,
meeting halls
(holding a permit from the Société des alcools
du Québec)
Customers	




1/30
men	




1/30
women	
see (c)	




1/60
men	




1/60
women	

1/1000
customers		

see (***)


one tub or
service sink
Funeral homes	1	1		1	1	1		one service sink and one floor drain in the embalming room 
see (***)
NOTES:
 (w) According to the requirements of the provincial or federal authorities.
 (x) Under 26 customers, 1 W.C. and 1 sink will be enough for both customers and employees.
From 26 to 50 customers, 2 W.C. and 2 sinks will be enough for both customers and employees, but in 2 separate washrooms.
When customers eat outside, separate washrooms for both sexes with access to the outside are compulsory.
 (y) A washroom is not required for less than 5 employees.								
Service station
gas bar
see (z)	
1	
1		
1	
1			
Plants, factories,
warehouses, foundries, workshops, food processing,
laundries
    see (j)
    1 to   10 empl. of each sex



  11 to   25 empl. of each sex
  26 to   50 empl. of each sex

  51 to   75 empl. of each sex
  76 to 100 empl. of each sex
101 up empl. of each sex	




1





2

3


4

5

add
1/50
men	




1





2

3


4

5

add
1/50
women	










1

2


2

3

add
1/90
men	




1
add
1/10
men











add
1/15
men	




1
add
1/10
women











add
1/15
women	

see (h) and (k)










one unit by
75 employees	

see (aa)	
NOTES:
 (z) Separate rooms with access to the outside compulsory for both sexes.
 (aa) A shower is compulsory for 15 employees exposed to excessive heat or to skin contract with corrosive, noxious or irritating substances.
 (***) The service tub may have a 50 millimetre diameter drain outlet if the floor is covered with a carpet.
The service sink may be replaced by a service tub.								

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, Sch. C.

SCHEDULE D

(s. 1)

COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS PERMITTED IN A NONCOMBUSTIBLE CONSTRUCTION

(1) Combustible elements permitted in roofs, floors and walls: The combustible element of roofs, floors and walls shall be limited to:

(a) the following minor components:

i. paint;

ii. tightly adhering paper covering not more than 1 mm thick applied to a noncombustible backing provided the assembly has a flame spread rating of 25 or less;

iii. combustibles incidental to insulated wiring;

iv. mastics and caulking materials applied to provide flexible seals between the components of exterior wall construction;

v. wood furring strips not exceeding 50 mm × 50 mm nominal dimension attached directly to a continuous noncombustible backing, or wood nailing strips set into continuous noncombustible backing, for the attachment of interior finishes; and

vi. approved secondary elements having characteristics similar to the above-mentioned items;

(b) roof covering materials;

(c) adhesives and vapour barriers having a flame spread rating of 25 or less; and

(d) insulation, other than foamed plastics, having a flame-spread rating of not more than 25 on any exposed surface or any surface that would be exposed by cutting through the material in any direction;

(e) foamed plastic insulation with a flame spread rating of not more than 25 on any exposed surface or any surface that would be exposed by cutting through the material in any direction, on condition that it is protected by one of the following:

i. gypsum-board at least 12.7 mm thick attached with fasteners to the supporting assembly independent of the insulation;

ii. lath and plaster, attached with fasteners to the supporting assembly independent of the insulation;

iii. masonry;

iv. concrete;

v. any thermal barrier that will not exceed an average temperature rise of 139º C when it is subject for 10 minutes to a test in accordance with the ULC S101-1977, Standard Methods of Fire Endurance Tests of Building Construction and Materials;

(f) insulation, including foamed plastics, having a flame-spread rating of greater than 25 but not greater than 500 on any exposed surface or any surface that would be exposed by cutting through the material in any direction provided the insulation is protected with a thermal barrier as described in paragraph e. However, in the very high buildings described in section 19 not equipped with sprinkler systems, this insulation must be protected by one of the following:

i. at least 2 layers of 15.9 mm thick type X special fire resistant gypsum board, conforming to CAS A82.27-M 1977, Gypsum Board Products, with at least the first layer mechanically fastened to the supporting assembly independent of the insulation;

ii. at least 75 mm of masonry or concrete;

iii. any thermal barrier that when tested in conformance with ULC S101-1977, Standard Methods of Fire Endurance Tests of Building Construction and Materials, will not exceed an average temperature rise of 130 ºC on the unexposed face of the thermal barrier after a period of 45 minutes;

(g) insulation, including foamed plastic installed above roof decks, outside of foundation walls below ground level and beneath concrete slabs-on-ground;

(h) combustible skylights:

i. if their surface does not exceed 9 m2 with a maximum dimension of 3 m;

ii. if they are spaced at least 2.5 m apart and at least 2.5 m from the required fire separations;

iii. if their total surface is not greater than 10% of the ceiling area of the room in which they are located; and

iv. if their flame-spread rating does not exceed 250 under the test conditions of standard ULC-S102-2-1973, Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Flooring, Floor Covering and Miscellaneous Materials;

(i) the wood used for building false roofs on a concrete slab or on steel bridging offering the prescribed fire-resistance provided that:

i. (subparagraph revoked);

ii. the space included between this slab and false roof does not have an average height of more than 1 m and is divided by fire separations forming compartments of equal volume not over 300 m2 of surface without any one of their dimensions being over 45 m;

iii. each compartment over 1 m in height must be equipped with at least one thermic detector connected to the alarm system;

iv. any stairway, stairwell or stairshaft except for plumbing conduits made of noncombustible materials crossing this space must be separated along its entire height by masonry or concrete elements having the same degree of fire-resistance as the roof slab;

v. any opening in the slab giving access to the space above the latter shall be protected by closures with a fire-resistance rating in accordance with Table 2 of Schedule B;

vi. any cornice or projection beyond a wall at roof level shall be of noncombustible material.

(2) Millwork, interior cladding and finishing materials: Combustible millwork, interior cladding and finishing materials shall be limited to:

(a) millwork, such as interior trim, ordinary doors and door frames, show windows together with their frames, aprons and backing;

(b) window sash and frames provided:

i. each window in an exterior wall face is an individual unit separated by noncombustible wall construction from every other opening in the wall;

ii. windows in exterior walls in contiguous storeys are separated by at least 900 mm of noncombustible construction; and

iii. the aggregate area of openings in an exterior wall face of a fire compartment does not exceed 40% of the area of the wall face;

(c) finished flooring applied directly to a floor slab in which wood nailing strips may be incorporated or applied to wood sleepers on top of a floor slab, provided the space between the flooring is fire stopped;

(d) interior finishes such as paint, wallpaper and other interior finishes not more than 1 mm thick;

(e) interior wall finishes that:

i. are not more than 25 mm thick; and

ii. have a flame spread rating of not more than 150 on any exposed surface, or any surface that would be exposed by cutting through the material in any direction; and

(f) interior ceiling finishes that:

i. are not more than 25 mm thick; and

ii. have a flame spread rating of not more than 25 on any exposed surface or on any surface that would be exposed by cutting through the material in any direction.

(3) Combustible ducts: Combustible ducts shall be limited to rigid or flexible ducts having a flame spread rating of not more than 25 on any exposed surface or on any that would be exposed by cutting through the material in any direction, and a smoke developed classification of not more than 50 provided such ducts:

(a) are used only in horizontal runs;

(b) do not pass through a fire separation, stipulated by this Regulation;

(c) do not exceed 130 cm2 in cross-sectional area and 4.3 m in length unless the ducts are installed in an assembly required to have a fire resistance rating, and the complete assembly including ducts has been tested to determine fire resistance rating; and

(d) conform to UL No. 181 (1967) Air Ducts for Class 1.

(4) Garage floor: The finish of a garage floor may be of an asphalt compound.

(5) Partitions of combustible construction:

(1) Dwellings in an apartment house may have partitions of combustible construction made of wood studs covered on both sides of noncombustible cladding or gypsum wallboard, except that such cladding or wallboard may be covered with paint or tightly adhering paper not exceeding 1 mm in thickness.

(2) Office buildings and stores may have partitions of combustible construction if they are not required to act as fire separations:

(a) where the floor area is protected by automatic sprinkler systems; or

(b) within spaces having an area of not more than 500 m2 where such spaces are separated from the remainder of the floor area by at least fire separations of noncombustible construction with a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 hour.

Partitions of combustible construction shall be limited to:

(a) that referred to in subsection 1;

(b) wood studs covered on both sides by fire-retardant treated wood having a flame-spread rating of not more than 25;

(c) glass in wood sash; or

(d) solid lumber not less than 38 mm thick.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, Sch. D; O.C. 88-91, s. 41.

SCHEDULE E

(ss. 1 and 33)

AMOUNT OF CARE GIVEN FOR PURPOSES OF PARAGRAPH b OF SUBSECTION 8 OF SECTION 1 AND OF PARAGRAPH a OF SUBSECTION 3 OF SECTION 33

A3. Offer long term hotel services, physical aid and medical supervision.

The physical or mental condition of these recipients is stable; no improvement or major deterioration is expected.

They require support therapy and nursing care in the amount of 10 1/2 hours per patient per week scheduled as follows:

— 1/2 hour per week of care given by a licenced nurse;

— 1 1/2 hours per week of care given by a registered assistant;

— 8 1/2 hours per week of care given by an aide.

A4. These recipients show a stable condition identical to that mentioned in A3. However, they require a greater number of nursing hours per week: 17 1/2 hours scheduled as follows:

— 1 1/2 hours per week of care given by a licenced nurse;

— 2 1/2 hours per week of care given by a registered assistant;

— 13 1/2 hours per week of care given by an aide.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, Sch. E.

SCHEDULE F

(ss. 17 and 29)

FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS

 _________________________________________________________________________________
|             |           |         |           |                                 |
|             |           |         |           |   Safety rules to be enforced   |
|             |           |         |           |_________________________________|
| Occupation  |   Fire-   |         |           |                     |           |
|             |resistance |         |  Maximum  | Smoke detectors in: |  Minimum  |
|             |  rating   |         |   floor   |_____________________|   fire-   |
|             |  of the   |         | area per  |          |          |resistance |
|             | frame and | Number  | story in  |  Public  |   The    |  rating   |
|             |  of the   |   of    |  square   |corridors |  entire  |    for    |
|             |   fire    | stories |  metres   |   and    | building |  public   |
|             |separation |         |           |  exits   |          | corridors |
|             | of floors |         |           |          |          |    in     |
|             |  (R) in   |         |           |          |          |  minutes  |
|             |  minutes  |         |           |          |          |           |
|_____________|___________|_________|___________|__________|__________|___________|
|             |           |         |           |          |          |           |
|             |  R ≥ 45   |    1    |   1 000   |  N.R.**  |   N.R.   |    45     |
|             |    id.*   |    2    |     500   |  N.R.    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|             |    id.    |    3    |     400   |   yes    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|             |    id.    |    4    |     300   |   yes    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|Institutional|___________|_________|___________|__________|__________|___________|
|occupancy    |           |         |           |          |          |           |
|             |30 < R < 45|    1    |   1 000   |   yes    |   N.R.   |    30     |
|             |    id.    |    2    |     500   |   yes    |   N.R.   |    30     |
|             |    id.    |    3    |     400   |   yes    |    yes   |    30     |
|             |___________|_________|___________|__________|__________|___________|
|             |           |         |           |          |          |           |
|             |  R ≤ 30   |    1    |   1 000   |   yes    |    yes   |    45     |
|             |    id.    |    2    |     500   |   yes    |    yes   |    45     |
|_____________|___________|_________|___________|__________|__________|___________|
|             |           |         |           |          |          |           |
|             |  R ≥ 45   |1.2 and 3|  W.L.***  |  N.R.    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|             |    id.    |    4    |  W.L.     |   yes    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|Sleeping area|    id.    |    5    |  W.L.     |   yes    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|(Other than  |___________|_________|___________|__________|__________|___________|
|an           |           |         |           |          |          |           |
|institutional|30 < R < 45|1.2 and 3|  W.L.     |   yes    |   N.R.   |    30     |
|occupancy)   |    id.    |    4    |  W.L.     |   yes    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|             |___________|_________|___________|__________|__________|___________|
|             |           |         |           |          |          |           |
|             |  R ≤ 30   | 1 and 2 |  W.L.     |   yes    |   N.R.   |    30     |
|             |    id.    |    3    |  W.L.     |   yes    |   N.R.   |    45     |
|_____________|___________|_________|___________|__________|__________|___________|
            

* “id” means “same requirement”

** “N.R.” means “not required”

*** “W.L.” means “without limit”.

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4, Sch. F; O.C. 88-91, s. 42.

REFERENCES

R.R.Q., 1981, c. S-3, r. 4

O.C. 2477-82, 1982 G.O. 2, 3381

O.C. 913-84, 1984 G.O. 2, 1523

O.C. 2449-85, 1985 G.O. 2, 4280

O.C. 88-91, 1991 G.O. 2, 969

O.C. 1441-93, 1993 G.O. 2, 5717

O.C. 466-95, 1995 G.O. 2, 1255

O.C. 783-97, 1997 G.O. 2, 2750

O.C. 1477-97, 1997 G.O. 2, 5657