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

Section 38 Disposition versions

2012-09-01

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.