The Ontario Building Code | Elevators, Slide Escapes and Windows as Means of Egress
9.9.2.3. Elevators, Slide Escapes and windows as Means of Egress
(1) Elevators, slide escapes or windows shall not be considered as part of a required means of egress.
(2) Except for floor areas of mercantile occupancy, casement windows not less than 1 060 mm high, 560 mm wide, with a sill height not more than 900 mm above the inside floor, are permitted to be considered part of a required means of egressto provide access to fire escapes, when fire escapes are permitted.
In Plain Language
Elevators and slide escapes generally can't be counted as a required means of egress, and windows may only serve this purpose under the specific limited conditions set out in this article.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.