The Ontario Building Code | Exiting through a Lobby
9.9.8.5. Exiting through a Lobby
(1) Not more than one exit from a floor area is permitted to lead through a lobby.
(2) The floor of the lobby referred to in Sentence (1) shall be not more than 4.5 m above grade, and the path of travel through the lobby to the outdoorref ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doors shall not exceed 15 m.
(3) The lobby referred to in Sentence (1) shall conform in all respects to the requirements for exits, except that rooms other than service rooms, storage rooms and rooms of residential or industrial occupancyare permitted to open directly onto such lobby.
(4) Except as provided in Sentence (6), an exit is permitted to lead through a lobby referred to in Sentence (1) provided the lobby is not located within an interconnected floor space other than as described in Sentence 3.2.8.2.(6).
(5) Passenger elevators are permitted to open onto the lobby referred to in Sentence (1) provided the elevator doors are designed to remain closed except while loading and unloading.
(6) Anexit that serves a hotelis permitted to lead through a lobby referred to in Sentence (1) provided the lobby is not located within an interconnected floor space.
(7) Where the lobby referred to in Sentence (1) and adjacent occupanciesthat are permitted to open into the lobby are sprinklered, the fire separation between such occupancies and the lobby need not have a fire-resistance rating.
In Plain Language
Where an exit path passes through a lobby, this article sets out the specific conditions that must be met, since a lobby isn't normally protected to the same standard as an enclosed exit.
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.