The Ontario Building Code | Separation of Public Corridors
9.10.9.15. Separation of Public corridors
(1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), public corridorsshall be separated from the remainder of the buildingby a fire separation having not less than a 45 min fire-resistance rating.
(2) In other than residential occupancies, no fire-resistance rating is required for fire separations between a public corridor and the remainder of the buildingif,
(a) the floor area is sprinklered,
(b) the sprinkler system is electrically supervised in conformance with Sentence 3.2.4.10.(3), and
(c) the operation of the sprinkler system will cause a signal to be transmitted to the fire department in conformance with Sentence 3.2.4.8.(4).
(3) In other than residential occupancies, no fire separation is required between a public corridor and the remainder of the building if,
(a) the floor area is sprinklered,
(b) the sprinkler system is electrically supervised in conformance with Sentence 3.2.4.10.(3),
(c) the operation of the sprinkler system will cause a signal to be transmitted to the fire department in conformance with Sentence 3.2.4.8.(4), and
(d) the corridor exceeds 5 m in width.
In Plain Language
Public corridors must be separated from adjoining spaces as set out in this article, protecting this shared escape route from fire originating in an adjacent suite or room.
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.