The Ontario Building Code | Separation of Service Rooms
9.10.10.3. Separation of service Rooms
(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Articles 9.10.10.5. and 9.10.10.6., service rooms shall be separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance ratingof not less than 1 h when the floor area containing the service room is not sprinklered.
(2) Where a room contains a limited quantity of service equipment and the service equipment does not constitute a fire hazard, the requirements in Sentence (1) shall not apply.
In Plain Language
Service rooms must be separated from the rest of the building as set out in this article, containing fire risk associated with mechanical and electrical equipment.
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.