The Ontario Building Code | Barrier-Free Path of Travel

3.8.1.3. Barrier-Free Path of Travel

(1) Except as required in Sentence (4) and except as permitted in Subsection 3.8.3., every barrier-free path of travel shall provide an unobstructed width of at least 1 100 mm for the passage of wheelchairs.

(2) interior and exterior walking surfaces that are within a barrier-free path of travel shall,

(a) have no opening that will permit the passage of a sphere more than 13 mm in diam,

(b) have any elongated openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction of travel,

(c) be stable, firm and slip-resistant,

(d) be bevelled at a maximum slope of 1 in 2 at changes in level not more than 13 mm, and

(e) be provided with sloped floors or ramps at changes in level more than 13 mm.

(3) A barrier-free path of travel is permitted to include ramps, passenger elevators or other platform equipped passenger elevating devices to overcome a difference in level.

(4) Every barrier-free path of travel less than 1 600 mm in width shall be provided with an unobstructed space not less than 1 800 mm in width and 1 800 mm in length located not more than 30 m apart.

(5) Where the headroom of an area in a barrier-freepath of travel is reduced to less than 1 980 mm, a guardrail or other barrier with its leading edge at or below 680 mm from the finished floor shall be provided.

(6) A normally occupied floor area that is not required by Article 3.8.2.1. to have a barrier-free path of travel shall meet the following requirements:

(a) interior walking surfaces throughout the normally occupied floor area shall comply with Clauses (2)(a) to (e), and

(b) where the headroom of an area in a corridor or aisle in the normally occupied floor areais reduced to less than 1 980 mm, a guardrail or other barrier with its leading edge at or below 680 mm from the finished floor shall be provided.