The Ontario Building Code | Interior Walls and Partitions
4.1.7.4. interior Walls and Partitions
(1) In the design of interior walls and partitions, due consideration shall be given to differences in air pressure on opposite sides of the wall or partition that may result from,
(a) pressure differences between the windward and leeward sides of a building,
(b) stack effects due to a difference in air temperature between the exterior and interior of the building, and
(c) air pressurization by the mechanical services of the building.
4.1.8. Earthquake Load and Effects
In Plain Language
Interior wall and partition design must account for differences in air pressure between the two sides, since pressurized building spaces or stack-effect airflow can impose real structural loads on interior partitions.
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.