The Ontario Building Code | Door Latches
3.1.8.13. door Latches
(1) Except as permitted by Sentence 3.3.3.2.(5) and Article 3.3.3.5., a swing-type door in a fire separation shall be equipped with a positive latching mechanism designed to hold the door in the closed position after each use.
In Plain Language
Swing-type doors in a fire separation generally require a positive latching mechanism to keep them closed after use, with limited exceptions for care/detention-related doors covered elsewhere.
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.