The Ontario Building Code | Openings in Guards
9.8.8.5. openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings in Guards
(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings through any guardthat is required by Article 9.8.8.1. shall be of a size that will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 100 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard.
(2) openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings through any guard that is required by Article 9.8.8.1. and that is installed in a building of industrial occupancy shall be of a size that will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 200 mm, unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard.
(3) Unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings that do not comply with the following limits do not represent a hazard, openings="http://thehandyforce.com/windows/" title ="Window installer in Toronto">openings through any guard that is not required by Article 9.8.8.1. and that serves a building of other than industrial occupancy, shall be of a size that,
(a) will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 100 mm, or
(b) will permit the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 200 mm.
In Plain Language
Openings in a guard, such as the gaps between balusters, can't exceed the maximum size set out in this article, primarily to prevent young children from slipping through or getting stuck.
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.