The Ontario Building Code | Continuous Barrier
9.10.9.2. Continuous Barrier
(1) Except as permitted in Article 9.10.9.3., a wall or floor assembly required to be a fire separation shall be constructed as a continuous barrier against the spread of fire.
(2) The continuity of a fire separation shall be maintained where it abuts another fire separation, a floor, a ceiling, a roof or an exterior wall assembly.
In Plain Language
A fire separation must form a continuous barrier as set out in this article, since any gap or discontinuity undermines its ability to contain fire and smoke.
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.