The Ontario Building Code | Low Fire Load, 1 Storey Building
3.2.3.11. Low Fire Load, 1 Storey building
(1) An exposing building face of a building of low hazard industrial occupancy conforming to Article 3.2.2.82. is permitted to be of noncombustible construction without a fire-resistance rating provided,
(a) it is not a loadbearingwall, and
(b) the limiting distance is not less than 3 m.
In Plain Language
This clause sets out how exterior walls of townhouses or rowhouse-style units sharing a common property line must be treated, since these units are typically build much closer together than the spatial-separation rules would otherwise allow.
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.