The Ontario Building Code | Access to Basements
3.2.5.2. Access to basements
(1) Direct access from at least one streetshall be provided from the outdoorref ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doors to each basement,
(a) that is not sprinklered, and
(b) that has horizontal dimension more than 25 m.
(2) The access required by Sentence (1) is permitted to be provided by,
(a) doors, windows or other means that provide an opening not less than 1 100 mm high and 550 mm wide, with a sill no higher than 900 mm above the inside floor, or
(b) an interior stairway immediately accessible from the outdoorref ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doors.
In Plain Language
This clause requires fire hydrants to be located within a specified distance of a building (or of a fire department connection) so firefighting crews can connect hoses quickly without excessive delay.
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.