The Ontario Building Code | Location of Exits

3.4.2.5. Location of Exits

(1) Except as permitted by Sentences (2), 3.2.8.4.(4) and 3.3.2.4.(13) to (16), if more than one exit is required from a floor area, the exits shall be located so that the travel distance to at least one exitshall be not more than,

(a) 25 m in a high hazard industrial occupancy,

(b) 40 m in a business and personal services occupancy,

(c) 45 m in a floor area that contains an occupancy other than ahigh hazard industrial occupancy, provided it is sprinklered,

(d) 105 m in any floor area, served by a public corridor, in which rooms and suites are not separated from the remainder of the floor area by a fire separation, provided,

(i) the public corridor is not less than 9 m wide,

(ii) the ceiling height in the public corridor is not less than 4 m above all floor surfaces,

(iii) the building is sprinklered, and

(iv) not more than one-half of the required egress doorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorways from a room or suiteopen into the public corridor if the room or suite is required to have more than one egress doorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorway,

(e) 60 m in any storage garage that conforms to the requirements of Article 3.2.2.83., and

(f) 30 m in any floor area other than those referred to in Clauses (a) to (e).

(2) Except for a high hazard industrial occupancy, Sentence (1) need not apply if exits are placed along the perimeter of the floor area and are not more than 60 m apart, measured along the perimeter, provided each main aisle in the floor area leads directly to an exit.

(3) Exits shall be located and arranged so that they are clearly visible or their locations are clearly indicated and they are accessible at all times.

In Plain Language

Where more than one exit is required, exits must be positioned so the travel distance to at least one of them doesn't exceed set limits that vary by occupancy type, ranging from 25 m in high-hazard industrial spaces up to longer distances for lower-risk uses.

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.