The Ontario Building Code | Exit Width Based on Occupant Load
3.4.3.1. Exit Width Based on Occupant Load
(1) For the purpose of determining the aggregate width of exits, the occupant load of every room or floor area shall be determined in conformance with Subsection 3.1.17.
(2) Except as permitted by Sentence 3.4.3.2.(4), the required exit width shall be cumulative if two or more exits converge.
In Plain Language
The total required width of a building's exits is calculated by multiplying the occupant load of the area served by a per-person width factor set out in this article, so busier spaces get proportionally wider exits.
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.