The Ontario Building Code | Combustible Refuse Storage

3.6.2.5. Combustible Refuse Storage

(1) Except as required by Sentence 3.6.3.3.(9), a room for the storage of combustible refuse shall be,

(a) separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation with a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, and

(b) sprinklered.

In Plain Language

A room for storing combustible refuse must be separated from the rest of the building by a fire separation rated at least 1 hour and must be sprinklered, since accumulated refuse is a common and unpredictable fire source.

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.