The British Columbia Building Code | Section 3.5. | Vertical Transportation Pt 1
Division B: Acceptable Solutions Part 3 – Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility
British Columbia Building Code 2018 Division B
Section 3.5. Vertical Transportation
3.5.1. General
3.5.1.1. Scope
1) This Section applies to vertical transportation facilities installed in a building, including elevators, escalators
and dumbwaiters.
2) Elevators in a building within the scope of Subsection3.2.6. shall conform to Articles3.2.6.4.,3.2.6.5.
and3.2.6.6.
3.5.2. Standards
3.5.2.1. Elevators, Escalators and Dumbwaiters
1) The design, construction, installation and alteration of every elevator, escalator and dumbwaiter shall
conform to the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation.
(SeeNoteA-3.5.2.1.(1).)
2) Before being placed in service, every elevator, escalator or dumbwaiter installation, including safety and
control devices, shall be inspected and tested in accordance with the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation.
3) Passenger elevators shall conform to Appendix E of ASME A17.1/CSA B44, “Safety Code for Elevators and
Escalators.”
3.5.3. Fire Separations
3.5.3.1. Fire Separations for Elevator Hoistways
1) Except as permitted by Sentence(2), a vertical service space used as an elevator hoistway shall be separated
from all other portions of each adjacent storey by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating conforming to
Table3.5.3.1. for the fire-resistance rating required by Subsection3.2.2. for
a) the floor assembly above the storey, or
b) the floor assembly below the storey, if there is no floor assembly above.
2) Passenger elevators, other than those provided for firefighters in accordance with Article3.2.6.5., are
permitted to be located within interconnected floor space without being enclosed in a hoistway separated from the
remainder of the building, provided the elevator machinery is located in a room separated from the remainder of the
building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for hoistways by Sentence(1).
3.5.3.2. Vertical Service Spaces for Dumbwaiters
1) A vertical service space containing a dumbwaiter shall be separated from all other portions of each adjacent
storey by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating conforming to Table3.5.3.1. for the fire-resistance rating
required by Subsection3.2.2. for
Table 3.5.3.1.
Fire Separation for Vertical Transportation Space
Forming Part of Articles 3.5.3.1.and 3.5.3.2.
Fire-Resistance Rating of Fire Separation Required
for Floor Assembly
Minimum Fire-Resistance Rating of Vertical Service
Space for Elevator Hoistway
Minimum Fire-Resistance Rating of Vertical Service
Space for Dumbwaiters
less than 45 min 45 min –
45 min 45 min 45 min
1 h 1 h 45 min
1.5 h 1.5 h 1 h
2 h or more 2 h 1 h
Effective December 10, 2018 to December 11, 2019
Part 3 – Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility Division B: Acceptable Solutions
Division B
a) the floor assembly above the storey or
b) the floor assembly below the storey, if there is no floor assembly above.
3.5.3.3. Fire Separations for Elevator Machine Rooms
1) Except as permitted by Sentence(2), a room containing elevator machinery shall be separated from all other
parts of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the vertical service
space containing the elevator hoistway.
2) A room containing elevator machinery need not be separated from the elevator hoistway that it serves
provided the room and the hoistway are separated from all other parts of the building by a fire separation having a
fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the vertical service space containing the elevator hoistway.
3.5.4. Dimensions and Signs
3.5.4.1. Elevator Car Dimensions
1) Except as permitted in Sentence (3),
if one or more elevators are provided in a building, each storey with access
to an elevator shall be served by at least one elevator which has inside dimensions that will accommodate and provide
adequate access for a patient stretcher 2 010mm long and 610mm wide in the prone position.
(SeeNoteA-3.5.4.1.(1).)
2) An elevator satisfying the requirements of Sentence(1) shall be clearly identified on the main entrance level of
the building.
3) The requirement in Sentence (1) to accommodate and provide adequate access for a patient stretcher
a) is waived for a limited-use / limited-application elevator designed and installed in accordance with ASME
A17.1/CSA-B44, “Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators” and
b) does not apply to a lift designed and installed in accordance with CAN/CSA-B355 “Lifts for Persons with
Physical Disabilities”.
3.5.4.2. Floor Numbering
1) Arabic numerals indicating the assigned floor number shall be mounted permanently on both jambs of
passenger elevator hoistway entrances in conformance with Appendix E of ASME A17.1/CSA B44, “Safety Code for
Elevators and Escalators.”
Effective December 10, 2018 to December 11, 2019
Part 3 – Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility Division B: Acceptable Solutions
Division B
a) the floor assembly above the storey or
b) the floor assembly below the storey, if there is no floor assembly above.
3.5.3.3. Fire Separations for Elevator Machine Rooms
1) Except as permitted by Sentence(2), a room containing elevator machinery shall be separated from all other
parts of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the vertical service
space containing the elevator hoistway.
2) A room containing elevator machinery need not be separated from the elevator hoistway that it serves
provided the room and the hoistway are separated from all other parts of the building by a fire separation having a
fire-resistance rating not less than that required for the vertical service space containing the elevator hoistway.
3.5.4. Dimensions and Signs
3.5.4.1. Elevator Car Dimensions
1) Except as permitted in Sentence (3),
if one or more elevators are provided in a building, each storey with access
to an elevator shall be served by at least one elevator which has inside dimensions that will accommodate and provide
adequate access for a patient stretcher 2 010mm long and 610mm wide in the prone position.
(SeeNoteA-3.5.4.1.(1).)
2) An elevator satisfying the requirements of Sentence(1) shall be clearly identified on the main entrance level of
the building.
3) The requirement in Sentence (1) to accommodate and provide adequate access for a patient stretcher
a) is waived for a limited-use / limited-application elevator designed and installed in accordance with ASME
A17.1/CSA-B44, “Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators” and
b) does not apply to a lift designed and installed in accordance with CAN/CSA-B355 “Lifts for Persons with
Physical Disabilities”.
3.5.4.2. Floor Numbering
1) Arabic numerals indicating the assigned floor number shall be mounted permanently on both jambs of
passenger elevator hoistway entrances in conformance with Appendix E of ASME A17.1/CSA B44, “Safety Code for
Elevators and Escalators.”
Effective December 10, 2018 to December 11, 2019