The Ontario Building Code | Combustible Sprinkler Piping
3.2.5.14. Combustible Sprinkler Piping
(1) Combustiblesprinkler piping shall be used only for wet systems in residential occupancies and other light hazard occupancies.
(2) Combustiblesprinkler piping shall meet the requirements of ulc/ORD-C199P, "Combustible Piping for Sprinkler Systems".
(3) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), combustiblesprinkler piping shall be separated from the area served by the sprinkler system, and from any other fire compartment, by ceilings, walls, or soffits consisting of, as a minimum,
(a) lath and plaster,
(b) gypsum board not less than 9.5 mm thick,
(c) plywood not less than 13 mm thick, or
(d) a suspended membrane ceiling with,
(i) steel suspension grids, and
(ii) lay-in panels or tiles having a mass not less than 1.7 kg/m2.
(4) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), combustiblesprinkler piping may be located above a ceiling, provided that the distance between the edge of any ceiling opening that is not protected in conformance with Sentence (3) and the nearest sprinkler is not more than 300 mm.
(5) The protection required by Sentences (3) and (4) is permitted to be waived where combustible sprinkler piping has been tested in conformance with ulc/ORD-C199P, "Combustible Piping for Sprinkler Systems", and has been shown to meet the requirements in that document without additional protection.
In Plain Language
This clause addresses seasonal or climate-related considerations for firefighting access and water supply, such as ensuring access routes remain usable and water sources don't freeze during winter conditions.
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.