The Ontario Building Code | Means of Egress
3.3.1.3. Means of Egress
(1) Access to exitwithin floor areas shall conform to Subsections 3.3.2. to 3.3.6., in addition to the requirements of this Subsection.
(2) If a podium, terrace, platform or contained open space is provided, egress requirements shall conform to the appropriate requirements of Sentence 3.3.1.5.(1) for rooms and suites.
(3) Means of egressshall be provided from every roof that is intended for occupancy, and from every podium, terrace, platform or contained open space.
(4) At least two separate means of egress shall be provided from a roof, used or intended for an occupant load more than 60, to stairs designed in conformance with the exit stair requirements of Section 3.4.
(5) A rooftop enclosure shall be provided with an access to exit that leads to an exit,
(a) at the roof level, or
(b) on the storeyimmediately below the roof.
(6) A rooftop enclosure that is more than 200 m2 in area shall be provided with at least two means of egress.
(7) Two points of egress shall be provided for a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1.(9) if,
(a) the area is more than 200 m2, or
(b) the travel distance measured from any point in the service space to a point of egress is more than 25 m.
(8) Except as required by Sentence 3.3.4.4.(8) and permitted by Sentences 3.3.4.4.(5) and (6), each suite in a floor area that contains more than one suite shall have,
(a) an exterior exitdoorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorway, or
(b) a doorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorway,
(i) into a public corridor, or
(ii) to an exterior passageway.
(9) Except as permitted by this Section and by Sentence 3.4.2.1.(2), at the point where a doorway ="http://thehandyforce.com/doors/" title ="Toronto Door installer">doorway referred to in Sentence (8) opens onto a public corridor or exterior passageway, it shall be possible to go in opposite directions to each of two separate exits.
(10) Means of egressfrom a roof for personnel servicing rooftop equipment or for a below
ground service roomthat is not normally occupied, is permitted to be provided by stairways or fixed ladders.
In Plain Language
This clause requires at least two exits from most floor areas, so occupants have an alternative route if a fire blocks one of the exits, with limited exceptions for small floor areas or occupant loads described elsewhere.
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.