The Ontario Building Code | Separation of Exits
3.4.1.2. Separation of Exits
(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2), if more than one exit is required from a floor area, each exit shall be separate from every other exit leading from that floor area.
(2) If more than two exits are provided from a floor area, exits are permitted to converge in conformance with Sentence 3.4.3.1.(2), provided the cumulative capacity of the converging exits does not contribute more than 50% of the total required exitwidth for the floor area.
In Plain Language
Where more than one exit is required from a floor area, each exit must generally be separate from every other exit, so a single fire event can't simultaneously block every escape route; limited convergence is allowed under specific 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.